Parkersburg South swimmer Quade Harris (right) celebrates with assistant coach Don Bailey after breaking the school record and placing second in the 100-yard backstroke at the 2023 West Virginia State Swim Meet in Morgantown. This photo by sports reporter Kerry Patrick won first place in the sports photography category for Division I in the West Virginia Press Association’s 2024 Better Newspapers Contest. (File photo)

CHARLESTON – The Parkersburg News and Sentinel received several editorial and advertising awards in the West Virginia Press Association’s annual Better Newspapers Contest, including second place in the General Excellence category for its department.

The General Excellence Awards are based on the points each winning entry receives. The News and Sentinel is part of Division I, which includes daily newspapers with a circulation of over 9,000.

“Our goal is to always deliver the best possible product to our readers,” Said editor Jim Spanner. “It is an honor to receive recognition from our colleagues for this work.”

The editors received first prize for best special feature for the February and March foundation pages, which focus on important community institutions. Another first prize went to the editors for community service for a follow-up story that responded to a reader question about snakes that had gone missing after an accident in Washington County.

The staff were also honored with second place awards for best newspaper design and best editorial page, as well as third place for best single issue.

Third place, Best Cover, by Kristofer McKenna.

The Advertising Department received second and third place awards for Best Public Announcement Advertising for contributions to a free tire and paint drive and the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, respectively. The Advertising Department also received a second place award for Best Special Section – Sports for the annual Pigskin Preview.

Page designer Kristofer McKenna and news editor Terry Estep took first and second place, respectively, in the Best Headline category. McKenna also won third place in the Best Front Page category.

National reporter Steven Allen Adams won first place in the Best News Columnist category for his weekly column, Reporter’s Notebook, and also secured third place for best breaking news coverage for his article on U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, who is not running for re-election.

Sports reporter Kerry Patrick won first place in the Sports Photography category for his photo of Parkersburg South swimmer Quade Harris with assistant coach Don Bailey at the West Virginia State Swim Meet, where South defended its state title. Patrick also earned third place in the Best Sporting Event Coverage category for his coverage of Tyler Consolidated’s regional baseball championship against Wheeling Central.

Local editor Evan Bevins received first place in the Best Breaking News Coverage category for a story about a woman who was arrested after an hours-long standoff after waving what turned out to be a pellet gun. He also won second place in the Best Government Affairs Coverage category for a story about the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources halting plans to establish a forensic residential facility in Parkersburg after public protests.

Online manager Art Smith won first place in the Best Illustration, Cartoon or Graphic category for his graphic depicting the new Parkersburg Ohio River Trail, which opened last year.

Editor Candice Black won second place for best lifestyle columnist for her columns at Black Ink.

“I appreciate the hard work and dedication of our team to keep the residents of the Mid-Ohio Valley informed,” Said editor-in-chief Christina Myer. “It’s encouraging that it’s being recognized in this way.”

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Parkersburg News and Sentinel honored in West Virginia Press Association’s 2024 Better Newspapers Contest

Editorial

* Employee, 1st place, Best Special Section

* Steven Allen Adams, first place, Best News Columnist

* Evan Bevins, employee; first place; service to the community

* Evan Bevins, first place, Best Breaking News Reporting

* Kristofer McKenna, first place, Best Headline

* Kerry Patrick, first place, sports photography

* Art Smith, first place, Best Illustration, Cartoon or Graphic

* Employee, second place, Best Editorial Page

* Employee, second place, Best Newspaper Design

* Evan Bevins, second place, Best Coverage of Government Affairs

* Candice Black, second place, Best Lifestyle Columnist

* Terry Estep, second place, Best Headline

* Employee, third place, Best Single Issue

* Steven Allen Adams, third place, Best Breaking News Reporting

* Kristofer McKenna, third place, Best Cover

* Kerry Patrick, third place, Best Sports Event Coverage

Advertising Department

* Employee, Second Place, Best Public Notice Advertising

* Employee, second place, Best Special Section – Sports

* Employee, third place, Best Public Notice Advertising

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