MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Humanizing the plight of the addicted homeless, exposing a former sheriff’s criminal misdeeds and dogged pursuit of public records accented the annual Best of CNHI journalism awards. Newsrooms from CNHI newspapers in 19 states submitted their work from 2024.
The Traverse City Record-Eagle in Michigan received the Newspaper of the Year top honor in Division I for CNHI’s largest newspapers; recognized for exemplary journalism in print and online, including a compelling insight into how drug and alcohol addiction adds to the plight of the homeless. It also won plaudits for an explanatory look at “Forgotten Parents” that focused on teen fathers who rarely get the attention or assistance of teen mothers. Vigorous editorial pages offered solutions as well as describing local problems. Breaking news on its website and mobile platforms served the community with timely updates on spot news.
The Greenville Herald-Banner in Texas earned first place in the Division II Newspaper of the Year competition, for its robust local news coverage, strong editorials and commentary on local topics. Judges applauded the paper for emphasizing hyperlocal as well as city and county government news, along with the right ration of relevant national news in print and online to keep its readers informed..
The Public Service Journalism award for Division I went to the News and Tribune of Jeffersonville, Indiana. The paper demonstrated courage in its extensive coverage of a corrupt former sheriff, who was eventually convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Strong editorials on the sheriff’s violation of public trust accompanied the detailed news coverage of the scandal.
The Public Service Journalism award for Division II went to the Ottumwa Courier in Iowa for what judges called “tremendous watchdog journalism from start to finish” in pursuit of public records. The paper explained how the system is supposed to work and presented reasoned arguments for access to public records.
Division I Magazine of the Year honors went to Johnstown Magazine in Pennsylvania. Judges said, “This year’s winner came to the table with exceptional photography that shines not only on the cover but throughout every issue. The design is clean and consistent, the content is engaging and relatable.”
Division II Magazine of the Year honors went to Haverhill Magazine in Massachusetts. “Haverhill magazine stood out as a very ‘thoughtful’ magazine,” the judges said. “The content was local, and the photography well done. Overall content, community involvement, layout, design and advertising complement the content.”
Individual winners:
Reporter of the Year
Division 1: Gail McCarthy, Gloucester Daily Times
Division 2: Emmet Jamieson, Claremore Daily Progress
Best Breaking News
Division 1: David Hurst, Johnstown Tribune-Democrat
Division II: Staff, Transylvania Times
Photographer of the Year
Division I: Thomas Slusser, Johnstown Tribune-Democrat
Division II: David Claybourn, Greenville Herald-Banner
Sports Reporter of the Year
Division I: James Cook, Traverse City Record-Eagle
Division II: Marcus Trevino, Stillwater News-Press
Editorial Writer of the Year
Division I: Damon Cain, Beckley Register-Herald
Division II: Kent Miller, Greeneville Herald-Banner
Columnist of the Year
Division I: Chip Minemyer, Johnstown Tribune-Democrat
Division II: Amy Graham-McCarty, Danville Commercial News
Designer of the Year
Division I: Kyra Smith-Cullen, Sunbury Daily Item
Division II: Warren Morrison, Greenville Herald-Banner