By Angela Marshall
Among the awards the Herald carted home were three first-place honors for community leadership, spot news photo and editorials.
One-hundred-sixty-four newspapers submitted a total of 3,214 entries to the annual Better Newspaper Contest, which was judged by members of the New England Press Association on January 24.
"It's always nice to be recognized for good work," said Herald publisher Cliff Richner. "I think the awards are a reflection of the Herald's philosophy regarding local coverage. We feel that what happens within a local community is the most important news to the people who live there. At the Herald, we focus on the local issues that have the greatest impact on our readers' daily lives and I think the judges recognized that.
"I'm particularly proud of the well-deserved recognition received by Scott Brinton. He works very hard at what he does and it shows.
"I also congratulate our rookie reporter winners. Paul Condra is off to a great start on what promises to be a brilliant career in journalism," the publisher concluded.
Valley Stream reporter honored
Valley Stream Herald reporter Nicole Falco received second place in the feature photo category for her picture of Michael Andreas Haub, 4, saluting his father's coffin. Michael Helmut Haub was a firefighter killed in the World Trade Center attacks.
Judges said, "Frightening resemblance to JFK Jr. photo as it is cropped in the Valley Stream Herald. Outstanding photo with hat and hands."
Merrick editor shows leadership
The trio of papers edited by Scott Brinton earned the most honors with five. The Merrick Herald won first place for Community Leadership, considered one of the contest's most coveted honors. Working alone or as part of a team, Brinton, who also edits the Bellmore and East Meadow Heralds, has earned this honor in five of the last seven years.
Brinton wrote all but one of the stories for this year's series, which covered the dangerous health effects that Freeport's diesel Power Plant No. 2 posed to the Merrick community. He conducted door-to-door interviews of residents and documented the plant's failure to comply with state laws. Through strong editorials, Brinton and the Herald called for the plant to close and succeeded. It was shut down by Gov. George Pataki last week.
Judges said, "A classic example of power of the press. Brinton and the Herald dogged a local power plant for a year, effecting tremendous change on behalf of the community. No bells and whistles - just good old-fashioned newspapering."
Former Merrick assistant editor Larry Maier earned second place in feature writing for his profile of a middle-aged legal secretary who rides a motorcycle. Judges called it an easy read that kept their interest till the end.
The Bellmore Herald was recognized for excellence in editorial writing, earning first place. Brinton wrote all three of the entry's editorials, which examined a possible state takeover of the Roosevelt School District, Freeport's Power Plant No. 2 and the effect of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on Nassau County's social services.
Brinton also earned first-place recognition for his photography skills for a front-page picture in the East Meadow, Merrick and Bellmore Heralds. When Flight 587 crashed in Queens, only miles from the Herald's Lawrence office, Brinton and Nassau Herald editor Jeff Lipton drove as close as they could and then ran almost a mile to cover the catastrophe. Brinton's photo of an airplane engine crashed in a gas station parking lot with a blurred police officer trying to keep people away from the scene captured the judges.
The East Meadow Herald earned second-place honors for its coverage of Health, Health Care and Science. The entry included Brinton's series on a drug rehabilitation program at the Nassau County Jail and part of his cancer coverage from the plant closure series.
Judges said, "Hot topic - well researched - writer made the story 'human.'"
Coverage of new
Bishop praised
Judges awarded the Rockville Centre Herald second-place honors for coverage of Bishop William Murphy's instillation as the fourth leader of the Diocese of Rockville Centre and an explanatory piece on the Muslim holiday Ramadan.
Angela Marshall wrote three stories profiling the Bishop and covering the installation ceremonies.
Judges said, "Pulled out all the stops for installation of new Bishop. Good hustle."
Cindy Roth, assistant editor for the Bellmore Herald, wrote the Ramadan piece, highlighting facts of the Muslin religion during a time when many Muslims were facing discrimination following the Sept. 11 attacks.
Reporters lauded
Two Herald reporters earned recognition as being at the top of their field. Paul Condra and Larry Maier, who worked as the Baldwin Herald reporter before his promotion to assistant editor with the Merrick Herald, were honored in the Rookie Reporter category.
Condra received second place. Judges said, "Paul Condra shows the ability to cover a sensitive story like a widow's ordeal after the Twin Towers tragedy, or a police standoff and a fraud story."
Maier earned honorable mention.
The Long Beach Herald also earned honors for its coverage of World Trade Center victims. The paper received honorable mention for Keith Grant's obituaries on flight attendant Barbara "Bo" Giannasca who died on Flight 587 when it crashed in Belle Harbor Queens on Nov. 12 and three World Trade Center victims, including firefighter Ken Marino.
Ads take awards
The Herald advertising department also won five awards. Joan Battino took second place in Best Small Space Ad created by the newspaper. Judges praised Battino for her ad highlighting Ted Milan, a Long Beach restaurant.
Judges said, "Excellent image that ties in perfectly with the message. the ad stands out on the page."
Judges praised three of the Herald's special sections, which ran in all 11 Herald papers. The Spring Fashion cover was awarded third place. In the Best Special Section Advertising category, Savvy, the Herald's senior section, took third place and Read All About Us earned honorable mention.
The Holiday Dining Directory received honorable mention for Best Multi-Advertiser Pages.
Pictured above:Herald Community Newspapers staff members - From left, senior editors Jeff Lipton and Scott Brinton, publishers Stuart and Cliff Richner, editors Keith Grant, Angela Marshall, John C. O'Connell and Elizabeth Sagarin; seated are Eileen Walsh, assistant to the publishers; Rhonda Glickman, vice president of sales; and editors Jerry Burke, Cindy Roth, Jonann Brady and Cris Italia.
