The Potomac Almanac was named Newspaper of the Year for 2003 by the Maryland Delaware D.C. Press Association last Friday. This was the third year in a row the Almanac has been named Newspaper of the Year. The Almanac also won three “Best of Show” awards.
The Potomac Almanac competes in the mid-sized weekly category, and garnered 10 awards ranging from public service and continuing coverage to sports story, photography, design and graphics.
Three of the Almanac’s first-place entries were awarded “Best of Show,” meaning that they were the top entries in those topics among all members of the MDDC Press Association, including large daily newspapers.
Of the 32 Best of Show awards, only seven were won by non-dailies, and the Potomac Almanac won three of those seven. More than 2,400 entries were submitted by 92 newspapers, including the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun.
BEST OF SHOW:
* Coverage of Whitman High School’s Youth Summit designed to raise awareness of depression and suicide garnered first place and Best of Show for Public Service for Ken Moore and Alex Scofield. “This article reaches readers of all ages with honesty and compassion,” read the judges’ comments. “It was bound to make the community sit up and take notice of a horrific problem.”
* Months of reporting on the Montgomery County’s review of the Annual Growth Policy and Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance by Ari Cetron took first place and Best of Show for Continuing Coverage. Judges called his package of stories, graphs, charts and maps, “detailed, interesting.”
* A timeline dating back more than 300 years framed a story on the conflict between Maryland and Virginia over water rights in the Potomac River, by Ken Moore and Ari Cetron, which also took both first place and Best of Show for State Government.
ALMANAC MDDC PRESS AWARDS:
* Best of Show, First Place, Continuing Coverage, Ari Cetron, Annual Growth Policy
* Best of Show, First Place, State Government, Ken Moore, Ari Cetron, “Is This Yours?” Maryland and Virginia go to the Supreme Court over rights to the Potomac River.
* Best of Show, First Place, Public Service, Ken Moore, Alex Scofield, “Combating Depression: Whitman Youth Summit.”
* First Place, Sports Story, Alex Scofield, “Taste of Victory.” Judges’ comments: “Solid reporting job and good quotes give a feature feel to this news piece.”
* First Place, Sports Page Design, Alex Scofield, Stuart Moll, Pam Brooks, “Hamdan’s Two-Minute Drill.” Judges’ comments: “Lots going on in this layout, but it is still easy to follow. Good use of pull-out info.”
* First Place, Info graphics, Sports, Stuart Moll, Ken Moore, Jeff Graham, “Capitol Open at Avenel: Nothing like the first time.”
* Second Place, State Government, Ari Cetron, “End Run or Creative Solutions” on call for a new bridge over the Potomac River.
* Second Place, Photo series, Carole Dell, “Potomac Hunt Races: Thrills and Spills.”
* Second Place, Sports Photo, Pam Brooks: Wootton basketball.
* Second Place, Info Graphics, General, Ari Cetron, Mary Kimm, Laurence Foong: Blockhouse Point.