Congratulations to our staff for latest first place General Excellence award

What can I say except, “They are the best!”

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

I’m talking about the staff of the News Journal. Once again, this newspaper has won the General Excellence Award in the annual Kentucky Press Association’s contest for large weekly newspapers presented at its banquet last Friday night in Bowling Green.

Winning this award is a team effort. Every staff member at the News Journal has a part in it.

Of course, my congratulations goes to Mark White, news editor, Trevor Sherman, sports editor, and Timothy Wyatt, reporter, who won the individual awards.

Awards are given in several categories. Ours is in the large newspaper division, which is based on circulation.

In our division, we have won this honor seven of the last eight years. But when I look further back in our history I doubt that any newspaper in our category has won as many awards as the News Journal.

As the publisher of this newspaper, it is very much like being a coach of an athletic team that must have the best players in order to win.

From the start, I knew that it would take a staff of the best reporters, design people and salespeople to become a newspaper that could challenge a daily competitor.

I am fortunate that we succeeded in getting them, and most of them have been here during my 36-year tenure.

The first person I hired was Linda Carpenter. Her skills are unequaled and she is still with us. She is our office manager.

The same can be said about Jennifer Benefield. She is the best, and she has been with us over 30 years. She is both our circulation manager and bookkeeper.

Mark White is in his third decade with us. Mark is the “dean” of newsmen in southeast Kentucky. There is none better. He is our news editor.

Next came Melissa Hudson. As a long time sales manager, she is also the best.

Trevor Sherman has been with us for a number of years. There is nothing he can’t do, be it writing, composing or selling. He is a staff rolled into one.

Last, but not least, is Timothy Wyatt. Although his tenure has been short, he has proven to be an excellent reporter and photographer.

I like to brag on these people because they are the ones that make our newspaper the best large weekly in the state, and also because they make me look like I know what I’m doing.

You will notice that our staff is smaller than it used to be. This has happened to all newspapers largely because of the Internet. However, our website was selected as the best in the state as well at the awards banquet. Another honor because of this staff.

We celebrate these honors, and because of your loyalty as readers and advertisers it makes it more rewarding.