The Daily Home won 18 awards in the 2000 Alabama Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, including second place in three major categories General Excellence, Best Public Service and Freedom of Information.In the Best Public Service category, the newspaper won for its week-long series, Public Education: Pass or fail? It also won first place in Best In-Depth News Story or Series.
The entire editorial staff contributed to the annual project.
They were: Staff writers Denise Sinclair, Laura Nation, Paul Cockrell, Mack Knopf, Casey Georg, Jon Cullimore, David Atchison, Chris Norwood, Scott Adamson, Josh Johnson and Carol Pappas; photographers Bob Crisp and Jerry Martin; and editors Janice Keith, Sharon Kent and Rob Strickland.
For Freedom of Information, staff writer Laura Nation and Publisher Carol Pappas were cited for their coverage of the failed transfer of Coosa Valley Elementary Principal Thelma Jones in Pell City.
Stories and editorials fought against two questionable secret sessions the board held in conjunction with the transfer. They also raised questions about the process and how it was handled by the Pell City superintendent and school board.
Eventually, the appeal hearing ended with no action against the 20-year principal.
In other news categories, the newspaper won:
o Second place in Best Use of Color/Editorial.
o First place in Best Locally Generated News Coverage.
o Third Place in Best Use of Photographs/Editorial Content
Individual awards went to:
o Denise Sinclair and Jason Landers, first place in spot news for their coverage of the fire at Pursell Industries in Sylacauga.
o Scott Adamson, third place in Best Sports News In-Depth Story or Series for the special DieHard 500 edition; second place in Best Sports Single Event for Iron Bowl coverage; first place for Best Sports Feature and second place for Best Local Sports Column.
o Bob Crisp, first place in Best Feature Photo and third place in Best Spot News Photo.
o Jim Smothers, second place in Best Sports Photo.
o Graham Hadley, third place in Graphics.
In advertising categories, the newspaper won:
o Third place in Best Advertising Campaign for its Manufactured Housing 2000.
o Third place in Best Presentation of ROP Advertising.
Seventy-two newspapers submitted 2,857 entries in the annual contest. This year's contest was judged by the Arkansas Press Association.
The awards will be presented July 22 at APA's 129th annual summer convention at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach.
