The Alabama Press Association announced a majority of its 2024 winners on Wednesday and for the second year in a row, Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. earned over 60 individual and staff-wide awards.
Between TPI’s four newspapers and two magazines, 68 awards were claimed by the combined staff. APA awards are given out based on select criteria and are judged by writers and staff from papers around the country. In Tallapoosa County, many awards were won based on the persistent and relentless covering of the April 15 shooting. In Elmore County, photography and top-tier advertising caught the eyes of the judging panel.
At the end of the month, winners of the upper level categories will be announced such as General Excellence, Story and Photo of the Year and Magazine of the Year. For five years running, the Alexander City Outlook has been awarded a General Excellence recognition.
The Alexander City Outlook
FIRST PLACE: Best Production and Printing; Best Spot News Photo, "The shoes and the night I will never forget" by Lizi Arbogast Gwin; Best Use of Video (Shorter than 2 Minutes), "Backpack Buddies aids students who experience food inefficiency" by Abigail Murphy; Best Classified Page or Section; Best Original/ Creative Idea, "People Read" by Audra Spears; Best Innovative Online Advertising, Single Ad, "SNF Designs" by Hidey Arrington, Audra Spears
SECOND PLACE: Best Editorial, "Clean Up Alabama is not protecting children, it’s hurting them" by Abigail Murphy; Best Human Interest Column, "It starts with one day a time" by Lizi Arbogast Gwin; Best Spot News Photo, “Dadeville second prayer vigil” by Dalton Middleton; Best Special Section - Newsprint, “Gridiron Guide” by staff; Best Use of Video (Longer than 2 Minutes), "A Tale of Ghosts and Murder" by Abigail Murphy; Best Regularly Scheduled Special Section, "Progress-Opportunity Knocks!" by Audra Spears, Betsy Iler, Kenneth Boone; Best Niche Publication, "Frontline Heroes Coloring Book" by Audra Spears, Renee Trice, Hidey Arrington; Best Innovative Online Advertising, Single Ad, "Meek Dozer Services" by Hidey Arrington, Audra Spears
THIRD PLACE: Best News Photo, "Black Business Council Juneteenth Celebration" by Abigail Murphy; Creative Use of Multimedia, “Timeline” by Abigail Murphy; Best Single Ad ½ page and under, color, "Go Pro Wildlife" by Audra Spears; Best Single Ad over ½ page, color, "Hufham Farris" by Audra Spears, Renee Trice; Best In-paper Promotion of Newspaper, "Santa Reads" by Audra Spears; Best Use of Humor, "Winking Girl" by Tippy Hunter, Audra Spears; Best Innovative Online Advertising, Single Ad, "Holmes Guns" by Hidey Arrington, Audra Spears
The Dadeville Record
FIRST PLACE: Best Sports Single Event Story, "The kick heard ‘round the state’: Field goal lifts Reeltown to state final" by Henry Zimmer; Best Sports Feature Story, "Rebels channel Chucky to beat Tallassee" by Henry Zimmer
SECOND PLACE: Best Sports News In-Depth Coverage, "Overcoming Obstacles: Wilson wins Bryant-Jordan scholarship" by Henry Zimmer; Best Online Breaking News Coverage, "Mass shooting in Dadeville, April 2023" by staff; Best Classified Page or Section; Best Regularly Scheduled Special Section, "Dadeville Magazine" by Audra Spears, Betsy Iler, Kenneth Boone
THIRD PLACE: Best Production and Printing; Best Editorial, "The shoes and the night I'll never forget" by Lizi Arbogast Gwin; Best Use of Graphics or Illustrations, "AU researchers conduct Camp Hill history project" by Abigail Murphy; Best Single Ad over 1/2 page, color, for "J.A. Smith, LLC" by Hidey Arrington
The Tallassee Tribune
FIRST PLACE: Best Feature Story Coverage, "Southside Middle School teacher of the year makes student education priority" by Cliff Williams; Best Presentation of Online Advertising
SECOND PLACE: Best Feature Photo, "Tallassee Pep Rally" by Cliff Williams
THIRD PLACE: Best Local Sports Column, "Woods should’ve been a 2A Back of the Year finalist" by Lizi Arbogast Gwin; Best In-Paper Promotion of Newspaper, "Cup of Tea" by Audra Spears; Best Innovative Online Advertising, single ad, "Community Hospital" by staff
The Wetumpka Herald
FIRST PLACE: Best Spot News Photo, "Lightwood tornado" by Cliff Williams; Best Use of Video (Longer than 2 Minutes), "The Wetumpka Herald's 125th Anniversary" by Angela Mullins; Best Classified Page or Section; Best Regularly Scheduled Special Section, "FYI" by Audra Spears, Betsy Iler; Best In-Paper Promotion of Newspaper, "Be A Reader" by Audra Spears; Best Original/Creative Idea, "People Read the Newspaper" by Audra Spears; Best Signature Page, "Wetumpka High School Spirit Banner" by staff; Best Niche Publication, "Elmore County First Responders Coloring Book" by Audra Spears; Best Innovative Online Advertising, single ad, "Better Life Veterinary" by staff
SECOND PLACE: Best Human Interest Column, "Love More Now" by Cliff Williams; Best Sports Single Event Story, "Holtville's Silas delivers in future stadium" by Dalton Middleton; Best One Time Special Section, "Wetumpka Herald Celebrating 125 Years" by staff; Best In-Paper Promotion of Newspaper, "Feed Your Brain" by Audra Spears; Best Signature Page, "Shelter Pets" by Audra Spears; Best Innovative Online Advertising, single ad, "Parker Tire" by Audra Spears
THIRD PLACE: Best Sports Single Event Story, "ROW TIDE: Holtville's Hickey joins Alabama rowing team" by Dalton Middleton; Best Regularly Scheduled Special Section, "Horizons" by Audra Spears, Betsy Iler; Best Presentation of Online Advertising
LAKE Magazine
FIRST PLACE: Best Community Event, “Plug Day” by Betsy Iler, Audra Spears; Best Column, "Nature of the Lake" by Kenneth Boone
SECOND PLACE: Best Overall Design; Best Community Event, "Clean Up Honor Roll" by Betsy Iler, Ben Smith, Audra Spears
THIRD PLACE: Best Sports Feature, "Fishing for a Living" by Ben Smith, Audra Spears, Kenneth Boone; Best Single Photograph, "Sunset Shoreline" by Kenneth Boone
Lake Martin Living
FIRST PLACE: Best Photo Essay, "July 4th in Review" by Kenneth Boone, Cliff Williams, Lizi Arbogast Gwin
SECOND PLACE: Best Personality Profile, "Tommy G" by Ben Smith; Best Column, "Culture Shock" by Lacey Howell
THIRD PLACE: Third place: Best Cover Photo or Illustration, "Dadeville's new Mural" by Jim Denney; Best Column, "Medical News" by George Miranda
