DTH wins two 1st-place Press Association awards

The N.C. Press Association presented two competitive statewide awards to The Daily Tar Heel at a banquet Thursday night in Cary.

The DTH staff won first place awards in its division for ""Spot News Reporting"" and ""General Excellence for Newspaper Web Sites.""

The two awards join a third-place Green-Rossiter Award" also called a Duke Higher Education Award which was presented Wednesday by the association.

A total of 151 newspapers entered the contest. About 30 were in the DTH's division which comprises daily newspapers with a circulation of 15000 to 34999 people.

The Daily Tar Heel's circulation is 20"000.

No other college papers were recognized Thursday.

""The DTH is the only one of the college papers that enters on a consistent basis"" said Holly Johnson, member services director for the association. You're beating out pretty substantial papers.""

And the Tar Heel has won awards almost every year"" Johnson said.

The award for spot news reporting was given for the coverage following the death of former Student Body President Eve Carson in March 2008.

DTH Editor-in-chief Allison Nichols said the staff's professionalism during the tragic event was remarkable.

""The paper we produced was a stunning example of community journalism"" Nichols said.

Erica Perel, a former DTH editor-in-chief who joined the staff as the newsroom adviser this year, emphasized the importance of sound breaking news coverage.

The spot news award looks at how your newsroom responds to big news and comes together" Perel said.

That to me" is what The Daily Tar Heel is all about.""

And Managing Editor for Online Nicole Norfleet" who served as the online editor last year" emphasized the importance training for the future of online journalism.

""For us to win this type of award shows our dedication to not just being a newspaper but a news organization"" she said.

As we prepare for a digital age it is important for us to be able to communicate using every medium.""

The selection process for the contest began in October. Newspapers can enter articles in more than 25 categories" Johnson said.

Submissions are then judged by members of press associations in other states to prevent bias. This year the judges were from Georgia Pennsylvania and Washington.

The association is the only trade association for newspapers in North Carolina Johnson said.

It promotes professional development in the newspaper field" lobbies for open government and seeks to increase interest in newspapers.

DTH General Manager Kevin Schwartz said this year's awards are a testament to the DTH's continuing quality.

""Winning first place in those two particular categories and third place in the Duke awards is a pretty good trifecta" Schwartz said.

I think it says that we're doing what we're supposed to be doing" and we're doing it at a high level.""



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.