From left, Pilot staff photographer Ted Fitzgerald, reporter Laura Douglass, editor John Nagy, reporter Jaymie Baxley, and The Sway's Mackenzie Francisco, Melissa Kohlman, and Abbi Overfelt. Photo: David Woronoff/The Pilot

The Pilot took home the prestigious first place award in General Excellence in its division at the annual North Carolina Press Association News, Editorial and Photojournalism contest held Thursday.

The 2019 awards were presented Thursday as part of the NCPAs Winter Institute. More than 100 newspapers from across the state were represented and 4,400 entries were submitted..

In competition among non-daily community newspapers with circulation over 10,000, The Pilots staff members accounted for 16 news and editorial and 19 advertising awards presented at the Marriott Crabtree Valley in Raleigh.

The Pilot has previously earned the top award for General Excellence in 2017, and 2010. The Pilot placed third in that category in 2015 and last year.

Our core purpose has always been to serve our community. We believe that publishing a great newspaper is the best service we can render, said Pilot publisher David Wornoff. While were proud of this award as it recognizes the outstanding work of our dedicated staff, its the pride that our readers feel for the newspaper that brings infinitely more satisfaction.

In addition to print content, The Pilot swept the email newsletter category, taking first place for the twice-weekly Pilots Briefing, and second and third place honors for The Sway.

The top prize for best niche publication went to Pinestraw magazine, produced by The Pilot; and the special section Best of The Pines earned first place in the category, with A Guide to the Sandhills taking second place.

Publisher David Woronoff and editor John Nagy earned first place for editorial page, and Nagy took home third place in the individual category for editorials.

An emphasis on the transparency, and consequently the quality, of local government provides a service to readers of The Pilot, the judges said.

Among the other individual news awards to members of The Pilot staff, writer Deborah Salomon took first place in beat feature reporting and third place in feature writing.

Reporter Jayme Baxley took second place for sports enterprise writing.

Managing editor David Sinclair took third place in sports columns and third place in sports feature photography.

Staff photographer Ted Fitzgerald slid into second place in sports feature photography and third place in photo page or essay.

Fitzgerald, Sinclair and Brandi Swarms also earned third place in the feature photography category for their front page coverage of area high school graduation ceremonies last June.

The recognition of our peers is gratifying, but the feedback that means more to us is what we receive from people in the grocery store aisles and at church and around town, said editor John Nagy. The Pilots strength has always been and remains the connections its people have with their community.

In a separate ceremony Thursday afternoon, The Pilots advertising staff collected 19 awards for their work, including top honors for best overall performance for the third consecutive year.

Patty Thompson and Scott Yancey racked up an impressive number of first place awards in advertising categories, including healthcare and medical, best home furnishings and appliance ad, for a retail ad and, separately, a service ad in a niche publication.

From left, ad rep Samantha Cunningham, advertising director Ginny Trigg, and graphic design manager Mechelle Butler.

Yancey also earned first place with Dacia Burch for best apparel, jewelry and accessories ad.

The Pilots ad staff earned first place in the community services signature page for their Valentines Gift Guide, first place and second place in the niche publication category, and first place and third place for special section.

Wow. Just wow, the judges said. Every page is gorgeous photo, content, layout work together with flare, elegance and personality.

Thompson and Yancey also individually took second place for apparel, jewelry and accessories ad and healthcare medical ad.

Perry Loflin and Yancey took second place for retail ad in a niche publication.

A third place award was presented to Burch and Yancey, and Terry Hartsell and Mechelle Butler for home furnishings and appliance ad. Additional third place prizes were awarded to Thompson and Yancey for retail ad, and Butler and Samantha Cunningham for use of color in advertising.

Were so proud of the fantastic work that our advertising team produces all year long, said Ginny Trigg, The Pilots advertising director. It's especially rewarding to be recognized by our industry peers for the ads that were creating. We share the awards with our advertising partners for trusting us with their marketing.

The Pilots winning advertisement partners included CoolSweats, Monkees of the Pines, Burney Hardware, Wedgies, Bell Tree, Sweet Dreams Mattresses and More, Elmore Furniture, Pinehurst Medical Clinic, Karma Beauty Bar, Sothebys, The Ice Cream Parlor.

Originally posted here:
Pilot Wins Top Honors at Awards Ceremony | Business - Southern Pines Pilot