A series of stories about the local effects of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill was one of the Enterprise-Journal’s three first-place award-winners at the Mississippi Press Association’s annual convention.
All told, the Enterprise-Journal won 12 awards for news and sports coverage in 2010, competing against mid-sized daily papers in Natchez, Hattiesburg, Vicksburg, Meridian and Columbus.
Staff writer Ernest Herndon wrote the oil spill series, a four-part package of interviews with local residents who own camps, property, boats or have another stake in the Gulf of Mexico. The category judge described it as a “strong first-person look at the effects of last year’s oil spill, linking it back to the McComb area. I’m sure readers read every word.”
Another series by Herndon, about an Enterprise Baptist Church youth group’s weekend retreat at the Bogue Chitto River, placed third in the same category.
Herndon won second place in general news coverage, for his report of a gathering in Amite County to dedicate a historic marker in honor of Herbert Lee, who was killed for his voting rights activities in 1961.
The newspaper’s other first-place awards were in feature photography and design. Former staff photographer Aaron Rhoads’ picture of fireworks at New Heights Baptist Church, framed by an American flag, won the top prize in feature photography.
Managing Editor Matt Williamson and News Editor Karen Freeman shared the design award, which honors the overall look of the newspaper.
Rhoads also won a second-place award in sports action photo. The picture showed former soldier Josh Wells flipping a jujitsu student during a class at Epic Martial Arts.
Other awards included:
• Editor Jack Ryan won second place in commentary columns and third place in general interest columns.
• Williamson, Freeman and Herndon shared second place in the headline-writing category.
• The Enterprise-Journal placed third in general excellence, and also won third-place awards for its editorial page and its family page.
