The Paper adds to its awards collection in latest NCPA contest

In only its second year publication, The Paper recently won 17 awards in the 2023-24 North Carolina Press Association (NCPA) contest for its coverage of Burke County’s communities and local news.

The new awards bring to 25 the number of NCPA awards The Paper has earned since its launch on Feb. 4, 2023.

“Winning an editorial award from the NCPA is an extraordinary honor for any member,” said Phil Lucey, NCPA executive director. “With over 4,100 entries from 150 newspapers, our contest is one of the largest in the nation, and this recognition reflects a dedication to excellence in journalism that truly stands out among peers.’ 

The Paper’s 2023-24 awards reflected excellence across all segments of the newspaper — advertising, news and sports coverage, columns, editorials, and special sections.

Of particular note was The Paper’s first-place award for News Enterprise Reporting recognizing the depth, seriousness, and scope of its series on the Confederate Monument which stands on the Old Courthouse Square in the heart of downtown Morganton.

Consisting of more than a dozen stories published over a four-week period in September and October of 2023, the series encompassed the entire news staff. The body of work was spearheaded by Senior Reporter Marty Queen.

Queen also captured second place in the News Enterprise Reporting category for his series on the homeless crisis which faces Morganton, particularly its downtown area.

Spanning four editions in March and April of 2023, Queen fully immersed himself into the topic during his reporting, spending days on end with the homeless community and interviewing church officials, support mission leaders, city leaders, law enforcement, local residents, and, perhaps most importantly, the homeless themselves.

“Marty dug deep,” said Publisher Allen VanNoppen of Queen’s work. “He truly invested himself in that series and put himself in the shoes of the homeless. But the extraordinary work took a toll: He was emotionally exhausted at the end of it.”

The Paper won second place in the Community Coverage category for its series of stories on the gaping sinkhole located next to the Morganton Post Office.

The series stretched from mid-July to late October. When it began, the sinkhole was a dangerous, water-filled chasm, labeled “a ticking time bomb.” The series concluded with reporting on completed repairs. 

“To be recognized by the judges for our work on three major issues — the monument, the sinkhole, and the homeless — is very gratifying,” said VanNoppen. “It is affirmation of our commitment to providing to our readers thorough, balanced, responsible, and focused local news of a caliber and depth that has been missing for decades.”

The remaining slate of NCPA awards included:

Sports Editor Paul Schenkel, third-place award for Sports Feature Writing, third-place award for Sports News Reporting, and second-place award for Sports Columns.

The feature writing award was for a story on Patton soccer player Josue Raymundo Lopez, who recovered from a brain aneurysm and returned to play.

The sports column award consisted of three entries: a reaction to Patton beating Freedom in boys basketball, a remembrance of Quaker Meadows golf course, and an interview with Freedom football quarterback Kaden Davis. 

And the sports news reporting award was for coverage of the ouster of Freedom football coach Justin Hawn.

Schenkel and Assistant Sports Editor Josh McKinney, second place award for overall Sports Coverage, and second place in Special Sections for their Fall Sports Preview in August of 2023.

Staff Photographer Lisa Price, first place, Feature Photography; and second place, General News Photography.

Price’s first-place award was for a shot of creative cocktails, while the second-place award was for a shot at Morganton First Baptist Church’s weekly takeout meal service.

Publisher Allen VanNoppen, first place, Serious Columns; and second place, Lighter Columns.

VanNoppen’s serious columns entry was spearheaded by a column explaining The Paper’s commitment to objectivity and fairness in its news coverage.

The lighter columns entries detailed his experiences with a nasal flush device, a recounting of a “race” between his Audi and a Ford pickup, and his memory of the day a fellow student brought a cow lung to his elementary school classroom.

Editor Emeritus Bill Poteat, first place, Editorial Writing; first place, Criticism.

Poteat’s winning entry for editorials consisted of an editorial urging the Post Office to move quickly on the sinkhole, a second offering a compromise solution to the Confederate Monument issue, and a third critical of the religious fundamentalists who were disrupting Burke County Board of Education meetings.

The criticism award came for his review of “Cryless,” the memoir written by Morganton resident Dr. Gerald Nieters recounting his time of service in the Vietnam War.

Advertising/Marketing Coordinator Devan Berry, first place, Retail Advertising; and she and Director of Business Development Janina Linens together captured first place, Service Advertising. 

Berry’s first-place award was for a Christmas season advertisement for CBS Sports, while the joint award was promoting the musical Annie at the City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium. 

Arts and Entertainment Editor Sandra Wilkerson Queen, who was then covering education, second-place, Election/Political Reporting.

Queen’s winning entry was a story about School Board member Don Hemstreet’s successful petition drive to be placed on the November ballot as an unaffiliated candidate.

The NCPA awards will be presented during ceremonies in Raleigh on Sept. 19.