CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Times Record & Roane County Reporter has earned the West Virginia Press Association’s top newspaper honor: Newspaper of the Year.
West Virginia Press Association President Ed Dawson, at left, presented the Hedges family — Andrew, Annie, David and Starr — owners of The Times Record & Roane County Reporter has earned the West Virginia Press Association’s top honor: Newspaper of the Year. The Spencer, W.Va., newspaper is the first weekly newspaper in West Virginia to win the Newspaper of the Year award. WVPA Photo by Dalton Walker.
The Spencer, W.Va., newspaper excelled in the advertising division earning first place in General Excellence in the West Virginia Press Association’s Advertising Competition. The newspaper also finished third place in the editorial competition. It’s combined high overall score in the two contests earned the 2015 Newspaper of the Year title.
The Times Record & Roane County Reporter is the first weekly newspaper to win the Newspaper of the Year award.
This year’s recognition follows the honoring of publisher David Hedges in 2014 with the Adam R. Kelly Premier Journalist Award.
“David Hedges and staff work tirelessly each week to provide in-depth and accurate information to the community, contributing to The Times Record & Roane County Reporter’s history of excellence,” said said Don Smith, executive director of the WVPA.
Family members and Times Record & Roane County Reporter employees Andrew Hedges, advertising director Annie Hedges and circulation manager Starr Hedges were on hand at Embassy Suites on Aug. 15 to hear the announcement at the close of the WVPA’s three-day summer convention.
“The Times Record & Roane County Reporter has an incredibly talented staff and this award is a testament to that,” said Smith. “They produce an excellent product every week thanks to their dedication to the people of Roane County and leadership form David Hedges, an outstanding journalist himself. This is an excellent representation of the newspaper industry in West Virginia.”
The Newspaper of the Year honor was awarded based on the paper’s performance in the advertising and editorial contests. The distinction is given to the state newspaper that earns the most cumulative points in the WVPA’s Better Newspaper Contest for advertising and editorial divisions, regardless of size or circulation.
Newspapers across the state compete in four circulation groups, two each for daily and weekly newspapers in both contests. The editorial contest has 29 categories, ranging from Coverage of Government Affairs to Best Sports Feature Writing and Best Editorial Page. In 2014, 22 newspapers entered 2,095 entries. In the advertising contest, there were 24 categories, ranging from Best Small Ad Campaign to Best Process Color Ad and Best Progress Edition.
Contact Don Smith, executive director of the West Virginia Press Association, 304-550-0454 with questions.
