Members celebrate Better Newspaper Contest wins

Showing off division sweepstakes awards in the 2024 Texas Better Newspaper Contest are (from left) Nicholas Cicale, Williamson County Sun in Division 3; Kylie Bailey, Graham Leader in Division 4; Ken Cooke, Fredericksburg Standard Radio-Post in Division 5; Abigail Allen, Pilot Point, Post Signal in Division 6; Craig Garnett, Pearsall, Frio-Nueces Current in Division 7; Ana Cosino-Mize, Madisonville Meteor in Division 8; Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise in Division 9; and Nicole Smith, Luling Newsboy and Signal. Also winning sweepstakes, but not represented in the photo, was Clute, The Facts in Division 2.

DENTON – 2024 Texas Better Newspaper Contest awards were presented in the closing event of the 145th Texas Press Association Convention and Trade Show in Denton.

The 2024 contest drew 1,021 entries from 108 newspapers.

The newspapers competed in 12 sweepstakes categories where points were earned for each placement and the newspapers with the most points in their divisions winning sweepstakes awards. Newspapers were assigned to Divisions 2 through 10 based on frequency of publication and circulation. Points were awarded for first through fourth places in each sweepstakes division.

Sweepstakes winners were Clute, The Facts in Division 2; Georgetown, Williamson County Sun in Division 3, Graham Leader in Division 4, Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post in Division 5; Post Signal, Pilot Point in Division 6; Pearsall, Frio-Nieces Current in Division 7, Madisonville Meteor in Division 8, Clarendon Enterprise in Division 9 and Luling Newsboy and Signal in Division 10.

In addition, newspapers competed in five special categories with special divisions based on frequency and the number of entries. Winners in these categories, best magazine, best website, community service, online live coverage and special section, earned first through fourth place awards but no points toward sweepstakes.

More than 480 awards were presented for work published in the 2024 calendar year.

Through Newspaper Association Managers (NAM), the Texas contest entries were judged by members of the Kansas Press Association and in return, TPA members judged entries in the KPA contest.

The 2025 Texas Better Newspaper Contest opens in January 2026. TPA’s partner for judging contest entries will be the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. WNPA has a different contest schedule than TPA. Their contest entries will be judged in early June with awards presentation at the WNPA convention in early October. 

To volunteer to help judge the WNPA contest, contact Candace Velvin, publications manager and contest coordinator, at cvelvin@texaspress.com.