Central City News Wins 1st Place Awards From Press Association in 19 Categories

The Central City News published by Community Press, LLC, once again dominated the Better Newspaper Awards competition conducted by the 110 newspapers of the Louisiana Press Association.

The newspaper won 19 first-place awards in competition with community newspapers across Louisiana.

Central City News editor Woody Jenkins said, “It is gratifying to be honored by our peers in the journalism profession and recognized for our work throughout the year. We accept these awards on behalf of the Central community and hope it calls attention to the wonderful community we are honored to represent.”

Perhaps the most important award was the Community Service Award. This award is given to only one daily newspaper in the state and one community newspaper in the state.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Community Service Award – 1st Place – The judges determined that the Central City News made an outstanding contribution to the Central community. Judges considered the quality and depth of the newspaper’s involvement in the community and its presentation to the community.  

Our sister publication, Capital City News, won 3rd Place for its service to the people of Baton Rouge.

NEWS & OPINION

• Best News Story – 1st Place – $100 Million for Drainage in Central By Woody Jenkins. 

Note: Our sister publication, the Capital City News, won 2nd Place in this category for Real Time Crime Center and 3rd Place for White Democrats a Dying Breed in Louisiana.

• Best Breaking News Story – 1st Place – Chief Salsbury Intervenes to Save Neighbor from Gunman by Woody Jenkins. Judge’s comment: “The introduction grabs the reader’s attention right away. The narrative of the story is well put together and flows smoothly.”

• Best Breaking News Story – 2nd Place – Good Samaritan’s Arm Crushed While Helping Woman Change Tire on Joor Road by Woody Jenkins.

• Best Feature Story – 2nd Place – Beloved Business Owner Claud Derbes Passes Away by editor Woody Jenkins.  

•Best Editorial – 1st Place – Why New City Hall Makes Sense by editor Woody Jenkins. 

Note: Our sister publication, the Capital City News, won 2nd Place in this category for Why Moving the Baton Rouge Zoo Is a Bad Idea by editor Woody Jenkins. 

• Best Regular Column – 3rd Place – 50 Things You Should Know about Central by editor Woody Jenkins.

• Best Sports Column – 1st Place – Spring Game Left Coach Sid Excited about the Fall Season by editor Woody Jenkins.  

• Best Sports Story – 3rd Place – Central High Baseball, Softball Teams to Defend State Titles by editor Woody Jenkins.  

• Best Headline – 1st Place – Gentle Giant Brings Attention to Central High Freshmen Team by editor Woody Jenkins.  The judges said, “Gentle giant is good way to describe player and gets reader into story more than 6-foot-10 player would.”

ONLINE NEWS

• Best Overall Website – 1st Place – Central City News on Facebook by Woody Jenkins, Jolice Provost, and Kim Powers. The judges said, “Interesting choice to have all this content for free on a social media site (especially the PDF of the paper).”

• Best Web Project – 1st Place – Central City News: America’s First Video Newspaper by Woody Jenkins, Jolice Provost, and Kim Powers. The newspaper uses QR codes to imbed video in news stories and ads throughout each issue. While the technology is readily available to all, the Central City News was the first in the nation to make this innovation. 

• Best News Video – 1st Place – Entire Central High Football Season Captured by Central City News with QR Codes by Woody Jenkins, Jolice Provost, and Kim Powers. The judges said, “Great idea to compile a whole season’s work. Announcer has great radio presence. Sound quality is surprisingly clear. Nice production work, especially for a live video. I loved how you broke up the action with other content like the ads.”

• Best News Video – 2nd Place – The Funeral Procession of Marine Cpl. Taylor Conrad by Woody Jenkins, Jolice Provost, Kim Powers, and Ella Olive. The judges said, “Facebook live is a great tool for covering events like this, so it was great to see it utilized here. Purposely choosing silence was an interesting choice, and appropriate, but it does leave the video feeling a bit dull (though many social media users do watch without sound). Angle variety could have been introduced sooner in the video, as well, to keep viewers interested. The viewer response to the video on Facebook was great.”

PHOTOGRAPHY

• Best Photo Package – 1st Place – by Jolice Provost and  Woody Jenkins – Central Wildcats Prepare to Defend State Title as Playoffs Begin. The judges said, “Good variety of shots.”

• Best Photo Package – 2nd Place – By Shane Evans and Jolice Provost – Wildcats Kick Off Season. 

• Best News Photo – 3rd Place – By Jolice Provost – Central Marine Buried. The judges said, “Good job of getting close to the crowd to show their emotion.”

• Best Sports Photo – 3rd Place – By Shane Evans – Old Glory. 

NEWSPAPER DESIGN

• Best Front Page – 3rd Place – Central City News’ front page for Jan. 18, 2018 by editor Woody Jenkins

Note: Our sister publication, the Capital City News, won 1st and 2nd Place for Best Front Page in the competition!

• Best Layout and Design – 2nd Place – Candidates, Districts for Central City Council by editor Woody Jenkins

• Best Special Section – 3rd Place – Central City News’ Central Birthday Edition by editor Woody Jenkins, Jolice Provost, and Kim Powers.  Judge’s comment: “The front page of this section grabs reader attention. The 50 Things You Should Know is a good feature. Overall, it’s a good special section about people and places in the community.”

ADVERTISING

•Best Staff-Generated Ad – 1st Place – Check Out What’s Sizzlin’ at Stab’s by Jolice Provost. Judge’s comment: “Idea — good. Would like to see variety in typography and have one main photo that matches the headline — What’s Sizzling. This ad, as presented, has a clear message. Contrast between dark background and white lettering draws attention.”

•Best Staff-Generated Ad – 3rd Place – Will You Take Down that Tree Before that Tree Takes Down Your House? (The Tree Man)  by Woody Jenkins. Judge’s comment: “There’s a lot going on in this ad. Almost too much. The concept, though, is good. Like that contact info is presented twice.”

•Best Ad Campaign – 1st Place – Central Physical Therapy by Woody Jenkins, Jolice Provost, and Kim Powers.  Judge’s comment: “Consistency and development of a theme is key, especially in this campaign. Implementation of QR code is a big selling point. It ads another layer of connectivity between business and reader. Well done.”

•Best Success Story of an Ad – 1st Place – Capital Financial (Ian James) by Woody Jenkins  Judge’s comment: “Ad success: Identified a way to showcase a business by using testimony from clients. Great! Ad effectiveness: I’d like to see Ian’s photo a different size from his customers.”

•Best Success Story of an Ad – 2nd Place 

– Central Drug Store to Central Pharmacy by Woody Jenkins, Jolice Provost, and Kim Powers.  This was a four-page pull-out center spread. It included advertorials on page 1 and 4 and an ad across pages 2 and 3. Judge’s comment: “Great way to help a new business owner. For me, the ad itself is too busy, but the articles are a huge bonus for the advertiser.”

•Best  Multiple Advertisers Page – 1st Place – Central High Play-by-Play Sideline Football ad by Woody Jenkins.  Judge’s comment: “Crisp design. No clutter! Overall, a good ad that has a defined message.”  

•Best Online Advertising – Single Ad – 1st Place – Remarkable Homesite: Print ad with online video by Woody Jenkins.  Judge’s comment: “What a fantastic idea, and a great added value to the advertiser.”

•Best In-Paper Promotion – 1st Place – Central City News: America’s First Video Newspaper by Woody Jenkins, Jolice Provost, and Kim Powers. Judge’s comment: “What a great way to get your readers involved! Love the idea of the QR codes!”

•Best Money-Making Idea – 1st Place – Central City News’ New Profit Center: The Monetization of Facebook Live by Woody Jenkins, Jolice Provost, and Kim Powers. Judge’s comment: “Love the interaction with Facebook and the QR codes. Great ideas!”

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

• General Excellence Award – 3rd Place – Central City News won 3rd Place in the state. 2nd Place went to our sister publication, the Capital City News. The 1st Place winner was The Catholic Commentator (Baton Rouge).

Central City News editor Woody Jenkins said, “We were happy to see our friends at The Catholic Commentator win this prestigious award as the best community newspaper in the state.  It is well deserved and long over due! Congratulations too to their editor, Richard Meek, for his awards for Best Feature Story, Best Regular Column, Best News Photo, and Best Feature Photo and to the Commentator staff for Best Special Section!”