T-PT wins 4th Newspaper of Year honor

The Tri-Parish Times & Business News was named the 2010 Newspaper of the Year by the Louisiana Press Association for weekly newspapers in the state with the highest number of paid-subscribers at the 131st Annual Louisiana Press Association Convention in Marksville Saturday.

The Tri-Parish Times competed against 24 other weekly newspapers in the division of newspapers with circulations above 3,001. This is the fourth consecutive year the newspaper has received the honor.

“Three consecutive wins was a feat given the caliber of newspapers in this state, but four leaves us speechless,” said Managing Editor Shell Armstrong. “It’s a testament to the long hours and hard work our staff puts in to ensure Tri-parish readers a solid product they can trust.

“Unquestionably, with two top award-winning publications in town, the Tri-Parish Times and the Houma Courier, citizens in this area are well represented.”

The newspaper won the editorial sweepstakes by accumulating the most points, for first, second, third place and honorable mention, in individual categories covering news, sports, feature articles, photography, special sections 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 3,837 entries in this year’s competition. The Kentucky 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. In its division, the Houma Courier won the title among daily publications of its size. Other top papers were The Advocate (Baton Rouge), The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette), Ruston Daily Leader, The Livingston Parish News (Denham Springs), Plaquemine Post/South and the Bunkie Record.

First Place

• Best Single Editorial, Shell Armstrong

• Best Feature Story, Jenna Farmer

• Best Sports Story, Casey Gisclair

• Best Sports Column, Casey Gisclair

• Best Overall Sports Coverage

• Best Lifestyle Coverage

• Best News Coverage

• Best Continuing Coverage of a Single Event, Michael Davis, Richard Fischer and Mike Nixon

• Best Investigative Reporting, Eric Besson

• Best Sports Photo, Casey Gisclair

• Best Classified Section, Liz Daigle

• Individual Feature Writing, Howard J. Castay Jr.

Second Place

• Best Editorial Page

• Best Feature Story, Mike Nixon

• Best News Story, Brett Schweinberg

• Best Sports Story, Casey Gisclair

• Best Sports Column, Casey Gisclair

• Best Story Generated by Public Notice, Mike Nixon

• Best Photo Package, Casey Gisclair and Liz Daigle

• General Excellence

• Staff Generated Ad (Black and White), Liz Daigle

• Best Retailer Ad, Liz Daigle

• Individual Feature Photo (Black and White), Howard J. Castay Jr.

• Individual Feature Photo (Color), Howard J. Castay Jr.

Third Place

• Best Feature Story, Michael Davis

• Best Regular Column, Darrin Guidry

• Most Effective Use of Graphic Design on a Single Page, Liz Daigle

• Best Sports Photo, Casey Gisclair

• Best Photo Package, Casey Gisclair and Liz Daigle

• Staff Generated Ad (Black and White), Liz Daigle

Honorable Mention

• Best Front Page

• Best Feature Story, Richard Fischer

• Best Regular Column, Shell Armstrong

• Best Headline, Richard Fischer

• Community Service

• Staff Generated Ad (Color), Liz Daigle

The Tri-Parish Times led last Saturday’s Louisiana Press Association Newspaper of the Year among weeklies, tallying 12 first- and second-place, 6 third-place and six honorable mention awards in news, sports and lifestyle coverage and various display advertisements. FILE PHOTO