Among the accolades were first-place honors for Sports Writer of the Year, Sports Feature Story, Spot News Photo and Art Photo, as well as several second-place awards, including one for Advertising Excellence.
Some 170 newspapers submitted 3,455 entries to the NYPA contest, considered the state's most prestigious community newspaper competition. Overall, the Heralds placed fifth in the state among newspaper chains that took part in the contest.
Throughout the convention weekend, Herald editors, reporters, designers and sales representatives attended workshops aimed at improving their skills, covering a range of topics from enhancing community involvement in the newspaper to online reporting to how to produce better advertisements.
The press association invited Her alds Executive Editor John O'Connell to lead an editors' roundtable, and Senior Editor Scott Brinton moderated a sports writers' roundtable, both of which attracted editors and reporters from across the state.
In the contest, Brinton took first place for Sports Writer of the Year. Judges wrote that Brinton "knows sports and knows how to write about them. He's a good storyteller and provides depth and perspective." Brinton submitted stories and columns on boxing, basketball, cross-country, football and youth soccer. Additionally, Brinton grabbed a second-place award for Sports Feature Photo, for an image of a boxer at the Freeport Police Activity League.
Dan Israeli, editor of the Franklin Square/Elmont Herald, took first place in the Sports Feature Story category for his piece on Washington Nationals rookie pitcher John Lannan, a Long Beach native who was the first to face Barry Bonds after Bonds had tied Hank Aaron on the all-time home run list. Judges described Israeli's story as having "good prose" t hat "keeps your attention through the well written ending summation."
Former Long Beach Herald Editor Doug Miller took two second-place honors, in the News Story and Art Photo divisions. The Rockville Centre Herald won a second-place award in the Spot News Coverage category for its reporting on the fire at the Associated grocery story last fall and the photos that accompanied it.
Photographer Frank Koester captured first-place honors for Spot News Photo -- an image of Elmont firefighters rescuing disabled passengers from a bus after a storm last fall -- and Art Photo -- a close-up of a mosquito. Rounding out the editorial awards, The Jewish Star took third place in the Best Column category with a column by David Seidemann.
Design and production play key roles in the way advertisements and editorial copy are presented. The Herald's creative director, Jeff Negrin, won three awards, first place les staff," said Rhonda Glickman, vice president of sales. "It was an exciting weekend. Coming home with awards in so many different categories was great."
"I'm proud of all those who've earned awards," said O'Connell. "I think it's important to point out, however, that even though individuals win awards, it's a team effor s and people in the communities we cover. The biggest award is knowing that we make a positive difference in our Herald communities, that we give voice to the people who live and work there and report on the issues that affect them."
Heralds Publisher Stuart Richner added, "To be recognized as one of the top community newspaper groups in New York state is great, but what was most rewarding was that we were recognized across the board for excellence, from editorial and photography to design and advertising. It was a team effort -- our entire staff is to be commended." ÿÿ ˆ ' ÿÿ 6 ÿÿ * ÿ DSUM - Cliff HDNI STYL –
