T-PT named state’s top weekly

The Tri-Parish Times & Business News was named the 2008 Newspaper of the Year by the Louisiana Press Association for weekly newspapers in the state with the highest number of paid subscribers at a ceremony held Saturday in Baton Rouge.

The Tri-Parish Times competed against 21 other weekly newspapers in the division of newspapers with circulations above 3,001.

“We’re thrilled to be named Newspaper of the Year for a consecutive time,” said Publisher Darrin Guidry. “It’s a testament to the commitment and hard work our staff does each week to deliver readers the latest news in the Tri-parish market.”

The newspaper won the editorial sweepstakes by accumulating the most points in individual categories covering news, sports, feature articles, special sections, photography and design. The Tri-Parish Times also earned a number of awards for advertising design.

Seventy-nine newspapers, publications, and college/university student newspapers submitted 3,812 entries in this year’s competition. The Kansas Press Association served as judges for the editorial and advertising competitions.

The Tri-Parish Times was the second Houma newspaper to take home the top honor at the 129th annual Louisiana Press Associa-tion Convention. In its division, crosstown Houma Courier won the title among daily publications its size.

First Place

• Best Front Page

• Best Editorial Page

• Best Feature Story, Keyon K. Jeff, 5 Years Later

• Best Sports Story, Kyle Carrier, Wright Way

• Best Regular Column, Darrin Guidry

• Best Sports Column, Brad Thibodaux,

• Best News Coverage

• Best Continuing Coverage of a Governmental Issue, Mike Brossette, Michel Claudet’s Woes

• Best Sports Photo, Keyon K. Jeff, Long Jump

• Best Special Section, Oil & Gas

• Best Services Ad – Non-retail, Liz Daigle, Backwater Charters

• Best Success Story of an Ad, Liz Daigle, Premier Capital Advisors

Second Place

• Best Single Editorial, Shell Armstrong, Sagging Pants Law

• Best Feature Story, Keyon K. Jeff, I’ll be Home for Xmas

• Best News Story, Howard Castay Jr., Ferry to Nowhere

• Best Regular Column, Darrin Guidry

• Best Sports Column, Chris Scarnati

• Best Overall Sports Coverage

• Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event, Sophia Ruffin, Billy Daigle case

• Best Continuing Coverage of a Governmental Issue, Workforce

• Best News Photo, Keyon K. Jeff, Soldier

• General Excellence

• Staff Generated Ad, color half-page or under, Liz Daigle, Ruby Sweets Mardi Gras

• Staff Generated Ad, black and white over half-page, Liz Daigle, Premier Capital Advisors

• Staff Generated Ad, color over half-page, Liz Daigle, Premier Capital Advisors

• In-paper Promotion, black and white, Liz Daigle, Hurricane Preparation Guide

• Best Classified Section or Page

• Best Retail Ad, Liz Daigle, Norman’s Tuxedos

Third Place

• Best Feature Story, Keyon K. Jeff

• Best Sports Story, Chris Scarnati, 100 & Counting

• Best Regular Column, Darrin Guidry

• Best Sports Column, Kyle Carrier

• Best Lifestyle Coverage

• Best Investigating Reporting, Keyon K. Jeff, School Leave

• Best Feature Photo, Shell Armstrong, Houmas Indians

• Staff Generated Ad – black or white half or under, Liz Daigle, JAG Olympic

Honorable Mention

• Best Feature Story, Brad Thibodaux, Facing Autism

• Best Feature Story, Keyon K. Jeff, One Heartbeat

• Best Photo Package, Keyon K. Jeff and Kyle Carrier, The Thrill of Victory

Individual Competition

• Best Feature Photo – black and white, Howard J. Castay Jr.

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