The Clarke County Tribune walked away with 12 editorial awards Saturday, July 10, 2021, during the annual meeting of the Mississippi Press Association and 2020 Better Newspaper Contest in Biloxi, MS.
The contest was judged by volunteers from the Georgia Press Association. Thirty-four newspapers submitted a total of 1,623 entries into this year’s editorial contest.
“We congratulate all the winners in this year's contest," said MPA President Kevin Cooper, senior vice president of Boone Newspapers, Inc. "It demonstrates the very hard work they all accomplished in a year that was full of extraordinary challenges for everyone in every community."
Awards won were as follows:
Best Planned Series of Stories – Third Place Brittney Mangum for the Unsolved Murder Cases
Best Sports News Story – Third Place Brittney Mangum for Lady Panther Champions
Best Sports Feature Story – First Place Brittney Mangum for Remembering the Class of 1970 Panthers Football Team—“Great ‘memory’ piece on a local historical football feature from the past. The integration angle adds interest as well.”; and Third Place for Quitman Archery Team—“Good coverage on what is considered a niche sport. It's often tough for community newspapers to cover all sports a school participates in and features like this fulfill that role. Well presented on the page as well.”
Best Feature Story – First Place Brittney Mangum for her story on Toshia Evans, 2020 Hometown Heroes—“I loved reading this piece. While Evans' backstory is tragic, you managed to tell it in a beautiful way that made you love her and want to thank her for her sacrifices.”
General News Photograph – Third Place Jennifer Bozeman for Walking with a Purpose
Best Pictorial Series – First Place Belinda Allen and Jennifer Bozeman for T-Bucket photos in 2020 Magazine; and Third Place for Distinguished Young Women Program
Best Special Section – First Place for 2020 Profile Edition on Education—“Well executed section. The volume of information is astonishing. Copy framed well by ad support. Great job all around.”; and Third Place 2020 Hometown Heroes section—“Superb section on a subject near and dear to all of us.”
Best Headline – Second Place Jennifer Bozeman and Brittney Mangum for headlines: “Schools: To return or not to return, that is the question”, “SUPERVISORS: JUST SAY NO TO HACK!”, and “Tornado: ‘It was like the Wizard of Oz’”
Best Lede Sentence – Third Place Brittney Mangum Law Enforcement – Goldilocks – “Clarke County had its own Goldilocks and the Three Bears experience early Sunday morning.”
Congratulations, Brittney, Belinda, Monay and Jennifer on your outstanding work!
Awards for advertising excellence will be handed out in February during MPA’s Mid-Winter Conference.
Founded in 1866 and now in its 155th year, MPA is trade association representing Mississippi newspaper media.
