Post claims 21 N.C. Press Association awards

The Salisbury Post news staff has received 21 awards from the N.C. Press Association in its 2000 news, editorial and photojournalism contest.

That ties the staff’s record for most prizes set in 1997. The judges awarded prizes to 11 individual members of the news staff.

The Post competes in the circulation category for daily newspapers with circulation between 15,000 and 25,000. The Post collected more awards than any other newspaper in its circulation category.

Journalists in other states serve as judges for the annual contest.

The Post collected three first place prizes:

• Feature photography, Joey Benton for a picture of a teacher celebrating the end of school.
• Business writing, Sara Pitzer for her series on the trucking industry.
• Criticism, Elizabeth Cook for book reviews.

The Post claimed 10 second place prizes:

• Business writing, Mark Wineka for articles on the effect of I-85 construction on businesses.
• Feature photography and sports photography, Jon Lakey.
• Investigative reporting, Wineka and Brad Hodges for a series of stories called “Slow burn,” about the burning of hazardous waste at Carolina Solite in Aquadale. The plant has subsequently stopped burning hazardous waste.
• News enterprise reporting, Scott Jenkins for his articles on deaths of three men who fell from a cell tower and other deaths and injuries involving cell towers.
• Profile feature, Rose Post for her story about the late Skeet Coggins.
• Lifestyle feature writing, Kathy Chaffin for “A Special Child,” about a family who rallied around a sister left with brain damage after a spider bite.
• Sports columns, Ronnie Gallagher.
• General news reporting, the Post staff for coverage of a patient shooting a doctor at the Hefner VA Medical Center.
• News page/section design.

The Post won eight third-place prizes:

• General excellence, the staff.
• n General news reporting, the staff for coverage of the cancer investigation in the area surrounding an asphalt terminal on Jake Alexander Boulevard.
• Sports feature writing, Mike London for his article on West Rowan High’s John Milem working out for pro scouts.
• Profile feature, Brad Hodges for his article on a NASCAR announcer from Landis.
• Photo illustration, Joey Benton.
• Humorous columns, Sara Pitzer.
• Serious columns, Elizabeth G. Cook.
• Appearance and design, the staff.