By Angela Marshall
Among the awards the Heralds brought home were first-place honors in five categories: coverage of education, in-depth reporting, spot news, column writing and sports features. The Heralds' advertising and art departments also brought home firsts for best special-section advertising and best large-space ad, as well as third place for overall advertising excellence.
One hundred eighty-four newspapers submitted a total of 3,621 entries to the annual Better Newspaper Contest, which was judged by members of the Illinois Press Association on Jan. 23. The many contest categories were divided into four divisions based on circulation.
"Super. Absolutely super," exclaimed the Heralds' elated publisher, Cliff Richner, when asked for his reaction to the papers' numerous awards. "I think this is the best staff we've ever had, and the breadth and depth of the awards reflect that. To win spot news
and in-depth reporting, coverage of education
and coverage of crime, opinion writing, sports ... It really shows what a small staff can do with commitment and good old-fashioned hard work."
Village Herald was on the spot
The Village Herald swept the spot-news category in its division. Capturing first, second and third place, the paper was honored for its coverage of the shooting of Father Larry Penzes and parishioner Eileen Tosner at the March 12, 2002 morning Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church in Lynbrook; the tragic electrocution of 10-year-old Kevin Brown on the Lynbrook train tracks; and the fire that swept through the Nathan Hale Senior Village in Lynbrook.
"Excellent work on deadline," judges said of former reporter Paul Condra's coverage of the shooting, which won first place. "Eyewitness accounts contribute to the narrative. Excellent pictures make for a winning package."
Condra also took third place for his coverage of the fire. "Sidebar on victims elevates this over 'just covering the news,'" said the judges.
Brian McLaughlin, a former reporter, and current Village Herald editor Cindy Roth earned second place for their coverage of the electrocution. Judges said, "A good narrative, plus public-service-minded advocacy. Coverage apparently helped turn a tragedy into positive action."
Roth also captured honorable mention in the rookie reporter category. Roth still qualified for the category because she has worked in the newsroom for less than 18 months. She was promoted to assistant editor after six months as a reporter at Herald Community Newspapers, and became an editor within a year.
Leading the way
Two Herald newspapers were honored for their dedication to community leadership, taking home honorable-mention and third-place awards. Scott Brinton, senior editor of the Bellmore, Merrick and East Meadow Heralds, received honorable mention for his coverage of the movement to clean up state woodlands in Merrick.
Nassau Herald Editor Jeff Lipton took third place for his investigation of school security in the Five Towns. He also won first place in coverage of education for the same story. Judges said the investigation "is a role model for newspapers of all sizes."
Staying on top of crime
Both the Valley Stream and Nassau Heralds were honored for their coverage of crime. Lipton took second place in division four. Reporter Nicole Falco and Editor John C. O'Connell of the Valley Stream Herald were recognized with second place in division three for their coverage of a hostage situation at the Staples on Sunrise Highway and a murder in North Valley Stream. Falco also earned third place in the spot-news-photo category for her picture of a grieving mother standing near the bloody clothes of her daughter, who had been shot in a domestic dispute.
The write stuff
Herald columnists also took top honors. Jerry Burke, editor of the Franklin Square/Elmont/West Hempstead Herald, won first place and Cris Italia took second in division three for column writing. Alfred Doblin, anchor of the Herald's op-ed page, took third place in division four.
Linda Delmonico-Prussen, Merrick Herald reporter, earned first-place honors for her sports feature story about an ice skater with Olympic dreams. Nick Buglione captured third place in the same category.
Ads take awards
The Herald advertising department won eight awards, including two first places for best large-space ad in the Nassau Herald and best special-section advertising for the Menu Guide, which appeared in all 13 Herald newspapers. The Menu Guide also earned third place for best special-section cover, designed by Mike Bologna, the papers' general manager. The department also came in third for overall advertising excellence.
Ads in the Rockville Centre Herald received honorable-mention awards in both the best special-section advertising and best small-space ad categories. The Merrick Herald won honorable mention in multi-advertiser pages.
The advertising department also took two blooper awards, much to their chagrin -- and the delight of their colleagues in Saratoga. Presentation of the first-place ad for a fruit laxative that was so easy to use you "just poop in your mouth," really got the crowd going.
