Times wins 8th consecutive Newspaper of Year title
June 24, 2015
Our Mistake
June 24, 2015
We know there’s important news going on this week. The Houma Police Department has its first black police chief, Southdown Elementary is under review for an overhaul and July 4th is right around the corner.
But for this one issue, please indulge us.
Once a year, newspaper types dress up nice, gather in a hotel ballroom somewhere around the state and applaud our collective effort. Editors submit their paper’s best work forjudging, and a fellow press association selects winners in several categories. Points are awarded based on first-, second-and third-place wins and the top-point getters in five divisions are named Newspaper of the Year.
By now, you’ve deduced The Times is tickled because we’re the Louisiana Press Association’s top paper in Division 2 – a slot that includes 10 daily publications and us.
In all, 54 newspapers, publications and college/university student newspapers submitted 2,485 entries – stories, page designs, photos, advertisements and graphics – for consideration.
This is the eighth consecutive year our paper has been named Newspaper of the Year – the big enchilada for newshounds keeping score at home.
It’s a tremendous honor and a reminder that our craft does require a multitude of skills to do well.
It also requires a number of people.
Major kudos are due our news team-John DeSantis, Casey Gisclair and newcomers Jean-Paul Arguello, Melissa Duet and Felicia LeDuff Harry. Congratulations are also due to photographers Jose Delgado and James Loiselle, who also received “Best of Show” honors for his feature shot of a fisherman at play.
Our expert design team also deserves a huge nod for its contributions. Design director Gavin Stevens and his team, Mariella Brochard and Danielle Evans are major players on our team.
Congratulations are also due to former graphic designer Alyson Showalter and Alanna Relan and former news staffer Eric Besson, who earned awards.
And while it’s generally the reporters and designers who, for better or worse, get the most attention, we’d be amiss if we didn’t include the rest of The Times team in the celebration.
These are the folks many readers will likely never meet in person, but who help keep this train running on time. This includes our sales group, led by sales director Deanne Ratliff-Harold Cancienne, Elizabeth Porche, Linda Dupre and newcomer Jamal Charles with The Times and Gumbo and POV sales reps Linda Pontiff, Martha Naquin and Jamie Mazerac – administrative coordinator Ashley Thibodeaux and accounts receivable Jessica Gifford; and, in the front office, circulation manager Brooke Adams and operator/classified sales rep Brandy O’Banion.
Of course, well-run trains also need strong leaders, and we have that at the top – general manager Lacey LeBlanc and publisher Brian Rushing.
It’s also worth noting our sister publication Point of Vue picked up several awards for photography and design. Credit is due to the many writers and photographers who contribute to the monthly publication. We’re also most appreciative of the service our carriers provide each week to deliver The Times, The Weekly, Gumbo and POV.
So, forgive us this week if we seem a bit big headed, but we promise you all we do is with you, our readers, in mind. We’re looking forward to continuing to improve our product, hone our news skills and to deliver you an informative, reliable newspaper. After all, we’re beginning to like the sound of hearing, “Newspaper of the Year… The Times.”
In the meantime, we look to you, our partners in this relationship, to join the effort.
Know someone you’d like to see featured among our pages? Have a tip on a news story? Want an outstanding player or team included in our sports coverage? Whatever is happening in your neighborhood let us hear from you. The Times is available online and on Facebook.
Our email addresses are listed to the left in the masthead, and our phone line is always available.
With your help and your continued readership, we vow to work just as hard this year to deliver the quality news you’ve come to expect.
