North Country This Week has received five awards from the New York Press Association for quality ad design and editorial content.

Staff members of the paper were recognized for “Best Large Space Ad,” “Coverage of Crime/Police Courts,” “Best Advertising Campaign” and “Best Column.”

The awards were announced at virtual online awards ceremonies last week. North Country This Week competed in divisions for large-circulation weeklies and daily newspapers.

In the “Large Space Ad” category, Debbie Morgan won second place for a full-page ad created for Adirondack Power Sports. “This really deserves recognition. It is colorful and fun,” wrote the judges. A full-page ad designed by Cathy Whalen received honorable mention in the same category for a full page ad created for Mort Backus & Sons. “This is very well-done,” the judges said. First Place went to the Bay News & Brooklyn Graphic. Third place was awarded to Dan’s Papers, Bridgehampton.

Jimmy Lawton, Andy Gardner and Matt Lindsey received a third-place award for “Coverage of Crime, Police and Courts.” The judges cited their “comprehensive reporting on the downstream effects of crime, poorly run administrations, and straight-up court reporting.”

Stories included coverage of the Lacey Yekel murder trial, an interview with District Attorney Gary Pasqua about how he dug out from the controversy-filled administration of Mary Rain, how illegal drug use has driven up the need for foster care in St. Lawrence County, legal developments in the Nick Hillary murder trial, and Ogdensburg police battles with meth. First place winner was The Independent, East Hampton, and second place went to Gay City News, New York City.

An honorable mention award for “Best Advertising Campaign” went to Morgan and Julie Spadaccini for a series of ads they created about the dangers of lead poisoning for the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department. “Cohesive ad campaign,” the judges wrote.  “Very nice.” First, second and third place awards in the category were all won by the Post-Standard, Syracuse.

Editor & Publisher Bill Shumway received a second place award for “Best Column.”  His “Inside Scoop” column gives “readers an understanding of what it takes to bring them news these days” and “looks into the changing newspaper business both locally and globally,” the judges said. First place went to the Ithaca Times and third place went to the Southampton Press-Eastern Edition.

More than 170 newspapers statewide submitted 2,918 entries in the annual contest.

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