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By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Publisher

ORANGE BEACH –The Shelby County Reporter earned the Alabama Press Association’s biggest award for the 18th year in a row at the APA Media Awards banquet on Saturday, June 29 at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach.

Competing against the largest weekly publications in the state in Division C, the Reporter took home the General Excellence award for the 18th consecutive year, rewarding the team for their journalism efforts during 2023.

In addition to the success of the paper, Shelby County Newsmedia, Inc. had many highlights at this year’s banquet, including the top spot in the Ad Sweepstakes category for the third year in a row and a second-place finish for Homewood Life Magazine in the Magazine of the Year category against the state’s top magazines.

Ranking the top three in each contest and category, SCNI had 47 top-three finishes in the editorial contest, 30 in the advertising contest and 12 in the magazine contest for a total of 89 top-three finishes.

The Shelby County Reporter editorial team put together 20 wins in the Editorial Contest, while they put together an impressive 47 finishes inside the top three.

As for the advertising team, they put together 11 wins, 12 second-place finishes and an additional seven third-place finishes for one of their best years as a team.

Following back-to-back years of Vestavia Hills Magazine winning the Magazine of the Year, Homewood Life Magazine finished second this year. The magazine finished second to Huntsville Magazine and just ahead of LAKE Magazine in third in a tight contest of the best magazines in the state.

In the magazine contest itself, Shelby County Newsmedia totaled four first-place finishes, five second-place finishes and three third-place finishes.

Overall, this year’s contest saw 56 publications submit 1,770 entries in the editorial contest, 24 publications submit 433 entries in the advertising contest and 19 publications submit 363 entries in the magazine contest. The Hoosier State Press Association (Illinois) judged this year’s entries to determine the winners and top-three finishers in each category.

Shelby County Newsmedia, Inc. received the following in this year’s contest:

Editorial Contest (20 first, 17 second, 10 third: Total of 47)

• First place in General Excellence
• First place in the Best Spot News Category for “Freemason lodge burns in Columbiana” by Noah Wortham
• First place in the Best Business Story or Column category for “Built upon flavor” by Noah Wortham
• First place in the Best Feature Story Coverage category for “Built upon flavor” by Noah Wortham
• First place in the Best Human Interest Column category for “Deep-fried nostalgia” by Barton Perkins
• First place in the Best Sports News In-Depth Coverage category for “Student athlete Brayden Ray dies in car accident” by Andrew Simonson, Alec Etheredge and Scott Mims
• First place in the Best Feature Photo category for “Santa letter drop off” by Noah Wortham
• First place in the Best News Photo category for “Bull throttle” by Jeremy Raines
• First place in the Best Sports Photo category for “Bull throttle” by Jeremy Raines
• First place in the Best Photo Essay category for “Fun at the fair” by Keith McCoy
• First place in the Creative Use of Multimedia category for “Showcase of Bands” by Alec Etheredge and Noah Wortham
• First place in the Best Sports Coverage category by Andrew Simonson
• First place in the Best Podcast Series category for “One on One” by Alec Etheredge and Andrew Simonson
• First place in the Best Use of Video (Shorter than 2 minutes) category for “Monster Walk” by Alec Etheredge
• First place in the Best Use of Video (Longer than 2 minutes) category for “Helena tops Briarwood in thriller to remain perfect” by Alec Etheredge
• First place in the Best Niche Publication Newsprint or Glossy category for “Profile” by Staff
• First place in the Best Production and Printing category
• First place in the Best Editorial Page or Section category
• First place in the Best Lifestyle/Family Pages category
• First place in the Best Use of Photographs/Editorial Content category
• Second place in the Best Public Service category for “Suicide Prevention” by Don Mottern
• Second place in the Best Spot News category for “Two crew members killed in Chelsea helicopter crash” by Alec Etheredge
• Second place in the Best Business Story or Column category for “Pick of the Patch” by Barton Perkins
• Second place in the Best Feature Story Coverage category for “A silent struggle: Fighting to make a difference in healthcare and suicide prevention” by Don Mottern
• Second place in the Best Human Interest Column category for “On wings like Eagles” by Andrew Simonson
• Second place in the Best Sports Single Event Story category for “Thompson wins thrilling game 3 ahead of semis” by Alec Etheredge
• Second place in the Best Sports Feature Story coverage category for “Chris Stewart recalls remarkable journey” by Alec Etheredge
• Second place in the Best Online Breaking News category for “Two crew members killed in Chelsea helicopter crash” by Alec Etheredge
• Second place in the Best Feature Photo category for “Hitting the trails with Helena’s Mountain Bike Team” by Jeremy Raines
• Second place in the Best Sports Photo category for “Helena receiver makes catch over defender” by Jeremy Raines
• Second place in the Best Niche Publication Newsprint or Glossy category for “Visitors Guide” by Alec Etheredge and Connor Bucy
• Second place in the Best Use of Social Media category for “Instagram Reels” by Staff
• Second place in the Best Podcast Series category for “Shelby County Facebook Live Pregame Show” by Alec Etheredge and Andrew Simonson
• Second place in the Best Use of Video (Shorter than 2 minutes) category for “Patriots Park grand opening” by Alec Etheredge and Noah Wortham
• Second place in the Best Use of Video (Longer than 2 minutes) category for “Oak Mountain hosts Eagle Day” by Alec Etheredge
• Second place in the Best Layout and Design category
• Second place in the Best Newspaper Website category
• Third place in the Best Editorial Column or Commentary category for columns by Don Mottern
• Third place in the Best Local Sports Column category for “The memories created make it all worth the time” by Alec Etheredge
• Third place in the Best Spot News Photo category for “Eager for education” by Jeremy Raines
• Third place in the Best Sports Photo category for “Hitting the trails” by Jeremy Raines
• Third place in the Best Use of Graphics or Illustrations category for “Built upon flavor” by Connor Bucy
• Third place in the Creative Use of Multimedia category for “Capella Pizzeria” by Alec Etheredge
• Third place in the Best Use of Social Media category for “Shelby County Facebook Live Pregame Show” by Alec Etheredge and Andrew Simonson
• Third place in the Best Podcast Series category for “Shelby County Football Show” by Alec Etheredge and Andrew Simonson
• Third place in the Best Use of Video (Shorter than 2 minutes) category for “Band camp” by Alec Etheredge and Noah Wortham
• Third place in the Best Use of Video (Longer than 2 minutes) category for “Showcase of Bands” by Alec Etheredge

Advertising Contest (11 first, 12 second, 7 third: Total of 30)

• First place in the Advertising Sweepstakes Award category
• First place in the Best Single Ad over ½ page, color category for “Buck Creek Festival” by Rhett McCreight
• First place in the Best One Time Special Section category for “Profile 2023” by staff
• First place in the Best Regularly Scheduled Special Section category for “Visitors Guide 2023” by Staff
• First place in the Best Original/Creative Idea category for “Home Improvement Page” by Evann Campbell and Vee Romero
• First place in the Best Classified Display Ad category for “Truck and Trailer auction” by Vee Romero
• First place in the Best Signature Page category for “Home Improvement” by Evann Campbell and Vee Romero
• First place in the Best Niche Publication category for “Visitors Guide 2023” by Staff
• First place in the Best Presentation of Online Advertising category for Shelbycountyreporter.com
• First place in the Best Online Revenue Builder category for “Gain Access” by Staff
• First place in the Best Innovative Online Advertising, single ad category for “Buck Creek Dental” by Rachel Henderson
• Second place in the Best Single Ad over ½ page, B/W category for “Small business awards” by Rhett McCreight
• Second place in the Best Single Ad ½ page and under, B/W category for “Oak View Animal Hospital” by Rhett McCreight
• Second place in the Best Regularly Scheduled Special Section category for “Football 2023” by Staff
• Second place in the Best One Time Special Section category for “Graduation 2023” by Staff
• Second place in the Best In-Paper Promotion of Newspaper category for “Football house ad” by Connor Bucy and Alec Etheredge
• Second place in the Best Advertising Campaign category for “United Way Ad Campaign” by Staff
• Second place in the Best Original/Creative Idea category for “Senior Picnic” by Rhett McCreight
• Second place in the Best Classified Display Ad category for “Alabama Farmers” by Octavia Campbell
• Second place in the Best Classified Display Ad category for “Worship” by Staff
• Second place in the Best Niche Publication category for “Football 2023” by staff
• Second place in the Best Innovative Online Advertising, single ad category for “Buck Creek Dental Halloween” by Rachel Henderson
• Second place in the Best Online Revenue Builder category for “Newsletter subscription” by Staff
• Third place in the Best single Ad ½ page and under, color category for “Valentine’s Day” by Evann Campbell and Vee Romero
• Third place in the Best One Time Special Section category for “Coloring Book” by Staff
• Third place in the Best In-Paper Promotion of Newspaper category for “Graduation Teaser” by Connor Bucy
• Third place in the Best Advertising Campaign category for “Coosa Valley MRI” by Staff
• Third place in the Best Original/Creative Idea category for “Vulcan wanted dead not alive” by Rhett McCreight
• Third place in the Best Use of Humor category for “Buck Creek Dental Halloween” by Rachel Henderson
• Third place in the Best Innovative Online Advertising, single ad category for “Oak View Animal Hospital” by Rhett McCreight

Magazine Contest (4 first, 5 second, 3 third: Total of 12)

• First place in the Best Personality Profile category for “Legend on the Links” by Lauren Dowdle and Blair Ramsay in Hoover’s Magazine
• First place in the Best Sports Feature category for “Legend on the Links” by Lauren Dowdle and Blair Ramsay in Hoover’s Magazine
• First place in the Best Travel Feature category for “Eat, Drink and Be Merry in Napa” by Christiana Roussel in Homewood Life
• First place in the Best Single Ad category for “Mantooth Interiors” by Staff in Homewood Life
• Second place in the Magazine of the Year category for Homewood Life
• Second place in the Best Single Feature Story category for “Forever Aniah” by Madoline Markham Koonce and Lindsey Culver in Homewood Life
• Second place in the Best Business Feature category for “The American Dream” by Carmen Brown and Blair Ramsey in Homewood Life
• Second place in the Best Culinary Feature category for “A Chop Above” by Brenda Ladun in Homewood Life
• Second place in the Best Cover Photo or Illustration category for “Summer” by Blair Ramsey in Hoover’s Magazine
• Third place in the Best Overall Design category for “Homewood Life” by Staff
• Third place in the Best Single Ad category for “Cookie Fix” by Staff in Homewood Life
• Third place in the Best Advertising Campaign or Series category for “At Home” by Staff in Homewood Life