FROM STAFF REPORTS

COLUMBIANA – Shelby County Newspapers Inc. won the Alabama Press Association’s top editorial award for the 12^th consecutive year, the association’s top advertising award and the top magazine award during the APA’s annual awards banquet on July 21.

In total, the company earned 47 first-, second- and third-place APA awards for work done in 2017.

SCNI publishes the Shelby County Reporter, 280 Reporter, Alabaster Reporter, Helena Reporter, Pelham Reporter, Shelby Living, Vestavia Hills Magazine, Mountain Brook Magazine, Homewood Life and Hoover’s Magazine.

Sixty-two newspapers submitted a total of 2,129 entries in the editorial contest, 39 newspapers submitted a total of 803 entries in the advertising contest and 24 magazines submitted 274 entries in the magazine contest. All entries were judged by the Virginia Press Association.

The Shelby County Reporter competes in category C against other large weekly newspapers.

Shelby County Newspapers Inc. received the following awards.

 

Editorial contest

 

First place in the general excellence category

 

First place in the most improved category

 

First place in the best news photo category for “Live-fire training” by Keith McCoy

 

First place in the best headline category for “Cutting the grass” by Alec Etheredge

 

First place in the best sports photo category for “Husky Heroes” by Keith McCoy

 

First place in the best photo essay category for “Prepped for disaster” by Keith McCoy

 

First place in the best sports news in-depth coverage category for Dabo Swinney coverage by Stephen Dawkins, Alec Etheredge, Neal Wagner, Briana Harris and Graham Brooks

 

First place in the creative use of multimedia category for game of the week football videos by Alec Etheredge

 

First place in the best use of social media category for football game of the week videos by Alec Etheredge

 

First place in the best local sports column category for “Nafe will be remembered for never giving up” by Alec Etheredge

 

First place in the best layout and design category

 

Second place in the best public service category for “Shining a light: Suicide leads to culture change in tight-knit city” by Neal Wagner

 

Second place in the best sports coverage category

 

Second place in the freedom of information category for “In your neighborhood: Shelby County sex offenders” by Stephen Dawkins

 

Second place in the best niche publication – newsprint or glossy category for “Shelby County football 2017” by Alec Etheredge

 

Second place in the best photo essay category for “The blue map” by Keith McCoy

 

Second place in the best news feature story coverage category for “Suicide leads to culture change in tight-knit city” by Neal Wagner

 

Third place in the best public service category for “In your neighborhood: Shelby County sex offenders” by Stephen Dawkins

 

Third place in the best local education coverage category

 

Third place in the best use of photographs – editorial category

 

Third place in the best feature story coverage category for “Segregated Sunday” by Briana Harris

 

Third place in the best sports news in-depth coverage category for “Regions Tradition coverage” by Alec Etheredge and Keith McCoy

 

 

Advertising contest

 

First place in the advertising sweepstakes award category

 

First place in the best classified page or section category

 

First place in the best advertising campaign category for “Chelsea Chiropractic” by Kim McCulla

 

First place in the best in-paper promotion of newspaper category for “Friday the 13^th”

 

First place in the best niche publication category for “Shelby County Football”

 

First place in the best innovative online advertising – single ad category for “Gifted” by Rhett McCreight

 

Second place in the best innovative online advertising – single ad category for “Valleydale Animal Clinic” by Rhett McCreight

 

Second place in the best presentation of online advertising category

 

Second place in the best advertising campaign category for “Shelby Humane Society” by Kim McCulla

 

Second place in the best classified display ad category for “Lawnmower for sale” by Daniel Holmes

 

Third place in the best innovative online advertising – single ad category for “Greystone Antiques” by Kerrie Thompson

 

Third place in the best use of humor category for “Lawnmower for sale” by Daniel Holmes

 

Third place in the best niche publication category for “Visitors and Newcomers Guide”

 

Third place in the best signature page category for “Small business celebration”

 

Third place in the best advertising campaign category for “Andrews Family Dental” by Kim McCulla

 

Third place in the best single ad half-page and under color category for “Chelsea Chiropractic” by Kim McCulla

 

 

Magazine category

 

First place in the magazine of the year category for Vestavia Hills Magazine

 

First place in the best overall design category for Hoover’s Magazine

 

First place in the best single feature story category for “Roman Revival” in Vestavia Hills Magazine by Madoline Markham

 

First place in the best personality profile category for “Lending his ear” in Vestavia Hills Magazine by Jennifer Slaton

 

First place in the best individual website category for Shelby Living

 

Second place in the best individual website category for Vestavia Hills Magazine

 

Second place in the best advertising campaign or series category for “Alabaster Optical” in Shelby Living

 

Second place in the best personality profile category for “Proof miracles happen” in Hoover’s Magazine by Emily Sparacino and Keith McCoy

 

Third place in the best overall design category for Vestavia Hills Magazine