The Paper earned 45 state and national journalism awards in 2026, including first-place General Excellence from the North Carolina Press Association, with honors spanning reporting, editorials, columns, design and advertising and every reporter individually recognized.
The Paper won 36 North Carolina Press Association awards for 2025-2026, including 13 first-place honors and four category sweeps, recognizing excellence across local reporting, sports, commentary, design, advertising and special publications in Burke County journalism.
The Paper won 36 North Carolina Press Association awards for 2025-2026, including 13 first-place honors and four category sweeps, recognizing excellence across local reporting, sports, commentary, design, advertising and special publications in Burke County journalism.
The Paper promotes Angela Kuper Copeland to Executive Editor, a new role for the newsroom’s fourth year in Burke County. She will lead editorial strategy, ethics, and investigations as education reporter Jacob Christopher joins staff.
The Paper received 25 awards at last week's North Carolina Press Association annual convention.Â
The Paper earned 18 awards — including first place for General Excellence — in the 2024 North Carolina Press Association awards.
The Paper won first place in General Excellence at NCPA's convention, highlighting their commitment to local news. They earned multiple awards and accolades.
In only its second year, The Paper garnered an impressive total of 17 awards in the 2023-2024 NCPA contest, bringing their total awards tally to 25 since their launch. The accolades span various categories, showcasing excellence in news coverage, editorials, sports reporting, photography, and advertising. Of particular note were the deep-dive series on the Confederate Monument, homeless crisis, and sinkhole in Morganton, each earning commendations. The dedication to producing thorough, balanced, and impactful local journalism is evident in The Paper's multifaceted success. Additionally, individual staff members such as Senior Reporter Marty Queen and Sports Editor Paul Schenkel received recognition for their exceptional work. The upcoming award ceremony in Raleigh on Sept. 19 will rightfully celebrate The Paper's outstanding accomplishments.
In only its second year publication, The Paper recently won 17 awards in the 2023-24 North Carolina Press Association (NCPA) contest for its c…
