News & Observer and Herald-Sun staff members win 60 NC Press Association awards
The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun newspapers won 60 awards from the North Carolina Press Association, including first place in General Excellence for both outlets.
The News & Observer is judged among the state's largest newspapers. The awards for news, sports and photography, along with additional special awards for Public Service, were presented Thursday in Raleigh.
The N&O won 37 awards while The Herald-Sun received 23 awards.
The News & Observer shared awards with its sister paper, The Charlotte Observer, for investigative reporting and the Media and the Law Awards of Excellence
The newspapers were judged for work published from March 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024.
The N&O's first-place awards were given for a range of coverage, including breaking news from the General Assembly, photography and sports reporting.
The staff also earned several special recognition awards:
Duke University/Green-Rossiter Award for Distinguished Newspaper Work in Higher Education Reporting: Korie Dean
Henry Lee Weathers Freedom of Information Award:
Media and the Law Awards of Excellence: Tyler Dukes and Ryan Oehrli of The Charlotte Observer
Public Service Award: Virginia Bridges
Here is a look at the awards.
The News & Observer
First Place
, Henry Lee Weathers Freedom of Information Award, Legislative secrecy , a series of stories about changes in the Open Records Law.
Virginia Bridges, Public Service Award, Police payouts
Korie Dean, Duke University/Green-Rossiter Award for Distinguished Newspaper Work in Higher Education Reporting, Higher education reporting
Kyle Ingram and Dan Kane, Breaking News Coverage, NC lawmakers would be able to keep more records secret with new provision in state budget
Kristen Johnson, General News Reporting, After 23 years, wrongfully convicted man is freed in NC with aid from Duke Law students
Anna Roman, News Feature Writing, 'You'll remember me.' In Raleigh, a vigil to honor those who died while homeless
Drew Jackson, Feature Writing, The barbecue bubble: How Lexington became synonymous with a distinctive NC flavor and These 64 barbecue joints helped define North Carolina 'cue. They may reshape its future.
Drew Jackson, Ledes
Andrew Carter, Sports News Reporting, NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson cast decisive ACC expansion vote but won't say why
Andrew Carter, Sports Feature Writing, The resurrection of the North Wilkesboro Speedway — and the larger hope it represents
Andrew Carter, Sports Enterprise Reporting, Big League peanuts: North Carolina's essential role in feeding the American pastime
Andrew Carter, Sports Columns, An ode to Tuesdays in Greensboro , and the ACC tournament's weirdest, quirkiest day; Even as Tez Walker's moment arrived at UNC , his fight again proved NCAA's hypocrisy, futility; After resounding start to ACC Tournament , UNC appears serious about being serious
Kaitlin McKeown, Feature Photography, A day to take to the water
Second Place
, Use of Social Media, News & Observer TikTok
Teddy Rosenbluth, Beat News Reporting, North Carolina's abortion ban
Danielle Battaglia, Election/Political Reporting, NC's Sen. Ted Budd witnessed 'capacity for evil' during trip to Middle East
Josh Shaffer, Ledes
Josh Shaffer, Lighter Columns, Karaoke in a bait shop? This NC small town with a big heart tackles life with laid-back fun; Why the Village People's cowboy , a Raleigh native, will never tire of 'Y.M.C.A.'; Planes with cocaine , Playboy bunnies and Pablo Escobar: NC town's wild brush with fame
Richard Stradling, Religion & Faith Reporting, Three former NC Symphony musicians sue orchestra over COVID-19 vaccine mandate
Jadyn Watson-Fisher, Sports News Reporting, NC State football adds honorary coach , helping 12-year-old Florida girl live a dream
Robert Willett Mike Homan, Photo Page or Essay, Decision Day looms for Jarin Stephenson
Ethan Hyman, Sports Feature Photography, Victory Day
Robert Willett, Spot Photography, UNC campus shooting
Robert Willett, Video, UNC's Erin Matson chronicles her first season as head coach
Third Place
, Breaking News Coverage, Breaking news coverage of fatal shooting at UNC-Chapel Hill
Staff, Sports Coverage, News & Observer Sports Coverage entry
Staff, Special Section, 2023: The Stories We'll Remember
Virginia Bridges, Investigative Reporting, Police payouts
Richard Stradling, Beat News Reporting, She admired NCDOT memorial to workers killed on the job , then noticed something missing
Brian Gordon, Business Writing, Red Hat at 30
Anna Roman, City/County Government Reporting, Series of stories about an extremist religious group booking the Raleigh Convention Center
Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska, Feature Writing, Is NC the epicenter of competitive gingerbread? Local 'gingerfriends' make the case
Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska, Religion & Faith Reporting, Holi 2023: How and why it's celebrated , plus color throw events in the Triangle
Susan Merriam, Multimedia Project, Tracking the shifting boundaries of NC Department of Insurance regional districts
The Herald-Sun
First Place
Tammy Grubb, General News Reporting, What happened to missing Virginia woman? Family searches NC interstate for answers.
Mary Helen MooreKimberly Cataudella Tutuska, Josh Shaffer, Breaking News Coverage, Series of stories about Durham Public Schools closures amid protests
Danielle Battaglia, News Enterprise Reporting, These Marines drank Camp Lejeune's poison. The road to justice is long
Chantal Allam, Business Writing, Defying gentrification: Carrboro home built by freed slaves in 1879 remains in family
Mary Helen Moore, City/County Government Reporting, Garbage sits on curb Wednesday as Durham city workers 'stand our ground'
Avi Bajpai, Election/Political Reporting, Two strategies for expanding 'Democratic brand' on display in race for NC attorney general
Brian Gordon, Arts and Entertainment Reporting, Meet the new curator at the Duke art museum. It isn't human.
Mary Helen Moore, News Feature Writing, 'Durham just has a spirit about it': Black women share how they came to lead city
Shelby Swanson, Sports Feature Writing, From NIL to social evolution , women in sports now have more control of their own style
Chip Alexander, Sports News Reporting, UNC wide receiver Tez Walker denied eligibility by NCAA for 2023 season
Second Place
Staff, Breaking News Coverage, Breaking news coverage of second campus lockdown at UNC-Chapel Hill in 16 days
Korie Dean, News Enterprise Reporting, Some diversity efforts are ending or pausing after UNC System banned 'compelled speech'
Kristen Johnson, News Feature Writing, 'To keep our footprint': Family is on a mission to protect NC ancestors' graves
Adam Wagner, Beat Feature Reporting, There may be fewer than 1,000 of this NC bird left . What it will take to save it.
Richard Stradling, Beat News Reporting, No state historical marker includes a key phrase in NC history. That will soon change.
Mary Helen Moore, Business Writing, 10 years ago, NC lawmakers forced Durham to annex 751 South . It's finally happening.
Mary Helen Moore, Education Reporting, Series of stories about Durham Public Schools pay issues
Ethan Hyman, Sports Photography, Kicking for Control
Madison Hricik, Sports Enterprise Reporting, Growing the Game: Community interaction, team success vital to increased participation
Steve Wiseman, Sports News Reporting, Duke football coach Mike Elko leaving to become Texas A&M head coach, sources confirm
Third Place
Aaron Sánchez-Guerra, Beat News Reporting, Armed robberies, carjackings target Hispanic women in Durham. Are police doing enough?
Aaron Sánchez-GuerraAdam Wagner, News Enterprise Reporting, A worker died on an NC farm on a very hot day . What happened before he passed out?
The News & Observer and Charlotte Observer Joint Award
Tyler Dukes of The N&O and Ryan Oehrli of The Charlotte Observer,first place, Media and the Law Awards of Excellence, Digital injustice
