News & Observer, Herald-Sun win 44 awards at NC Press Association ceremony
The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun took home 44 awards Thursday at the North Carolina Press Association awards ceremony in Raleigh, including top awards for their websites.
The awards were given at the annual event that honors the best work from news organizations across the state.
The News & Observer won nine first-place awards as well as third place for General Excellence among the largest newspapers in the state. The News & Observer also won first place General Excellence for its website.
The Herald-Sun in Durham won eight first-place awards and second place in the General Excellence category for its website.
Reporters Kate Murphy, Martha Quillin and Jane Stancill won the Duke University/Green-Rossiter Award for Distinguished Newspaper Work in Higher Education Reporting in the daily division.
Staff writer Josh Shaffer won the Media and the Law award from the N.C. Bar Association for a three-part series on bail reform in North Carolina.
Here is a list of the awards.
The News & Observer
First Place
▪ Staff, General Excellence for Websites
▪ Kate Murphy, Martha Quillin and Jane Stancill, Duke University/Green-Rossiter Award for Distinguished Newspaper Work in Higher Education Reporting (daily division)
▪ Drew Jackson, Beat Feature Reporting, “Raleigh’s Ashley Christensen takes home James Beard Award for best chef in the US”
▪ Will Doran, Election and Political Reporting, “How lawmakers reshaped NC districts, using midnight work sessions and lottery balls”
▪ Josh Shaffer, Best Ledes
▪ Walter magazine, Best Magazine or Niche Publication, June 2019
▪ Dan Kane, Sports News Reporting, “NCAA rejected recommendations to halt academic fraud, newly released documents show”
▪ Andrew Roman, Alma Washington and Staff, Use of Social Media
▪ Travis Long, Best Video, “Undocumented man arrested after leaving sanctuary to meet with immigration officials”
Second Place
▪ Zachery Eanes, Business Writing, “One challenge in expanding broadband in NC? Knowing who doesn’t actually have it”
▪ Will Doran and Andrew Carter, Election and Political Reporting, “The impact of NC gerrymandering: Dividing races, cities and a campus”
▪ Dan Kane, Investigative Reporting, UNC Development Finance Initiative investigation
▪ Josh Shaffer, Julia Wall and Autumn Linford, Multimedia Project, “A wanted man remained free. A girl was murdered. How the system failed Hania Aguilar.”
▪ Jonathan M. Alexander, Sports Enterprise Reporting, “ACC after hours: For power programs, playing at 9 p.m. is the price of prominence”
▪ Luke DeCock, Sports Columns
▪ Richard Stradling, Best Ledes
▪ Walter magazine, Best Magazine or Niche Publication, March 2019
▪ Robert Willett, Photo Page or Essay, “High school football holds hurricane-devastated community together”
▪ Robert Willett, Sports Photography, Zion Williamson blows out his Nike
▪ Travis Long, Spot Photography, Minimum Wage protest
Third Place
▪ Staff, General Excellence
▪ T. Keung Hui, Education Reporting, “Your child’s teacher likely wasn’t fingerprinted during hiring. Are students at risk?”
▪ Dan Kane and David Raynor, Election and Political Reporting, “Thousands of state employees got big raises — up to 65 percent. Now lawmakers are objecting.”
▪ Carli Brosseau and Alex Lang, Investigative Reporting, “‘How many have to die?’ Mental health patients endure nightmare transport conditions.”
▪ Jessica Banov, Mike Williams, Steve Chavez, Email newsletter, Tar Heel of the Year Award newsletters
▪ Staff, Headline Writing
The Herald-Sun
First Place
▪ Staff, Breaking News Coverage, Durham Gas Explosion
▪ Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan and Carli Brosseau, Business Writing, “Gentrification in Durham: The ‘it’ city’s downtown rise hasn’t led to a black-owned boom”
▪ Thomasi McDonald, Beat News Reporting, “Tired of burying young people.’ A Durham funeral home serves the city’s murder victims.”
▪ Tammy Grubb and Mark Schultz, City and County Government Reporting, “Palestinian-American activist Sarsour draws protesters, standing ovation in Hillsborough”
▪ Alex Zietlow, Sports Feature Writing, “‘This story could save someone’s life’: UNC football’s Jake Lawler on his depression”
▪ Steve Wiseman, Sports News Reporting, “After Duke clears Zion Williamson, Michael Avenatti insists Nike paid the basketball star”
▪ Andrew Roman, Alma Washington and Staff, Use of Social Media
▪ Martha Quillin, Best Ledes
Second Place
▪ Staff, General Excellence for Websites
▪ Will Doran, Election and Political Reporting, “NC ballot officials vote against new election-security rules, citing 2020 time crunch”
▪ Tammy Grubb and Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, General News Reporting, “Consultant for light rail pleaded guilty to fraud after lavish spending in Arizona job”
▪ Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, Religion and Faith Reporting, “Gentrification in Durham: ‘We’re not going anywhere,’ says pastor of historic black church”
Third Place
▪ Zachery Eanes, Business Writing, “North Carolina’s pig farmers nervously watch spread of African swine fever in China”
▪ Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, Election and Political Reporting, “What the state budget standoff is costing NC taxpayers”
▪ Shelbi Polk, News Enterprise Reporting, “How many human-trafficking victims work in NC massage parlors? More than you may think.”
▪ Robert Willett, Spot Photography, Gas explosion aftermath
▪ Casey Toth, Video, “This big, beloved oak was spared the chainsaw twice. But, alas, it must come down now.”
This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 8:00 PM.