The Houston Herald captured 22 awards Saturday in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.
The announcement came Saturday afternoon during the organization’s 147th annual convention in Kansas City.
It was the most awards won in a single year by the Herald, competing with weekly newspapers in the state with paid circulation of 3,000-6,000 households in most categories.
Here are the awards received —
First place: Best photo illustration, among all weeklies — Jeff McNiell; best editorial cartoon, Kathy Richardson; and best story about history, Doug Davison.
Second place: Best online newspaper among all weeklies; best story about education, Davison; best photo package, McNiell and Davison; best feature story, McNiell.
Third place: Best editorial cartoon, Richardson; best coverage of government, Brad Gentry; best sports news story or package, McNiell; best coverage of rural life or agriculture, Davison; and best sports pages, McNiell.
Honorable mention: Best editorial cartoon, Richardson; best local business coverage (all weeklies); best page design, McNiell; best sports news story or package, McNiell; best business story, Davison; best story about rural life or agriculture, Davison; best story about education, Davison; best photo illustration in all weekly classes, Leesa Smith; best columnist – humorous, Davison; and best news photo, McNiell.
Herald Publisher Brad Gentry, a member of the association’s board of directors, was elected as Missouri’s chair to the National Newspaper Association.