2025 NCPA Editorial and Advertising Awards
Contact: Philip Lucey, NCPA Executive Director, phil@ncpress.com
For Immediate Release
Thursday, September 18, 2025
(Cary, NC) North Carolina Press Association members were honored for excellence in news, photojournalism, and advertising coverage during the 152nd annual convention held in Cary on September 18th. NCPA's contest continues to be one of the largest in the country with over 4,000 entries from over 125 newspapers and news organizations. Nebraska Press Association members judged the contest.
This year, we partnered with the A-Mark Foundation to give special recognition to the best investigative reporting. For his extensive coverage over the past year of Asheville's Mission Hospital, our third place winner is Andrew R. Jones. Andrew received $2,000 for his reporting and got to take home $1,000 for the newsroom at Asheville Watchdog.
Our 2nd place winner for the A-Mark prize is Jane Winik Sartwell for her series titled, "Deserting Women." The series examined the loss of services for women at North Carolina hospitals, especially labor-and-delivery and OB-GYN units. Jane received $3,000 for her reporting and $1,500 for the Carolina Public Press newsroom.
Our 1st place winner is Dan Kane and David Raynor for their work called, "The Power & Secrecy Project," which revealed how lawmakers and their political allies have directly benefited from legislation often crafted outside of public view. Dan and David split the top prize of $5,000 and received $2,500 for The News & Observer newsroom.
The Henry Lee Weathers Freedom of Information Award honors journalists or newspapers for exceptional work in advancing or upholding the cause of Freddom of Information. It also recognizes excellence in reporting about access to government-held information and the First Amendment. The News-Journal staff, Dan Kane and David Raynor of The News & Observer, and Carli Brosseau and Sarah Nagem of The Assembly, were recognized as the first place winners for this award.
The Hugh Morton Photographer of the Year award recognizes a photographer's body of work for the contest year and is the most prestigious photography award we give. Randy Foster of the Cherokee Scout, Walt Unks of the Winston-Salem Journal, and Cornell Watson of The Assembly, received this award.
The Duke University/Green-Rossiter Award for Distinguished Newspaper Work in Higher Education recognized Korie Dean of the News & Observer, and The Assembly staff.
The Media & Law awards- sponsored by the NC Bar Association, recognizes outstanding legal reporting that fosters greater public understanding of the legal system and the role of lawyers in today's society. The Alamance News staff, Ryan Oehrli of the Charlotte Observer, Virginia Bridges of the News & Observer , and Jennifer Allen of CoastalReview.org, won this award.
Below is the full list of our 2025 contest winners:
Division A
Avery Journal Times two awards to Jamie Shell
Bertie Ledger-Advance one award to Deborah Griffin
Bladen Journal has seven total awards. Congratulations to Jaleesa McLean, Dee Dee Prevatte, Mark DeLap and Thecia DeLap
Butner-Creedmoor News one award goes to Amanda Dixon
The Daily Herald. nine advertising and editorial awards go to Rhonda Irby, Gay Parrish, Richard Holm and Tia Beale
Daily News of Jacksonville. a first place award to Chris Miller
Elkin Tribune A first place advertising award to Holly Lamm, and Regenia Grant
Enquirer-Journal one award goes to Michael Wayne O'Neill
Graham Star. Three awards go to Madison Ledford and Kevin Hensley
Hendersonville Lightning. Two awards go to Bill Moss, and Amy McCraw
Herald-Sun. A total of 26 awards go to Tammy Grubb, T. Keung Hui
Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, Kyle Ingram, Virginia Bridges, Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska, Ethan Hyman, Kaitlin McKeown, Adam Wagner, Steve Wiseman
Richard Stradling, Korie Dean, Emmy Martin, Lexi Solomon, Travis Long
Jadyn Watson-Fisher, Josh Shaffer, Robert Wilett, and Kevin Keister
Highlander one award goes to Stephanie Mason
Johnstonian News. two awards go to Scott Bolejack and staff
Martin County Enterprise & Weekly Herald. one award goes to Deborah Griffin
Mitchell News-Journal Five awards go to Mariel Williams, Sarah Atkins, Rachel Hoskins and Staff
Mount Airy News. Seven total awards go to Samantha Turner, Bob Ward, Ryan Kelly,
Cory Smith and Staff
News-Journal. Seven awards for Jessica Hendrix Brown and Catharin Shepard
News-Record & Sentinel. One award goes to Johnny Casey
Perquimans Weekly A first-place advertising award to Bev Alexander
Robesonian. Six awards for Chris Stiles, David Kennard and Staff
Shelby Star two awards go to Mike Hensdill and Rebecca Sitzes
Stokes News two awards for Bob Ward, Serena Bowman, Elizabeth Atkins and staff
Tabor-Loris Tribune (Tabor City) One award to Deuce Niven
The Paper a total of 22 advertising and editorial awards for Devan Berry, Sandra Wilkerson Queen, Angela Kuper Copeland, Marty Queen, Allen VanNoppen
Bill Poteat, Paul Schenkel, Lisa Price, Josh McKinney, Paul Schenke, and staff
Tryon Daily Bulletin three awards to Jeff Allison and staff
Watauga Democrat. 11 advertising and editorial awards to William Becker , Moss Brennan, Zach Colburn, Nick Fogleman, Darla Allen , Jillyan Mobley and Staff
Yadkin Ripple two advertising awards for Dawn Bagale, Darla Allen, and the Staff
Division B
Alamance News 15 awards going to Bob Sutton, Kristy Bailey
Tom Boney, Jr. , Tomas Murawski and staff
Cherokee One Feather 11 total awards for Scott Brings Plenty and Brooklyn Brown
Courier-Times 24 advertising and editorial awards to Ginger Carroll, Jan Ross
George Willoughby, Kelly Snow, Ben McCormick, Jessie Butner and Staff
Daily Advance Four awards to Rich Houghton, Jessica Harris and Chris Day
Daily Record 16 awards to Ginger Carroll, Jan Ross, Thomas Honeycutt, Emily Weaver, Robert Jordan, April Gaulden, Donnell Coley, Donnell Coley, Thomas Honeycutt and staff
Gaston Gazette Seven awards for Kara Fohner, Mike Hensdill and Joe L. Hughes II
Goldsboro News-Argus Six awards for Rebecca James, Phyllis Moore, and Aviel Smolka
Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Seven awards going to Cal Bryant, Keith Worrell and staff
Stanly News & Press One First place to the staff
Washington Daily News Six awards for Clark Curtis , Jason Boyd , Holly Jackson and
Staff
Division C
Brunswick Beacon Five awards going to Kandace Hill, Christy Williamson
and Jason Brady
Carolina Journal 14 awards for Sydney Cook, Mitch Kokai, Melanie Aycock, David Larson, Jeff Moore, Donna King, Brenee Goforth Swanzy, Brianna Kraemer, Katie Zehnder, Theresa Opeka Rene Olmos, and CJ Staff
Charlotte Post Four awards to Herbert L. White, Kylie Marsh and Staff
Cherokee Scout Six awards to Randy Foster, David Brown, Anngee Quinones-Belian
Cannon Crompton and Staff
Coastland Times Seven awards to Danielle Puleo, Summer Stevens and Daryl Law
Daily Reflector Five awards going to Kim Grizzard, Pat Gruner and Staff
Fayetteville Observer 16 awards for Lizmary Evans, Joseph Pierre, Rachael Riley, F.T. Norton , Myron B. Pitts, Andrew Craft and Claire C. Carter
Franklin Press Four advertising and editorial awards to Mia Overton, Eric Braham, Stephanie Mason and staff
High Point Enterprise 16 awards for Laura Greene, Jimmy Tomlin, Michael Lindsay and staff
News Reporter Five awards for Justin Smith, Rocky McPherson, Joseph Williams
and staff
Salisbury Post Four awards for Elisabeth Strillacci, Chandler Inions, and staff
State Port Pilot 39 total awards in advertising and editorial for Carol Magnani, Joey Robinson, Linda Lash, Ben Frazier, Bob Liepa, Eliot Duke, Michael Paul, Karen Beardslee Kwasny, Morgan Harper, Terry Pope And staff
Division D
Asheville Citizen-Times ten awards for Will Hofmann, Sarah Honosky, Esteban Parra
Ryley Ober, Josh Bell, Tiana Kennell, Isabel Hughes, Evan Gerike and Staff
Charlotte Business Journal one award for Erik Spanberg
Daily Dispatch three awards going to Gary Band, Tyler Davis and Graham Noble
Mountain Xpress Four awards to Thomas Calder, Greg Parlier, Brooke Randle and Justin McGuire
Mountaineer 23 advertising and editorial awards going to Heather Allen, Alan Sharp
Mac Heishman, Kylie Frazier, Jennifer Worley, Brionna Dallara, Becky Johnson, Mikell Clark-Webb, Vicki Hyatt , Kathy Ross, Andrew Marshall, Aarik Long and staff
North State Journal eight awards going to Lauren Rose, Emily Roberson, Shawn Krest
PJ Ward-Brown, Stan Gilliland, and staff
Smoky Mountain News 21 advertising and editorial awards for Maddie Woodard, Jack Snyder, Jessica Murray, Micah McClure, Amanda Bradley, Greg Boothroyd, Hannah McLeod, Cory Vaillancourt, Jeffrey Delannoy, Burt Kornegay, Holly Kays, Chris Cox, Kyle Perrotti and staff
StarNews 14 awards to Savanna Tenenoff, Michael Cuneo, Renee Spencer, Allison Ballard, Jamey Cross, Ken Blevins, Owen Hassell, Madison Lipe and John Staton
The Pilot 20 total awards going to Samantha Cunningham, Scott Yancey
Erika Leap, Brad Beard, Mechelle Butler, John Nagy, Lauren Ellis, Ted Fitzgerald
Deborah Salomon, Jonathan Bym, Ana Risano, David Woronoff, Matt Lamb and staff
Triangle Business Journal one editorial award to the staff
Up & Coming Weekly two awards to Bill Bowman and Alyson Hansen
Wilson Times 11 awards going to Olivia Neeley, Lisa Boykin Batts, Chris Long
Drew C. Wilson, Lisa Boykin Batts, and staff
YES! Weekly eight awards to Alex Farmer, Shane Hart, Ian McDowell and
Maggie Marshall
Division E
Catholic News Herald eight awards to Kevin Eagan, Lisa Geraci, Troy C. Hull,
Christina Knauss and Catholic News Herald Staff
Charlotte Observer 34 total awards going to Theoden Janes, Kayleigh Ruller, Julia Coin
Catherine Muccigrosso, Chase Jordan, Mary Ramsey, Jeff A. Chamer, Joe Marusak,
Scott Fowler, Jeff Siner, Briah Lumpkins, Alex Zietlow, CharlotteFive staff, Adam Bell
Rebecca Noel, Lisa Vernon-Sparks, Evan Moore, Ames Alexander, Melissa Rodriguez, Diamond Vences, Tamia Boyd, Emily Broyles, Melissa Oyler, Desiree Mathurin, Mike Kaye and staff
News & Observer 34 total awards for Anna Roman, Dawn Vaughan, Danielle Battaglia, Avi Bajpai, Dan Kane, David Raynor, Lexi Solomon, Robert Willett, Ethan Hyman, Mike Homan, Travis Long, Josh Shaffer, Shelby Swanson, Richard Stradling, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, Brian Gordon, Kristen Johnson, Tammy Grubb, Tyler Dukes, Andrew Carter, Laura Brache, Kevin Keister, Danielle Battaglia, T. Keung Hui, Luke DeCock
Jadyn Watson-Fisher, Steve Wiseman and staff
News & Record nine awards to Allen Johnson, Woody Marshall, Nancy McLaughlin,
Susie Spear, Camdyn Bruce, Allison Lee Isley and staff
Winston-Salem Journal 13 editorial awards for Walt Unks, CONNOR MCNEELY
Scott Sexton, Allison Lee Isley, Tom Foreman Jr. , Marc Pruitt, CHAEWON CHUNG
and Richard Craver
Magazine Members
27587 Magazine six awards to Philip M. Read and Philip M. Read Jr., Bob Bogert
Mehmet Demirci, Philip M. Read, and staff
Charlotte Magazine Five awards for Gavin Edwards, Jen McGivney, Herman Nicholson
Tess Allen, A.M. Stewart, Jane Fields, and Peter Taylor
Johnston NOW one award goes to Jamie Strickland
O.Henry Magazine Seven awards to Brad Beard, Jennifer Bunting, Lynn Donovan
and Ross Howell Jr
Outer Banks Milepost Six awards going to Jesse Davis, Stephen Templeton, Catherine Kozak, Ryan Moser, Daniel Pulle, Ed Tupper and staff
PineStraw Magazine Eight awards to Samantha Cunningham, Scott Yancey, Christy Phillips, Kathy Desmond, Todd Pusser, Andie Rose and Bill Case
SouthPark Magazine Eight awards for Kathleen Purvis, Katherine Snow Smith, Whitley Adkins, Olly Yung, Alyssa Kennedy., Page Leggett, Ron Green Jr. and staff
Walter Magazine 10 awards to Lidia Churakova , David Menconi, Scott Sharpe, Alexandra Williams, Alex Boerner, Tyler Northrup, Colony Little, Liza Roberts, Susanna Klingenberg, Laura Wall and staff
In our final division, Division O we recognize our online publications.
Asheville Watchdog three awards to Andrew R. Jones, Sally Kestin, and John Boyle
AXIOS Charlotte two awards to McKenzie Rankin
AXIOS Raleigh one award for Ashley Mahoney
Blowing Rock News one award for David Rogers
Border Belt Independent two awards to Ben Rappaport and the staff
Cardinal & Pine Five awards for Billy Ball, Michael McElroy and Jessica F. Simmons
Carolina Public Press 21 awards going to Jack Igelman, Mariano Santillan, Colby Rabon, Jane Winik Sartwell, Lucas Thomae, Sarah Michels, Lucas Thomae
Frank Taylor, and Staff
CityView TODAY eight awards to Bill Kirby Jr., Evey Weisblat, Claire Mullen, Lexi Solomon and Staff
Coastal Review Four awards to Jennifer Allen, Gilbert M. Gaul, Kip Tabb and staff
EducationNC one award to Hannah Vinueza McClellan
High Country Sports Five awards to David Rogers, Jared Everett, and Garner Dewey
Indy Week four awards to Chase Pellegrini de Paur, Lena Geller, Nicole Pajor Moore and Angelica Edwards
Island Free Press Five awards to Brad Hanson, Rory Kelleher, Donna Barnett and staff
NC Health News 11 total awards going to Rose Hoban, Jennifer Fernandez, Will Atwater, Grace Vitaglione, Rachel Crumpler, Jaymie Baxley and Taylor Knopf
NC Insider Two awards for Clifton Dowell, and Matthew Sasser
NC Newsline Four awards for Ahmed Jallow, Clayton Henkel, Greg Childress and Rob Schofield
Ocracoke Observer Three awards to Peter Vankevich & Connie Leinbach
Richmond Observer Seven awards to Wiliam R. Toler and staff
The Assembly 20 awards going to Billy Warden, John Railey, Michael Hewlett, Joe Killian, Kate Medley, Cornell Watson, Daniel Walton, Tim Brown, Bill Arthur, Carli Brosseau,Jeffrey Billman, Emily Vespa, Emily Cataneo, Allison Joyce, Tyler Northrup
Matt Hartman, Zachery Eanes, Jimmy Ryals and Madeline Gray
Wise News Network One award, a first place, to Rusty Wise
The Advertising sweepstakes award recognizes the top award winners from each division.
Division A The Paper
Division B Daily Record
Division C State Port Pilot
Division D Mountaineer
Division M PineStraw Magazine
General Excellence in Division A
3rd place News-Journal
2nd place Herald-Sun
1st place The Paper
In the Community newspapers division B
Overall General Excellence
3rd place Alamance News
2nd place Daily Record
1st place Courier-Times
In Community Division C
Overall General Excellence
3rd place Cherokee Scout
2nd place Carolina Journal
1st place State Port Pilot
General excellence in online organizations, Division O:
Overall general excellence
3rd place Border Belt Independent
2nd place Carolina Public Press
1st place The Assembly
In Division D,
Overall General Excellence
3rd place Smoky Mountain News
2nd place Mountaineer
1st place The Pilot
In Division E
Overall General Excellence
3rd place Catholic News Herald
2nd place Charlotte Observer
1st place News & Observer
In Division M
Overall General Excellence for Magazines
3rd place Johnston NOW
2nd place Walter Magazine
1st place 27587 Magazine