BOSTON — The Addison Independent was honored with 20 awards in the Better Newspaper Contest organized by the New England Newspaper and Press Association. The prizewinners were named at the association’s annual winter convention in Boston this past Friday and Saturday.
Foremost among the awards bestowed on the Independent was first place in General Excellence among large weekly newspapers in the six New England states. The staff of the Addy Indy, which later this year will mark 70 years covering the 23 towns of Addison County, Vt., plus our neighbor Brandon, also garnered top awards for Best Overall Website and Local Election Coverage. The other awards ran the gamut from news stories, advertising, photos, columnists, promotion, and design and layout (See a complete list of awards below).
“We are delighted to have our work recognized by our peers, and hope it is a reflection on the value that our subscribers and readers put on our publications,” said Independent News Editor John McCright.
McCright gave a nod to Addy Indy Senior Reporter John Flowers, who not only earned a first-place plaque in Crime and Courts Reporting for his May 2015 story on juveniles flooding into Addison County courts, but he also won two second-place awards for Health Reporting and Local Personality Profile, plus a third place for History Reporting. Flowers’ long-time colleague Andy Kirkaldy is recognized by many readers for his sports reporting, but he is also a big contributor of news stories, too, and this year he claimed first place in Education Reporting.
Staff photographer Trent Campbell earned first place for his photo of an artisan restoring St. Mary’s Church. Veteran Advertising Representative won a first-place accolade in the Local Display Ads category.
Two outside contributors also won in their categories: Eric Davis for Serious Columnist and Karl Lindholm for Sports Columnist.
No small affair, this year’s competition drew 3,100 entries that were published between Aug. 1, 2014, and July 31, 2015.
Editor and Publisher Angelo Lynn could savor not only the Addison Independent awards, but also the 15 awards (six first-place) won by his other publications: Vermont Sports Magazine, The Mountain Times of Killington and The Brandon Reporter.
“We’re thrilled,” Lynn said. “And grateful to the hard work of our terrific staff here at the Addison Independent, but also of the Addison County business community and all of our loyal readers who help support this independently owned newspaper.”
NENPA Awards for 2016
First place:
•  General Excellence
•  Best Overall Website
•  Local Election Coverage, Entire Staff
•  Crime and Courts Reporting, John Flowers
•  Education Reporting, Andy Kirkaldy
•  General News Photo, Trent Campbell
•  Serious Columnist, Eric Davis
•  Sports Columnist, Karl Lindholm
•  Local Display Ad, Pam Dunne
 
Second place:
•  Arts & Entertainment Reporting, David Weinstock
•  Commentary, Lee J. Kahrs
•  Health Reporting, John Flowers
•  Local Personality Profile, John Flowers
•  Special Section / Advertising Supplement
•  Subscription Sales Promotion
 
Third place:
•  Best Ad Designer, Sue Miller
•  History Reporting, John Flowers
•  Humor Columnist, Jessie Raymond
•  News Video, Evan Johnson
•  Themed Multiple Advertiser Pages
 
Congratulations also to our sister papers and their 15 awards, including 6 first place awards!
Vermont Sports Magazine
First place:
•  Audience Building Promotion, Christy Lynn
•  Audience Involvement, Christy Lynn, Anna Harrington
•  Themed Multiple Advertiser Page(s), Angelo Lynn
Second place:
•  Human Interest Feature Story, Lisa Lynn
•  Personality Profile (Specialty), Lisa Lynn
•  Overall Design and Presentation (print), Angelo Lynn, Lisa Lynn, Shawn Braley
Third place:
•  Feature Photo, Herb Swanson
•  Local Display Ad, Christy Lynn
 
The Reporter, Brandon-Pittsford-Proctor
First place:
•  General News Story, Lee J. Kahrs
Second place:
•  Arts & Entertainment Reporting, Lee J. Kahrs
•  Commentary, Lee J. Kahrs
 
Mountain Times, Killington
First place:
•  Most Creative Use of Small Print Space
•  Digital Product Promotion to Readers
Second place:
•  Pure Advertising Niche Publication
•  Local Display Ad (Color)