State Press Contests

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2010 State Press Contests winners announced

Photo credit: Elenora E. Edwards, The Tennessee Press
Winners of the 2010 University of Tennessee-Tennessee Press Association State Press Contests Awards were announced at a luncheon on Friday, July 16 at the Embassy Suites Nashville Airport Hotel.

The Commercial Appeal (Memphis), The Jackson Sun, the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, The Standard Banner (Jefferson City) and The Erwin Record won the top general excellence awards.

General excellence honors are based on total points accumulated for all award categories. This marks the eighth consecutive year The Erwin Record has won the top award for its category. The Erwin Record also earned the most first-place honors with 12. The Commercial Appeal won eight first-place awards and The Daily Herald (Columbia) won six first-place awards.

Contest awards are given in five divisions based on average weekly circulation, including small and large daily and non-daily papers. The Illinois Press Association judged a total of 1,468 contest entries from 76 TPA member newspapers.

UT has co-sponsored the State Press Contests since 1940 by providing the plaques, certificates and coordination of the awards presentation. Hank Dye, UT vice president for governmental and public relations presented the awards.

The university's Edward J. Meeman Foundation honored 10 newspapers for their accomplishments in editorial writing and public service journalism with $250 awards in the categories of best single editorial, editorials and public service.

Meeman awards were presented to The Commercial Appeal, The Daily Herald, the Union City Daily Messenger, Grainger Today (Bean Station) and the Erwin Record for winning first place in the best single editorial category.

The Advocate & Democrat (Sweetwater) and The Erwin Record won Meeman awards for editorials and the Bristol Herald Courier, The Jackson Sun and Roane County News (Kingston) received Meeman awards for public service.