The Hamilton County Herald has won top honors in two categories in the annual Tennessee Press Association’s annual statewide competition.
The Herald won for local features and single feature in its circulation category on entries written by David Laprad. Best single feature was a profile of 76-year-old attorney Pamela O’Dwyer (“This gun is still for hire,” www.hamiltoncountyherald.com/Story.aspx?id=14422&date=12%2f8%2f2023).
The Herald also had a second (best feature photo) and a third (headline writing).
The Knoxville Ledger, part of the same ownership group as the Herald, was named the state’s top newspaper in its circulation category for the second consecutive year and the third time in five years.
Knoxville writers had three second-place finishes (sports coverage, single feature and headline writing, and five third-place prizes (makeup and appearance, graphics and/or illustrations, editorials, sports writing and single feature.
The Nashville Ledger, which competes in the same category as the Knoxville Ledger, won three first-place awards.
“We have such wonderful, talented writers, photographers and editors across all three newspapers, and it’s a thrill to see them get the recognition they deserve,” says Lyle Graves associate publisher and executive editor of the Nashville Ledger, Knoxville Ledger and Hamilton County Herald. “We’re especially pleased with back-to-back wins for the Knoxville Ledger as the best in Tennessee in its category.”
The Nashville Ledger’s sports coverage won best overall with entries from Terry McCormick and Tom Wood. Wood also won for investigative reporting (“One more crack in scrambled supply chain,” https://tnledger.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=161860) and, along with Joe Morris and Lucas Hendrickson, for education reporting.
The Nashville Ledger earned top honors in 2018 (the first year weekly newspapers became eligible) and 2022, while the Knoxville Ledger took top honors in 2020, 2023 and, now, 2024. The Herald last won top honors in 2020.