LPA Honors Central City News Staff With 12 First Place Awards for News, Ads

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

The Central City News group, which also includes the Istrouma Journal in North Baton Rouge and the St. George Leader in the new City of St. George, won 12 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 Istrouma Journal made an outstanding contribution to the re-opening of Istrouma High. 

NEWS & OPINION

• Investigative Reporting, Gibbs Adams Award – 1st Place – Russian Intelligence Heightened Tensions Here By Initiating an Alton Sterling Protest at BRPD by Woody Jenkins.  

• Best Front Page – 1st Place – Central City News’ May 2019 Graduation  Edition was chosen best in the state, by Woody Jenkins. 

Our sister publication, The Istrouma Journal, won 2nd Place for its September 2019 Edition front page. 

• Best Layout and Design, Gary Hebert Award  – 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place – Night Owl, What’s Open Late Night in Central by Woody Jenkins.

Our sister publication The Istrouma Journal. won 2nd Place for the September front page, Istrouma Mourns Reginald Douglas. Our sister publication The St. George Leader won 3rd Place for the October 24 edition’s front page, St. George Votes Yes!

• Best Single Editorial – 1st Place – St. George Leader, Mayor President Broome Will Not Be Able to Continue as Plaintiff Against St. George, by editor Woody Jenkins. Judges said, “Out of the gate, the writer makes a powerful point and continues to hammer the evidence which backs it up, ultimately delivering a fact-based and conclusive exclamation point. Solid writing style. Good use of the legalities to present the argument. Well done!”

• Best Regular Column, Sam Hanna Award – 1st Place – St. George Leader by editor Woody Jenkins – Never-St. George Groups Push Annexation and Why BRPD Officers Live Outside City. 

• Best Feature Story  – 1st Place – St. George Leader by editor Woody Jenkins. How a Prominent Civil Rights Leader, Acie Belton, Set in Motion St. George. Judges said, “I was impressed by the writing and topic. It was a fascinating look at an important topic. Well done.”

• Best Sports Column – 3rd Place – Central City News, Can Central Repeat as State Baseball Champions? by editor Woody Jenkins.  

• Best Sports Story – 1st Place – Central City News, Central’s Steve Ensminger Helped Guide LSU’s Joe Burrow To Season of Greatness by editor Woody Jenkins.  

• Best Headline – 2nd Place – St. George Votes Yes! by editor Woody Jenkins.  

ONLINE NEWS

• Best Overall Website – 1st Place – Central City News on Facebook by Woody Jenkins, Jolice Provost, and Kim Powers. The judges said, 

• Best News Video – 1st Place – Our sister publication,  St. George Leader,  Election Night by Woody Jenkins. 

In 2nd and 3rd Place our sister publication The Istrouma Journal, with the Breakfast of Champions video and the video coverage of Istrouma High’s principal, Reginald Douglas’ funeral service. 

PHOTOGRAPHY

• Best Photo Package – 1st Place – by Ron Moore – Parkview Falls to Catholic. The judges said, “This was an engaging package around the sights and sounds of a high school football game. Several very good action shots in the mix.”

• Best Photo Package – 2nd Place – by Woody Jenkins- St. George Election. The judges said, “The candid shots from election night stood out.”

• Best Photo Package – 3rd Place – by Shane Evans – Central High at Istrouma High. The judges said, “Several good actions shots and a nice flavor from the scrimmage.”

• Best News Photo – 1st Place – by Stacy Hudson – A Joyous Victory for Supporters of St. George. The judges said, “Pretty good body posture and drapery for the flag.”

• Best Feature Photo – 3rd Place by Jolice Provost – HOT CRAWFISH.  The judges said, “Good composition of a colorful subject, unusual and on target for the event.”

• Best Sports Photo – 1st Place – by Shane Evans – All State Sophomore Running Back Le’Vean Moss. Judges said, “An important player captured in good action, angle and a tense moment.”

• Best Sports Photo – 2nd Place – by Shane Evans – Central Quarterback, Sam Kenerson. Judges said, “A central character well lit and framed.”

• Best Sports Photo – 3rd Place – by Jolice Provost – Central Wildcats Take the field at W.A. Mumford Stadium. Judges said, “Dramatic moment well done, but predictable.”

NEWSPAPER DESIGN

• Best Front Page – 1st Place – Central City News’ front page for May 2020 by editor Woody Jenkins

Note: Our sister publication, the St. George Leader, won 2nd Place for Best Front Page in the competition!

• Best Layout and Design – 1st Place – Guide for Night Owls, What’s Open Late Night in Central by editor Woody Jenkins.

Note: Our sister publication, the Istrouma Journal won 2nd Place for layout and design for the Istrouma Mourns Regional Douglas front page. In 3rd Place was our sister publication, the St. George Leader for the St. George Votes Yes! front page.

ADVERTISING

•Best Ad Campaign – 3rd Place – Franklin Foil for State Senate series by Woody Jenkins. • Best Success Story of an Ad – 1st Place – Play-by-Play ad by Woody Jenkins