Central City News Named Newspaper of Year By Louisiana Press Association for 7th Year

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

The Central City News took home 18 first-place awards this year 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.”

The most important award was the winning the Newspaper of the Year again.  

OVERALL

• Newspaper of the Year – Newspaper of the Year honors are awarded to the newspaper which has earned the highest combined vote totals from all categories of the competition including news, feature writing, commentary, sports, photography, advertising, and layout and design. The Central City News has won Newspaper of the Year for seven of the past nine years. 

•General Excellence • 1st Place – Woody Jenkins and Jolice Provost. Judge’s comment: “This publication, while being similar to its sister newspaper, the St. George Leader, in style, tone and layout, has a sharper community focus and features more community members than the 2nd place entrant.”

• Best Special Section • 1st Place – Annual Pigskin Preview by Woody Jenkins and Jolice Provost.

NEWS & OPINION 

  • Best Breaking News Story • 1st Place – BRAC Poll Sends Mayor-President’s Race into State of Confusion by Woody Jenkins. 

  • Best Breaking News Story • 2nd Place –  Heavy Early Voting Favors Coach Sid in Race for Mayor-President 

• Best Breaking News Story • 3rd Place – Historic Election for Mayor-President by editor Woody Jenkins. 

• Best News Story • 2nd Place – Coach Sid Vows to Bulldoze Trap Houses Used for Drugs and Prostitution by editor Woody Jenkins Judge’s comment: “Great subject to bring light to a dark situation, well researched and prepared.”

• Sam Hanna Award for Best Regular Column • 1st Place – The Campaign That Has the Most Fun Usually Wins: Here’s Why by editor Woody Jenkins. 

• Gibbs Adams Award for Best Investigative Reporting • 1st  Place – Blue Cross Deal Would Have Swindled Shareholders Out of $3.4 Billion by editor Woody Jenkins. Judge’s comment: “Great investigation on all sides of the story. Lots of time and research went into these stories.”

• Gibbs Adams Award for Best Investigative Reporting • 2nd Place – Mother of Twins Not Allowed to See Her Children, Put in Jail by editor Woody Jenkins. Heart-wrenching narrative of how one mother has been unjustly deprived of her children without any significant evidence.

•Best Single Editorial • 1st Place – Claims of Immunity: Broome, James Attack but Coach Takes High Road; Broome’s Baton Rouge: Murder Capital, by editor Woody Jenkins. 

• Best Headline • 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place – What Happened to Those Who Defied Mandates, Lockdowns; Gov. Edwards Falsely Used AG’s Name to Try To Intervene in Criminal Case Against Pastor; The Campaign That Has the Most Fun Usually Wins the Election: Here’s Why, all by editor Woody Jenkins.

• Best Sports Story • 1st Place – Sports Stories: Central High, Central Private and Istrouma High by editor Woody Jenkins. 

• Best Special Section • 1st Place – Graduation Edition of Central City News by Woody Jenkins and Jolice Provost

ONLINE NEWS

• Best Overall Website • 1st Place – centralcitynews.us (traditional website), Central City News on Facebook, and centralcitynews.net (newspaper archives) by Woody Jenkins and Jolice Provost,

• Best News Video • 1st Place – Live Coverage of Victory Party of Mayor-President-elect Sid Edwards by Woody Jenkins. 

• Best News Video • 3rd Place – Live Coverage of the Electoral College in Louisiana by Woody Jenkins. Judge’s comment: “A great way to show people in the community who couldn’t attend this historic day.”

• Best Web Project • 1st Place – Istrouma High School Football by Woody Jenkins, Ken Bush and Sharon Bush. Judge’s comment: “Football is tough to broadcast but the paper did a nice job of putting the viewer close to the game supplemented with solid play-by-play.”

ADVERTISING

• Best In Paper Promotion  • 1st Place – Annual Pigskin Preview (football section) by Jolice Provost. Judge’s comment: “Sleek design with great call-to-action.”

• Best Ad Campaign • 1st Place –  Coach Sid Edwards’ Ad Campaign for Mayor-President by Woody Jenkins and Jolice Provost.

• Best Staff Generated Ad • 1st Place – Julie Quinn for Public Service Commission by Jolice Provost Judge’s comment: “Solid use of design fundamentals – great use of color, white space and photography. Clean and effective!”

• Best Staff Generated Ad • 2nd Place – Poor Boy Lloyd’s restaurant by Jolice Provost Judge’s comment: “One of the best uses of color I’ve seen in the contest.”

• Best Staff Generated Ad • 3rd Place – Assessor Brian Wilson ad in Football Edition by Jolice Provost Judge’s comment: “Eye-catching, modern and clean.”

LAYOUT and DESIGN

• Best Layout and Design Gary Hebert Award • 3rd Place – Central Residents Walk Camino de Santiago; Fête-Dieu du Mississippi; Health Freedom Day by Jolice Provost. Judge’s comment: “It is a well laid-out puzzle with each piece creatively finding its spot.”

PHOTOGRAPHY

• Best News Photo • 1st Place – Rev. Spell of Central Placed under House Arrest by editor Woody Jenkins. Judge’s comment: “Capturing this moment made the photo. Good job!”

• Best Feature Photo • 1st Place – Santa at Central Parade by Jolice Provost.

• Best Photo Package • 1st Place – Inauguration of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry by Woody Jenkins and Jolice Provost. Judge’s comment: “Good variety here. Could use some very tight, detailed shots. This was the best group.”

• Best Photo Package • 2nd Place – Central Defeats Denham Springs 31-6 in 75th Amite River Rivalry by Jolice Provost. Judge’s comment: “Nice job getting action, fans, and extras – sports are more than just action shots.”

• Best Photo Package • 3rd Place – 3rd Annual Louisiana Health Freedom Day by Jolice Provost.