News-Gazette Wins Seven VPA Awards

The News-Gazette won seven awards in the Virginia Press Association’s annual better newspaper contest that were announced May 4 at the VPA’s news and advertising conference held at the Charlottesville Omni Hotel.

The husband-wife team of Darryl and Mary Woodson won first place in the picture story or essay category for their photos of the 611 steam train engine’s firstever fall excursion that began in Goshen. “Excellent incorporation of the train’s scale and surroundings in your shots,” wrote the judge. Darryl Woodson is editor of The News-Gazette and Mary Woodson is a long-time freelance photographer.

Darryl Woodson claimed a first-place award for headline writing. His entries were “Egg Prices No Yoke,” for a story about the high price of eggs; “Rush: The Man, the Legend, The Pizza Guy,” for a feature about the retirement of Domino’s Pizza franchise owner Rush Earman;” and “Breathing Easier,” for a story about the relief felt after torrential rains doused a huge forest fire that had caused smoke to hover over the region. Of the headlines, the judge wrote, “I laughed out loud, Great job.”

The Woodsons also won a third-place award in the combination picture and story category for their entry “Chasing the 611,” that detailed their efforts at photographing the 611 steam engine during its fall excursions between Goshen and Staunton. “Fantastic photography helps this first-person perspective on chasing the 611. Nice piece detailing the ‘craze,’ and just what it’s all about,” wrote the judge.

Assistant editor Ed Smith took first place in editorial writing. His entry included three editorials – “Book Battle,” about a controversy over removing certain books from the Lylburn Downing Middle School library; “State Funding,” about the underfunding of Virginia’s public schools; and “Trouble At YMCA,” about the fallout over the firing of the local YMCA director by the regional board that oversees it. The judge wrote of the entries: “Very well written localized editorials. States the paper’s opinion clearly. Give[s] some local historical context. Supports the newspaper’s opinion.”

Copy editor, columnist and photographer Joann Ware won a second place award for her photo, “A Patriotic Moment,” which was a silhouetted image of cowboys unfurling an American flag at the opening of the Lone Star Rodeo at the Virginia Horse Center. “Very visually appealing,” wrote the judge.

Layout designer and photographer Stephanie Mikels Blevins won a third-place award in the sports feature photo category. Her entry was a photo of Rockbridge County High School senior John Lindberg playing the saxophone while clad in his football uniform during the marching band’s halftime show.

Anneliese Schneider won a third-place award in education writing for three stories she wrote from covering the local schools. Schneider began working as a staff writer and reporter for The News-Gazette following her graduation from Washington and Lee University last spring. She worked previously as a student intern reporter at the newspaper.

Schneider’s winning stories were “First Day Jitters,” about the first day of school for kindergartners at Kling Elementary; “Pulled Library Book,” about the removal of a book from Lylburn Downing Middle School after a parent complained about its content; and “Literacy Act Prep,” about how the local schools prepared for new state literacy guidelines.