By Gwen Sour, Parkersburg News and Sentinel
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Press Association honored newspapers across the state Saturday during its annual Advertising Awards Luncheon at the University of Charleston.
The luncheon and awards were sponsored by The Health Plan and West Virginia Press Foundation.
Keynote speaker Heather Richardson, the vice president of strategic communications and marketing for West Virginia University, encouraged media professionals to focus on branding and communication in a changing landscape.
Richardson focused on her journey from journalism to higher education and outlined how marketing and media can work together to build trust and relevance.
”Public trust in our industries is declining, and we have to face it,” Richardson said. “People are questioning the value of what we do every day … we must take back the microphone and intentionally market our organizations.”
Richardson referenced WVU’s recent brand refresh and offered four key strategies for effective storytelling in the digital age: Emphasizing the need to understand one’s audience, rely on data, stay authentic and “get the basics right.”
Richardson also encouraged newsrooms to work with student interns and younger professionals, who she said can bring fresh digital skills to traditional media organizations.
Following Richardson’s address, awards were presented to newspapers statewide in multiple divisions. Forty-one newspapers submitted more than 1,000 entries for judging by the New York Press Association and the New York Publishers Foundation.
General Excellence honors went to the following newspapers by division:
* Division 4: First place — River Cities Tribune & Register; second – The Record Delta; third – Wetzel Chronicle.
* Division 3: First place — Jackson Star and Herald; second – Mineral News and Tribune; third – Times Record and Roane County Reporter.
* Division 2: First place – Weston Democrat; second –The Inter-Mountain; third – Bluefield Daily Telegraph.
* Division 1: First place – Exponent Telegram; second – Charleston Gazette-Mail; third – Register-Herald.
The convention was sponsored by a range of organizations, including AARP West Virginia, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, The Health Plan, Appalachian Power, West Virginia University Strategic Communications and Marketing, West Virginia Press Foundation, Vandalia Health, Highmark West Virginia, West Virginia Department of Tourism, WV Coal, GameChanger, and Contractors Association of West Virginia.
Attendees were invited to networking sessions and the President’s Reception later in the evening, followed by the Editorial Awards ceremony.
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