Times-Tribune Staff Report
The Times-Tribune staff took home 11 awards from the Kentucky Press Association’s annual Excellence in Kentucky Newspapers Contest, announced on Friday.
Managing Editor Samantha Swindler and Community Editor Bobbie Poynter took home first and second place, respectively, in column writing.
“Super writing with bell-ringer surprise ending,” judges wrote of Swindler’s column, “Outsiders looking in,” about Diane Sawyers’ 20/20 piece on children of Appalachia.
Poynter’s piece about her struggle with breast cancer, called “Against the odds,” was written with “a riveting style,” according to judges.
Swindler’s story on Corbin High School’s “Homecoming bandit” received an honorable mention in the Best Enterprise or Analytical Story category.
“What a fun story!” judges wrote. “Very well done, allowing all sides to have their say.”
Swindler also received a third-place award for Best Investigative Story for an article looking at a string of bad debts and lawsuits pending against state senatorial candidate Michael “Whitey” Adkins.
Graphic designer Heather Ponder received an honorable mention for her graphic and timeline that went with the story.
Sports Editor Les Dixon won third place for Best General News Picture for a photo shot during Corbin High School’s graduation.
He also received a third-place award for Best Sports Picture Essay, and third-place for Best Sports/Page Section.
“Good art, strong headlines,” judges wrote. “Really feeds the appetite for local sports enthusiasts.”
The Times-Tribune staff won first and third places for Best Special Section, with Fitness Plus Magazine taking top honors.
“Finally, a special edition that readers would want, not something newspapers force onto readers,” judges wrote about the monthly health and fitness magazine.
Assistant/Design Editor Brad Hall and staff writer Carl Keith Greene took the third place special section prize for the 2009 Progress Edition, which told the history of the cities and people of the Tri-County.
The Times-Tribune also won a second-place award for best Web site.
“The site, considering the amount of story links, is very clean,” judges wrote. “...Lots and lots of content!”
The annual KPA awards are announced in January and judged by a neighboring state’s press association. This year’s awards were judged by members of the Tennessee press.
The Times-Tribune competes among other daily newspapers in the state with circulations up to 10,000.
