The Greenwood Commonwealth collected 10 awards Saturday in the Mississippi Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest.
The awards, honoring work published in 2017, were presented during the association’s annual convention, held this year jointly with the Louisiana Press Association in New Orleans.
Freelance writer and longtime Commonwealth staffer Susan Montgomery captured first place in the General News Story category for her story “Facing Deportation,” about Martin Duron-Esparza, a Greenwood man forced to return to Mexico because of his immigration status. Montgomery, who wrote several stories about Duron-Esparza, was also awarded the Bill Minor Prize for General News Reporting for the “Facing Deportation” story.
Judges commented on “good reporting and writing putting a national issue in perspective with a local face to it,” making “Facing Deportation” an important story.
The Bill Minor Prize is named for one of Mississippi’s most important civil rights reporters, who died last year.
Also winning first-place awards were the Commonwealth’s Profile 2017 in the Special Section category and Leflore Illustrated in the Magazine category.
Judges called Profile 2017 “a clear winner in a competitive class of entries” and a “comprehensive guide to the businesses and people that make up Greenwood — from farming and food to retail, banking and churches.” This Profile edition, judges said, “showcases the people who make the area’s economy and quality of life better.”
Judges’ comments on Leflore Illustrated’s winter, spring and summer editions said, “This magazine exudes authenticity. Many magazines focus on image and polish; Leflore Illustrated is about humanity. ... I want to visit Greenwood after reading this.”
Second place for Spot News Story went to editor Tim Kalich and staff writers Lauren Randall and Kathryn Eastburn for their story “Marine Plane Crash Kills 16,” following the fatal crash of a military C-130T aircraft in western Leflore County on July 10.
Ruthie Robison took second place in the Business News Story category for “Family Business,” her profile of Chris and Missy McGlawn’s family catfish farming business, published in the 2017 Farming special section.
Kalich took second-place honors in Commentary Columns for three opinion pieces penned in 2017.
Sports editor Bill Burrus received second-place honors for Sports Page or Section.
The Commonwealth also received a third-place award in the Special Section category for the Farming 2017 edition, and Kalich took third place for Editorial Page or Section.
The Better Newspaper Awards are handed out each June for work published in newspapers around the state during the previous year.
• Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
