From staff reports –
The Southside Sentinel received seven awards — including two first place wins — in the 2022 Virginia Press Association (VPA) News and Advertising Contest. The Sentinel competed in the VPA’s non-daily group two category, which includes more than 27 other newspapers in the 1,600 to 3,999 circulation range. Newspapers across Virginia annually submit their best work in the VPA’s contest and are then judged by another state press association. This year the Tennessee Press Association judged the contest. The awards were presented Saturday night during a special awards banquet at the Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa in Short Pump.
Southside Sentinel wins
The Sentinel’s Bay Heritage annual September supplement, which celebrates the people, places and traditions of the Middle Peninsula and Lower Northern Neck, won first place in the Special Sections or Special Editions category. The Sentinel’s staff produces Bay Heritage in cooperation with the staff of the Rappahannock Record, the Sentinel’s sister newspaper.
“(Bay Heritage) opened with a table of contents and incorporated the theme through the entire section with nicely sectioned areas and a distinct starting style to each area,” a contest judge wrote about the entry. “Writing was solid and photos were both good selections and well credited from outside source.”
The Sentinel also collected a first place award in the Photo Illustration category for Reporter Tom Chillemi’s photo used with his story on the benefits of meditation. The image ran in the Sentinel’s Bay Healthstyles, a special annual February supplement.
“Sometimes the simplest illustration is the best,” a contest judge commented on Chillemi’s entry. “The flowers surrounding the subject and the blurring effectively illustrates the benefit of meditation — allowing everything else around you to just fade away. I’m sure readers were drawn to this illustration, and the story!”
The Sentinel second place wins included, in the Front Page category, three front pages created by Sentinel Editor Don Richeson. “Organized front page sets a hierarchy to lead the reader through the content,” wrote a contest judge about Richeson’s entry. “Dominant photo selection and contrasting size of secondary art creates visual impact.”
Another Sentinel second place win was in the Entertainment Ad category for A.J. Krowe’s 90th birthday ad. Sentinel Production Manager Joe Gaskins and Advertising Sales Manager Charlie Lassiter created the ad.
“Great layout,” a contest judge commented on the ad.
The Sentinel third place wins included, in the Picture Story or Essay category, Editor Don Richeson’s photo package from the 2022 Urbanna Oyster Festival. “Fine work, portrays the spirit of the (festival) well,” a judge said about the entry.
Another Sentinel third place win was in the Lifestyles Ad category for a Wings, Wheels & Keels promo ad. Staff members contributing to the ad included Reporter Tom Chillemi, Production Manager Joe Gaskins and Advertising Sales Manager Charlie Lassiter. “Like the colors,” a judge said in reaction to the ad.
The Sentinel also received a third place win in the Combination Picture and Story category for “The paint of the past is still here,” by Reporter Tom Chillemi and Special Supplement Coordinator and Graphic Designer Susan Simmons.
Sweepstakes winners
The Tidewater News, which serves Southampton and Isle of Wight counties, won the Grand Sweepstakes award in the non-daily group two category. The award recognizes the paper receiving the most wins in both news and advertising. The Tidewater News also won the Advertising Sweepstakes award, which recognizes the paper receiving the most wins in advertising only.
Rappahannock News, which serves Rappahannock County, won the News Sweepstakes award in the non-daily group two category. The award recognizes the paper receiving the most wins in news only.
