News Showcase

The Anniston Star won six first-place awards and for the second year was named “Most Improved” in the 2007 Alabama Press Association Better Newspaper Contest results, which were announced this week.

In first-place finishes among the large-newspaper competitors, The Star trailed only the Huntsville Times, which had nine. Overall, The Star picked up 10 awards. Two more — Story of the Year and Best Newspaper Web Site — will be announced during the Alabama Press Association’s July 21 awards banquet.

“The whole staff at the newspaper, from top to bottom, can take pride in this recognition of our work,” Editor Bob Davis said. “We are inspired to continue serving our community in this way.”

Winners from The Anniston Star:

BEST PUBLIC SERVICE:
1st place: The Anniston Star, “The revolving door: Mentally ill inmates cost Calhoun County jail hundreds of thousands of dollars,” by Jenny Bone Miller.

FOI – FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD
3rd place: The Anniston Star, stories on Joint Powers Authority and the redevelopment of Fort McClellan.

MOST IMPROVED
Division A: The Anniston Star

BEST SPORTS PAGE
1st place: The Anniston Star

BEST LOCAL EDUCATION COVERAGE
3rd place: The Anniston Star

BEST LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE
1st place: The Anniston Star

BEST EDITORIAL
1st place: The Anniston Star, “Star exclusive with Jefferson” by Bob Davis

BEST HUMOROUS COLUMN
1st place: The Anniston Star, “A long, hard look at all that’s left behind” by Brett Buckner
2nd place The Anniston Star, “No, I have not tried ostrich” by Bran Strickland

BEST HUMAN INTEREST COLUMN
1st place: The Anniston Star, “How As the World Turns turned my family around” by Hardy Jackson

Other Consolidated Publishing Co. newspapers winning Alabama Press Association's honors include:

• The Daily Home, which won two 1st place awards and 13 2nd or 3rd place finishes.

• The Jacksonville News won a pair of 1st place awards and four seconds or thirds.

• The Piedmont Journal won a 1st place and was honored as Most Improved in its division.

• The Cleburne News won a 2nd place for Best Feature Photo.