Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
BERNALILLO — The Eastern New Mexico News was awarded the prestigious 2017 Associated Press State Newspaper of the Year honor on Saturday night at the 109th annual New Mexico Press Association convention at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa.
The AP award is given to one newspaper statewide annually, and The News was competing against much larger papers in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces. The News was launched last November as the merger and continuation of the Clovis News Journal and Portales News-Tribune. It is the first time the group has won the AP honor.
That accolade came as part of the 2017 NMPA AP Managing Editors Better Newspaper Contest over the weekend. The contest is sponsored jointly by NMPA and the New Mexico AP. Judging was completed by members of the Arizona Newspaper Association.
The News collected eight first-place awards and six second-place honors in the Daily Class II division as part of the contest.
The contest is divided in four categories: Daily Class I — 11,000 and above circulation, Daily Class II — 10,999 and below circulation, Weekly Class I — 5,000 and above circulation and Weekly Class II — 4,999 and below circulation.
Statewide, 43 newspapers competed. Entries had to appear from July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017.
The staff of The News, led by Editor David Stevens and Managing Editor Kevin Wilson, captured first place for Best News Coverage. Complete sections of the paper were judged on overall depth of local news coverage in the community, style layout and readability.
“A well-rounded newspaper,” wrote one of the judges. “The staff does a great job covering the tragic events as well as the things that make this community special. Obviously, this community is lucky to have such a paper.”
Wilson collected three awards on the night, while staff photographer Tony Bullocks and advertising designer Marty Williamson took home two apiece.
“We had a very strong showing at the annual press association awards,” said Publisher Rob Langrell. “It’s a testament to our small staff and team working together to accomplish great things. While it’s always nice to be recognized and to win awards like these, we all know that our eye is always on the bigger prize of keeping the community informed and serving as the best local newspaper that we can be each and every morning.”
Following is the full list of awards for the Eastern New Mexico News:
• Best News Coverage: Editor David Stevens and staff, first place
• News Writing: Kevin Wilson, second place
• Education Writing: Kevin Wilson, first place
• Sports Column Writing: Rob Langrell, first place
• General News Photography: Anna George, first place
• Sports Photography: Kevin Wilson, first place
• Feature Photography: Tony Bullocks, second place
• Photo Series: Tony Bullocks, second place
• Supplements and Special Sections: Editor David Stevens and staff for the 10th anniversary tornado section, first place
• Real Estate Advertisement: Marty Williamson, first place
• Automobile Advertisement: Ethan Lewis, first place
• Retail Advertisement: Marty Williamson, second place
• Shared/Signature Advertising Page: Franki Baca and staff, second place
• Classified Advertising Section: Rebekah Blakeley and staff, second place
