By Andrew Hackmack
The awards, which were based on work from 2008, were presented on April 3-4 at NYPA's annual spring convention in Saratoga Springs.
Baldwin Herald Editor Mike Russo won first place for Best News or Feature Series for his reporting on residents' opposition to the development of the Coes Neck property. Malverne-West Hempstead Herald Editor Dana Williams took third place for In-Depth Reporting for her stories about the Courtesy Hotel and community efforts to close it. Scott Brinton, senior editor of the Bellmore and Merrick Heralds, placed third in the Feature Writing category for a story on Katie McCormick, a Bellmore child stricken with cerebral palsy who overcame her disability to become a champion equestrienne.
Brinton also earned third place in Community Leadership for a series he wrote on a Nassau County-sponsored BioBlitz last September, a 24-hour effort to catalog the flora and fauna in the woodlands surrounding the Meadowbrook Parkway. Brinton promoted the BioBlitz through stories, columns and editorials, and continued reporting on it for months after it took place.
It was the 10th time that Brinton has taken home honors in the Community Leadership category. "I really believe in community newspapers' power to effect change for the greater good," he said of his most recent win. "The BioBlitz was a terrific example of a newspaper partnering with the community to help change the world for the better."
The Herald captured several photo awards. Long Beach Editor Joseph Kellard took first place for Art Photo for his shot of a canal in Long Beach through a gate. Photographer Frank Koester captured second in that category for a photo that ran in the Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald, as well as a third-place award for Sports Action Photo for his front-page shot of a Malverne football game.
Brinton won second place for Spot News Photo for a picture of firefighters at a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony at Eisenhower Park. Victoria Lodi's cover photo from the Valley Stream Herald, "Agony of defeat," after the South High School boys' basketball team was bounced from the playoffs, took third in Sports Action Photo.
"I congratulate the winners of our writing and photography awards," said John O'Connell, executive editor of the Heralds, "as well as art director Jeff Negrin, the production and formatting staff and advertising account execs, for the professional work they do each week. In editorial and photo, it's encouraging to have our work recognized for excellence in community journalism. I'm proud of the work the dedicated editorial staff does every week in bringing readers the local, relevant news, information and people stories that matter so much in their lives."
The Herald also won third place in the Blooper of the Year category for a headline announcing the countywide "spaying," not "spraying," for West Nile virus.
Judges recognized the Heralds with a third-place award for Overall Advertising Excellence. The newspaper group was also awarded third place in the Best Multi-Advertiser Page category for a collection of ads geared toward the baby boom generation. An advertisement for Vino 100 in the Oceanside/Island Park Herald won third place for Best Large Space Ad.
The Heralds' Living Green special section cover was recognized with a first-place award, and the Holiday Magic cover took second place. The Rosh Hashanah Book was a runner-up in the Special Holiday Edition category, and The Big Cookie Book won third place for Best Advertising Special Section. The Heralds' Basketball Preview finished second in the Special Sections category.
Rhonda Glickman, the Heralds' vice president of sales, praised the efforts of her staff as well as Production Manager John Logerfo and his staff, Creative Director Jeff Negrin, Special Sections Editor Karen Bloom and Sports Editor Tony Bellissimo. "For the sales department to win awards, it's such a group effort between all the departments," Glickman said. "Everybody contributed to the success."
Publisher Stuart Richner described the 18 awards as a "truly impressive all-around showing of excellence" and, echoing Glickman, praised the team effort. "Our staff once again has excelled at bringing our readers the best in local community journalism," Richner said.
There were 2,944 entries in some 60 categories submitted by 182 newspapers for the Better Newspaper Contest.
