The Durango Herald staff won 45 awards Friday and Saturday in two major newspaper contests, including awards for general excellence, best website and public service journalism.
The newspaper won 23 awards in the Colorado Associated Press Editors and Reporters contest and 22 awards in the Colorado Press Association contest.
“The Herald’s journalistic success begins with its readers and advertisers,” said Richard Ballantine, chairman of Ballantine Communications Inc., which owns the Herald. “Thanks to all of the Herald’s departments – both print and digital – including advertising, circulation, page building and human resources. Everyone in the building deserves praise and thanks for their good work.”
The Herald took first place for general excellence in the CAPER contest. It also took first place for its website, www.durangoherald.com.
“Good, well-organized website,” the judges wrote.
Herald Staff Writer Mary Shinn, Copy Editor David Buck and KDUR journalist Sarah Flower won a statewide third-place award in the CAPER contest for their multi-week series about youth suicide, titled “Creating Connections: Solutions to Youth Suicide in La Plata County.”
“Love your solutions-based focus,” the judges wrote. “Looks like a great media partnership. Beautiful presentation. Handled a tough subject with sensitive restraint.”
The Herald competed against Aurora Sentinel and Steamboat Springs Pilot & Today in the CAPER contest, which does not include advertising awards. It competed against 10 newspapers in the CPA awards, including the Aurora Sentinel, Steamboat Springs Pilot & Today and Colorado Independent.
In the CPA contest, the newspaper’s advertising department won a sweepstakes award, which included five first-place awards and six second-place awards.
The Pine River Times won four CPA awards, including first-place awards for Best Photo Slideshow or Gallery and Best Website-Weekly. It won second-place awards for Best Sports Story (Joel Priest) and Best Serious Column Writing (Melanie Brubaker Mazur).
Feature Story: Deputy Editor Shane Benjamin, third place, “Gift of the Gab.”
General News Photo: Photography Editor Jerry McBride, first place, “Logging Returns.”
Business Story: Herald Staff Writer Patrick Armijo, second place, “Region’s Economy Plods Along.”
Picture Story/Photo Essay: McBride, second place, “416 Fire.”
Spot News Story:Herald interns Ryan Simonovich and Alex Semadeni, first place, “Flood Cleanup,” and the Herald staff, second place, for its coverage of the 416 Fire.
Spot News Photo: McBride, first place, “416 Fire Slurry Bomber,” and McBride, third place, “Flooded home.”
Environmental Story: Staff Writer Jonathan Romeo, first place, “Trashing of Public Lands,” and Romeo, second place, “Slurry and the Environment,” of which the judge wrote: “Stunning photos and layout. Great reporting as well.”
News Column: Dr. Carol J. Huser, first place, for her series of columns called “Coroner’s Report.”
Editorials: Editorial Page Editor Robert Meyerowitz, third place.
Portrait/Personality: McBride, first place, “DJ Alex Rodriguez,” and McBride, second place, “Landis Shoes.”
Portfolio: McBride, first place. The judges wrote: “A hard-hitting collection of impressive photos.”
Series: Shinn, Flower and Buck, first place, “Creating Connections: Solutions to Youth Suicide in La Plata County.”
Sports Column: Regional Sports Editor John Livingston, first place. The judges wrote: “A great voice expressing enthusiasm and a good column that I’m sure local sports enthusiasts enjoy reading.”
Sports Photo: McBride, first place, “Fiesta Days.” The judges wrote: “A great moment caught at the right time. Nice photo.” McBride also won third place for his shot called “Bayfield Basketball.”
Sports Story: Livingston, second place, “Thevenard Disqualified While Leading Hardrock.”
Breaking News Video: McBride, first place, “Flooding in Animas Valley.” The judges wrote: “This is a great example of a well-made, informative video. Clean understandable audio. B-roll was well used during the interview. Great job all around by the videographer.
Best Sports Story: Livingston, first place, “Dan Ford: Voice of the Wolverines.”
Best Sports Column Writing: Livingston, first place, “416 Fire, closures hit hard/Vallecito Bowl.”
Best Feature Page Design: David Holub, first place, “Who Will Win Durango Voice?”
Best Website – Daily: Herald staff, second place.
Best Sustained Coverage: Herald staff writers Shinn, Benjamin and Bret Hauff, second place, “Homelessness in Durango.”
Best Sports Event Story: Livingston, second place, “Bayfield state football champs.”
Best Serious Column Writing: Huser, second place, for her columns “Sexual abuse leaves indelible footprint on a life” and “Murder, DNA and wild goose chase.”
Best Breaking News/Deadline Reporting: Semadeni, second place, “416 Fire Rages.”
Best Education Story: Armijo, second place, “Fort Lewis College Struggles with Enrollment.”
Best Restaurant or Dining Ad: Teressa Nelson and Justin Meek, first place, “Derailed,” and Shawna Long and Meek, second place, “Honeyville.”
Best Real Estate Ad: Kelly Bulkley and Meek, second place, “Edgewood Construction.”
Best Automotive Ad: Nelson and Meek, second place, “Treadworks.”
Best Large Space Ad: Nelson and Meek, first place, “Chisolm Trail RV.”
Best Small Space Ad: Amy Baird and Ridings, second place, “La Plata County Humane Society.”
Best Black & White Ad: Baird and Meek, first place, “Colorado Parks and Wildlife.”
Best Advertising Campaign: Bulkley, Ridings and Meek, first place, “Veritas,” and Nelson and Ridings, second place, “Durango Silverton Train.”
Best Classified Page(s) or Section(s):Herald advertising staff, second place, “Classified.”
