VPA news sweepstakes 2023
Virginia Press Association President Jim Maxwell and Dennis Brack, VPA vice president and publisher of the Rappahannock News, present the News Sweepstakes award to Rapp News Editor Julia Shanahan during Saturday evening’s award ceremony in Charlottesville.
The Rappahannock News received 28 awards, including 14 first-places, plus a top Sweepstakes honor, in the Virginia Press Association’s annual competition for excellence in news and advertising.
At its annual conference in Charlottesville Saturday evening, the press association announced this year’s winners for work done in 2023. For the fourth year in a row, the Rappahannock News won the “News Sweepstakes,” the top news award among newspapers of its size.
The awards include many stories, photos and graphics produced in collaboration with Foothills Forum, a local nonprofit which supports nonpartisan research and reporting about Rappahannock County issues.
Here is a complete list of the paper’s awards:
Sweepstakes
News Sweepstakes: The newspaper’s journalism awards collectively earned it this prize for accumulating the most points in its circulation category (based on a point system for first, second and third place awards).
First Place
Combination Picture and Story: “From JFK’s Oval Office to to Flint Hill: Pat Saltonstall recalls a remarkable journey” by Julia Shanahan, Luke Christopher and Dennis Brack
Feature Series or Continuing Story: “News About Local News: As some newspapers struggle, local news is harder to find in Virginia” by Bud Meyer, Christopher Connell, Lynn Medford and Andy Alexander
Feature Story Writing (excluding Obituaries): “Not hiding from history: A local family’s journey tracing an inescapable lineage of slavery, and their efforts to confront it” by Julia Shanahan
Feature Writing Portfolio: Stories about Nol Putnam, Bill Dietel, and Kevin Adams by Tim Carrington
Front Page: Page design by Dennis Brack
brandy station battle award winner
Luke Christopher’s photo of last year’s Battle of Brandy Station reenactment received a first place Virginia Press Association award. “This photo is art,” a contest judge wrote. “I would hang this on my wall. The layers, the light all combine perfectly.”
General News Photo: “The Battle of Brandy Station (plus 160)” by Luke Christopher
General News Writing: Coverage of the troubled Flint Hill fire company by Julia Shanahan and Randy Rieland
Government Writing: Coverage of government and how it affects Rappahannock County by Tim Carrington
Illustrations: Foothills-Rapp News Storytelling Contest art by Camden Shanks
In-depth or Investigative Reporting: “Virginia State Police probe of Flint Hill Volunteer Fire & Rescue finds possible embezzlement, fraud, forgery” by Julia Shanahan, Tim Carrington and Mary Ann Kuhn
Informational Graphics: “Nationwide newspaper woes hit state” by Laura Stanton and Christopher Connell
Multimedia Report: “Cavalries clash in Brandy Station to commemorate pivotal, historic battle” by Luke Christopher
2023-07-11-BenVenue-markers-2-web-2.jpg (copy)
Heidi Eastham gives a tour of former slave cabins in Ben Venue to her mother, Maggie Bennett.
Personality or Portrait Photo: “Mother and daughter at a crossroads of history” by Luke Christopher
Second Place
Education Writing: Coverage of Rappahannock County Public Schools by Randy Rieland
Feature Profile Writing (including News Obituaries): “In Appreciation: Nol Putnam” by Tim Carrington
Feature Series or Continuing Story: “Rappahannock Places” by Bob Hurley
Feature Story Writing (excluding Obituaries): Keir Whitson: “A doctor may say remarkable – I would say miraculous” by Ben Peters
Feature Writing Portfolio: Stories by about ae Rae Ann Gaedke, Rachel Rowland and Mimi Forbes by Daphne Hutchinson
General News Writing: Rappahannock County Courthouse coverage by Julia Shanahan
In-depth or Investigative Reporting: “Whither Washington?” by Bob Hurley, Tim Carrington, Julia Shanahan, Andy Alexander, Bud Meyer and Laura Stanton
Informational Graphics: Crashes in Rappahannock County by Laura Stanton and Ben Peters
2023-04-FF-ChesterGap-Left-Wines_Jessie-Right-Frazier_Mattie-3.jpg (copy)
Sisters Jesse Wines and Mattie Frazier, whose family has lived in Chester Gap for generations.
Personality or Portrait Photo: Chester Gap sisters by Luke Christopher
Slick Publications (standalone section with a slick cover): “The Guide to Rappahannock” by Dennis Brack, Luke Christopher, Audra Dickey, Mary Ann Kuhn and Tom Spargur
Slideshow or Gallery: “Rappahannock County celebrates Independence Day 2023” by Luke Christopher and Ray Boc
Third Place
riverside auto fire award winner
An auto shop in Sperryville caught fire and exploded early Wednesday morning, May 3, 2023.
Breaking News Photo: “Explosions, fire destroy Sperryville auto shop” by Ray Boc
General Make-Up: Newspaper layout by Dennis Brack
Several Rappahannock News sister publications also received top recognitions in this year’s awards.
• InsideNoVa/Prince William won the top award for the state’s largest weekly newspapers. The total number of awards received, 43, was the most ever for the newspaper, which began publication in 2013.
• Ashburn Magazine, a bi-monthly magazine competing against other specialty publications, received 21 awards, including nine first-places along with the advertising sweepstakes award and the grand sweepstakes honor in its category.
• The Culpeper Times, a bi-weekly newspaper, received five awards, including three first-places and a Best in Show award for digital content.
• FauquierNow, a website covering Fauquier County, received two awards in the online division, both first-places.
More details on all the winners statewide are available on the VPA’s website.
Also at this year’s conference, Rappahannock News publisher Dennis Brack became president-elect of the Virginia Press Association. The group, founded in 1881, represents the common interests of the commonwealth’s newspapers, as well as many specialty and online publications.
Related: 2022 Awards
Rappahannock News again recognized with top Virginia Press Association honors
The Rappahannock News received 29 individual awards, including 14 first places, plus three top honors, in the Virginia Press Association’s annual competition for excellence in news and advertising.
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