News Journal brings wins sixth first place General Excellence Award in seven years

The News Journal brought home 20 awards Friday night at the annual Kentucky Press Association convention awards banquet, including its sixth First Place General Excellence Award in seven years.

News Journal reporter Timothy Wyatt, Managing Editor Mark White, and Sports Editor Trevor Sherman display the News Journal’s plaque recognizing it for winning the First Place Kentucky Press Association General Excellence Award in the large weekly division Friday night.

The News Journal garnered a total of eight first place awards in 26 categories plus the first place general excellence award in the large weekly newspaper division. The News Journal also won six second place awards and five third place awards.

News Journal Publisher Don Estep said that he was proud of the News Journal staff, which he said continues to dominate in the large weekly newspaper category each year at the Kentucky Press Association Convention.

News Journal Sports Editor Trevor Sherman led the way with six total individual awards.

Sherman got four first place awards in the categories of best sports columnist, best sports story, best sports feature and best special section/sports special section.

“Columns give a personal touch to local sports, and help give another perspective to the things people are reading in the sports section,” judges wrote about Sherman’s sports column.

The first place best sports story was about Corbin and Williamsburg athletes bringing home state track and field titles.

“Excellent quote usage. Gave lots of information without making it boring, which is a great feat,” judges wrote about Sherman’s first place best sports story award.

Sherman also received a third place award for best sports story.

Sherman’s best sports feature story was a profile on former Whitley County High School Lady Colonel Lindsey Shope, who is living out her dream as a player at the  University of the Cumberlands.

“This writer is a true professional in the field. His style and cadence pulls the reader through the story,” judge wrote about the best sports feature story entry.

Sherman also garnered a second place award for best general news story for a piece he wrote headlined, “The Spirit of Kentucky” about the efforts of local community members to help Eastern Kentucky flood victims.

Sherman and Managing Editor Mark White shared a second place award for best picture essay for photos they took of the 2022 Whitley County Fair.

White brought home five individual awards, including first place awards for best columnist and best enterprise or analytical story.

“Calls to action in the community, both with local and state issues,” judges wrote about White’s columns.

White’s best enterprise story dealt with coverage of three state troopers being indicted in U.S. District Court in connection with an excessive force arrest, and a sidebar that outlined the fact that the victim in the excessive force case pleaded guilty to arson in connection with a blaze at one of the indicted officer’s homes.

White also received second place awards for best breaking news coverage, best business or agribusiness story and best general news picture.

The breaking news coverage story dealt with a fire that severely damaged Davis Salvage. The business/agribusiness story dealt with Whitley County High School’s use of hydroponics to grow the first of many new crops of lettuce.

The general news photo was of local WWII veteran Paul Jones taking a ride in a vintage B-25 bomber as part of the honor flight program.

White and former News Journal People Editor Jennifer K. Perkins shared a third place award for best ongoing/continuing coverage story of the Paul Brock capital murder trial and Brock’s subsequent escape attempt from the Whitley County Detention Center along with a fellow accused murder suspect. They were one locked door away from freedom.

Perkins also received a first place award for best use of social media or multi-media for her promotional campaign for “Newsy,” an elf from the North Pole, who was sent to the tri-county area to help Santa Claus with his naughty and nice lists of local residents.

In addition, Perkins received third place awards for best columnist and best headline writer.

News Journal reporter Timothy Wyatt took first and second place honors in the best lede category.

Wyatt’s awards included a story about Whitley County Colonel Players’ drama instructor David Sweet taking his final bow as Colonel Players director.

“When the curtain closes this weekend on the Whitley County Colonel Players’ final production of the year, the drama program’s instructor will take his final bow in that role, where he has taught and directed for 21 years. David Sweet, known affectionately by his drama students as “The Sweetness,” will be entering retirement at the end of the school year,” one lede read.

Judges were very complimentary about Wyatt’s work.

“Absolutely phenomenal ledes! Reading them had me emotionally invested in the rest of the stories!” one judge’s comment read.

“Great ledes make me want to finish the whole story!” another judge’s comment read.

Wyatt also tied for a third place award for best breaking news coverage for a story he wrote about the cancellation of the remainder of the Whitley County elementary football season due to a number of reports of spectators at games making threats and creating a hostile atmosphere for others.

Members of the Oklahoma Press Association judged this year’s contest.