Published on 06/28/2007

STANDING PROUD—New Pittsburgh Courier Editor and Publisher Rod Doss and Stephan Broadus, assistant to the publisher, display one of the nine Merit Awards collected last weekend at the National Newspaper Publisher Association convention held in Seattle. The New Pittsburgh Courier is one of the 200-plus Black-owned newspapers in the country.

NNPA Merit and Messenger Awards showcase top Black Press performances

SEATTLE (NNPA) - In a show of excellence in professional journalism and Black Press principles, editors and publishers of the National Newspaper Publishers Association lined up for honors in the annual Merit Awards Competition during the NNPA summer conference in Seattle last week.

''An outstanding list of judges has spent hours pouring over entries in this year's competition and we are appreciative of their dedication and hard work,'' said NNPA Foundation Chairwoman Dorothy Leavell. ''Many of these judges come back year after year and many say they are amazed at the high quality of entries and the increasing number of participants.''

In the Merit Awards, Black newspapers from across the nation were recognized for their excellence in 21 categories ranging from best photography to circulation promotion.

In the A. Philip Randolph Messenger Awards, NNPA reporters and publishers were awarded in five categories.

''We, at Miller, are very pleased and honored to again recognize some of the best journalism in the business,'' said Larry Waters. Miller's director of Multicultural Relations. ''We applaud you for following in the footsteps of A. Philip Randolph by sharing your stories and vision when no one else seems to care, and, above all else, for telling them truthfully.''

The Messenger Award winners are: Responsibility category, Cheryl Smith, Dallas Weekly; Employment Category, Alvin Reid, St. Louis American; AIDS/HIV category, Ayana Jones, The Philadelphia Tribune; Cultural Diversity category, Edmund W. Lewis, The Louisiana Weekly and the Heritage category, Valencia Mohammed and Zenitha Prince, the Washington Afro-American.

Top honors in the Merit Awards, the General Excellence and the John B. Russwurm Trophy that is given to the newspaper receiving the most points in all 19 Merit awards categories, went to the Los Angeles Sentinel.

The Publisher of the Year Award for the publisher receiving the highest number of votes from his or her peers went to Sam Logan of the Michigan Chronicle.

The glitzy, semi-formal gala in Seattle's Fairmont Hotel June 22 celebrated the past, present and future of the Black Press during its 180th year and the NNPA in its 67th year.

The winners are:

General Excellence
1st: Los Angeles Sentinel
2nd: New York Amsterdam News
3rd: Indianapolis Recorder

Best Editorial
1st: Richmond Free Press
2nd: Los Angeles Sentinel
3rd: Los Angeles Wave

Best Column Writing
1st: Wilmington Journal
2nd: Indianapolis Recorder
3rd: Capital Outlook

Best Community Service
1st: Seattle Medium
2nd: Dallas Weekly
3rd: Indianapolis Recorder

Best News Story
1st: Capital Outlook
2nd: Houston Defender
3rd: Richmond Free Press

Best Feature Story
1st: Los Angeles Sentinel
2nd Philadelphia Tribune
3rd: South Suburban Citizen

Best News Picture
1st: Wilmington Journal
2nd: St. Louis American
3rd: New Pittsburgh Courier

Best Editorial Cartoon
1st: Charlotte Post
2nd: Minnesota Spokesman Recorder
3rd: Philadelphia Tribune

Best Layout and Design
(Broadsheet)
1st: St. Louis American
2nd: Indianapolis Recorder
3rd: New Pittsburgh Courier

Best Layout and Design
(Tabloid)
1st: New York Amsterdam News
2nd: Atlanta Voice
3rd: Madison Times

Best Special Edition
Broadsheet
1st: The Winston Salem Chronicle
2nd: St. Louis American
3rd: Houston Defender

Best Circulation Promotion
1st: Jackson Advocate
2nd: St. Louis American
3rd: Indianapolis Recorder

Best Women’s Section
1st: New Pittsburgh Courier
2nd: Charlotte Post
3rd: Los Angeles Sentinel

Best Youth Section
1st: Philadelphia Tribune
2nd: New Pittsburgh Courier
3rd: Jackson Advocate

Best Original Advertising
1st: Houston Defender
2nd: Los Angeles Sentinel
3rd: St. Louis American

Best Use of Photographs (Broadsheet)
1st: St. Louis American
2nd: Carolina Peacemaker
3rd: New Pittsburgh Courier

Best Use of Photographs (Tabloid)
1st: Madison Times
2nd: Washington Informer

Best Church Page
1st: Los Angeles Sentinel
2nd: Indianapolis Recorder
3rd: New Pittsburgh Courier

Best Sports Page
1st: The Winston Salem Chronicle
2nd: New Pittsburgh Courier
3rd: Philadelphia Tribune

Best Business Section
1st: New Pittsburgh Courier
2nd: Philadelphia Tribune
3rd: Los Angeles Sentinel

Best Entertainment Section
1st: New York Amsterdam News
2nd: Indianapolis Recorder
3rd: New Pittsburgh Courier