Texas Better Newspaper Contest awards nine sweepstakes divisions

Cutine: 2022 Texas Better Newspaper contest sweepstakes winners are (from left) Victoria Advocate in Division 2, Keith Kohn; Uvalde Leader-News in Division 3, Meghann Garcia; The Sentinel, Nacogdoches in Division 4, Rick Craig; Taylor Press in Division 5, Jason Hennington; Fredericksburg Standard Radio Post in Division 6, Ken Cooke; Gonzales Inquirer in Division 7, Lew Cohn; Pilot Point Post Signal in Division 8, Abigail Allen; and Vernon Daily Record in Division 9, Daniel and Michele Walker. The Walkers are also displaying the Division 10 sweepstakes for the Clarendon Enterprise.

At the TPA Convention and Trade Show awards brunch, 128 first place plaques, nine sweepstakes awards and 493 first- through fourth-place certificates were awarded for work entered in the 2022 Texas Better Newspaper Contest.

The 2022 contest featured nine circulation divisions with nine sweepstakes awards presented to The Longview News Journal in Division 2; the Uvalde Leader-News in Division 3; The Sentinel, Nacogdoches, in Division 4; Taylor Press in Division 5; Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post in Division 6; Gonzales Inquirer in Division 8; Pilot Point Post Signal in Division 8, and the Clarendon Enterprise in Division 10.

Ninety-nine newspapers submitted 920 entries in the contest, which featured 18 competition categories, including 12 sweepstakes categories and six special categories.

Competitions were divided into divisions in which newspapers competed against publications of similar frequency and circulation. Eight dailies competed in Division 2; 31 semiweekly newspapers competed in Divisions 3, 4 and 5; and 53 weekly newspapers competed in Divisions 6 through 10. Division 1 was reserved for the five metro dailies with the highest circulation in Texas, which complete only in the General Excellence category.

In the non-sweepstakes categories, divisions were determined by the number of entries from dailies, semiweeklies and weeklies. This year there were three divisions in the Community Service, Best Website, Online Coverage, Best Magazine and Public Notice competition categories; and five divisions in the Special Section category.

Entries were judged earlier this year by members of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association while Texas Press Association member volunteers judged entries in the ONPA contest.

This was the first year the TxBNC was conducted using the ACES contest platform.

The 2023 contest opens for entries Feb. 1, 2024, again on the ACES contest platform. Awards for the 2023 contest will be presented at the TPA Convention & Trade Show June 20-22, 2024, at the Hilton College Station Convention Center.