Coal Valley News
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Work by HD Media employees was recognized on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the University of Charleston during the West Virginia Press Association’s annual awards banquet, celebrating the winners of the group’s 2024 newspaper contest.
More than 40 West Virginia news organizations submitted nearly 2,400 entries in 31 categories across four divisions that are based on circulation. Entries in the contest were judged by the New York Press Association and the New York News Publishers Foundation.
Reporters, page designers, editors and other staff across several of HD Media’s publications received awards in different divisions.
The Coal Valley News and reporter Cameron Maynard took home awards in Division 4, while HD Media Managing Editor Richie Ray won an award in Division 1 for his work in the Charleston Gazette-Mail. Jarrid McCormick, a sports contributor for the Coal Valley News, also won two awards: one in Division 3 and another in Division 4.
Maynard took first place in the Best Sports News and Feature category for “Hatcher, Logan hoops coaching gig reunited by fate,” published in the July 10, 2024, edition of The Logan Banner.
“Words can’t describe how much I am honored to win a first-place award for Best Sports News and Feature Reporting,” said Maynard. “This feat tells me that the effort I have put into journalism for several years is now paying off, and I am just so thankful and blessed.”
The Coal Valley News won second place in the Best Front Page category for the Nov. 27, 2024, edition.
Ray won first place in Best Illustration, Cartoon or Graphic for his WVU football graphic in the weekend edition of the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
“It is such an honor to be recognized by the WVPA. Everything we do for the newspaper is a team effort, and it’s great to see all of our publications get that recognition,” said Ray. “To see our weekly papers take home so many awards is incredible. It just shows the hard work and dedication of our staff. They bring their best to every single edition, and tonight they got to shine.”
McCormick, who contributes to several HD Media publications, won awards in multiple divisions. He took second place in Division 3 for Best Sports Event Reporting for “Lady Panthers knock off Logan in sectional semis” in The Lincoln Journal and The Lincoln News Sentinel. He also picked up a Division 4 win, taking third place in Best Sports Event Reporting for his piece in the Williamson Daily News, “Tug Valley claims 4th state title with 35-32 win over Tucker County.”
The Charleston Gazette-Mail and The Herald-Dispatch both received several awards for Division 1. HD Media’s other weekly publications won multiple awards, with the Logan Banner’s Dylan Vidovich winning Photograph of the Year.
The Charleston Gazette-Mail won West Virginia Newspaper of the Year, which is awarded to the publication with the most combined points in the WVPA’s editorial and advertising competitions.
