With first-, second-, and third-place sweeps in four categories, The Paper won 36 editorial and advertising awards for its work in the North Carolina Press Association during the 2025-26 contest calendar.
The NCPA contest continues to be one of the largest print and digital newspaper competitions in the country with about 4,000 entries from over 125 news organizations. The Paper is in NCPA’s Division A, publications with circulation less than 2,500.
The results were announced last week and will be formally presented at ceremonies in Cary in September.
Included in The Paper’s award package were 13 first place, 13 second place, and 10 third place; editorial earned 29 and advertising 7.
Categories where The Paper swept the top three prizes were City and County Government Reporting, Lighter (Humor) Columns, Headline Writing, and Retail Ads — Things You Have to Buy.
Importantly, the awards recognized the work from every member of The Paper’s editorial and design staff, including Page Design, Sports, Advertising, News, and Editorial Writing.
“To receive 36 NCPA awards in a single year speaks volumes to the depth of talent we have on our team and to the commitment to local news which that team brings to work each day,” said Editor Emeritus Bill Poteat.
“These awards also reflect Executive Editor Angela Kuper Copeland’s skillful leadership and her commitment to providing our community the best local news product in the state,” Poteat continued.
Editorial first-place winners included Jacob Christopher for beat news reporting and feature writing; Allen VanNoppen for city and county government reporting, ledes, and lighter columns; Angela Kuper Copeland for editorials; Mica Banks for news feature writing; and Paul Schenkel for headline writing.
Christopher and VanNoppen shared first place in education reporting for coverage of a lawsuit involving Burke County Public Schools and former employees. Schenkel and Josh McKinney won first place for sports coverage, while The Paper staff earned first place for editorial page design and content.
In advertising, Devan Berry and Janina Linens won first place for a Morganton Hemp retail advertisement. The Paper staff also won first place for the Burke County Chamber of Commerce special publication.
Editorial second-place winners included Madison Lipe for business writing; Allen VanNoppen for city and county government reporting, election and political reporting, and serious columns; Mica Banks for general news reporting; Jacob Christopher for lighter columns; Bill Poteat for religion and faith reporting; and Paul Schenkel for sports news reporting.
Schenkel and Josh McKinney shared second place for headline writing, while The Paper staff earned second place for investigative reporting for “Synthron — A Tragedy to Remember.”
In advertising, The Paper staff won second place for the “Did You Know?” newspaper promotion. Devan Berry and Janina Linens earned second place for the CBS Snowboard Sale retail advertisement and the EmergeOrtho service advertisement.
Editorial third-place winners included Madison Lipe for city and county government reporting; Allen VanNoppen for education reporting and profile feature writing; Angela Kuper Copeland for feature writing; Jacob Christopher for general news reporting and general news photography; Josh McKinney for headline writing; and Bill Poteat for lighter columns.
In advertising, Devan Berry and Janina Linens earned third place for the Timmy Mac’s retail advertisement and for use of humor or best blooper with the Morganton Hemp advertisement.
“Our goal each week is to give readers relevant and accurate coverage of the communities they call home,” said Copeland, The Paper’s executive editor. “We are grateful to our subscribers and advertisers. Their support makes this work possible.”
A detailed roster of the awards with links to the entries will be available on The Paper’s website soon.
The 36 NCPA honors bring The Paper’s 2026 awards total to 45, including nine awards announced earlier by the National Newspaper Association.
(3) comments
Congratulations, and thank you for providing our community with a top-notch local newspaper!
Congratulations to the publisher, executive editor, and award winning reporters. Two challenges for future contests. Go for an investigative reporting award vs. simply sharing what is said in meetings or submitted upon request. And, cease the TDS-based editorials with nothing not available in corporate media, casts doubt on other content, and will not win awards.
Congratulations to the publisher, executive editor, and award winning reporters. Two challenges for future awards: 1) go for an award in investigative reporting vs. repeating only what selected sources share; 2) cease staff TDS-based editorial. There’s an ample supply of the latter in corporate media. It cancels subscriptions, casts doubt on other content, and won’t win awards.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.