OK, OK, I've finally got around to it.
The 2011 awards ceremony was my last with The Erwin Record -- the awards are for work completed the previous year.
Well, I'm glad to say I was able to leave The Erwin Record on a high note, as the newspaper, once again, won the General Excellence/Sweepstakes Award. This was the ninth year in a row. Eight was a state record, so it was nice to continue an unprecedented streak. That feels good.
Now I'll never know if I could have continued to lead the newspaper to the top award year after year. I have to say, though, that it's good to go out on top. I always said, "Well, it's been great even if we can't win it again." I never wanted to experience that, of course. So ... now I won't have to do so. Ahh, feels good!
Personally, I won several awards, so I'll detail those below with a few comments from the judges. ...
FIRST PLACE, BEST SINGLE EDITORIAL ... for my editorial about the many public officials or public employees who have stolen money from the taxpayers. It was titled "Higher Taxes, Fewer Services? Yes, Thank the Thieves of Unicoi County." From the judge: "Very well written and reported and does a good job of appealing to readers by addressing them, and their tax dollars, directly."
-- FIRST PLACE, BEST PERSONAL HUMOR COLUMN ... for my column titled "Christmas Shines With 'Bamberella'." From the judge: "Clever and funny, with a homey touch. Made me laugh out loud."
-- THIRD PLACE, BEST PERSONAL HUMOR COLUMN ... for my column titled "I've Been Driven to Distraction."
-- THIRD PLACE, BEST PERSONAL COLUMN ... for my column about Judy Moss after she lost her husband, Dick. From the judge: "This category had more than its share of stories about grief and loss, and this was the most poignant and well-written. It drew the reader in while avoiding emotional cliches."
SECOND PLACE, EDITORIALS ... From the judge: "Very well-written editorials in each case. Writing is concise, uses facts well to back up main points and doesn't waste reader's time."
-- SECOND PLACE, BEST NEWS PHOTOGRAPH ... for a shot of Angie Williams as her lawyer pointed the way to exit the courtroom as she pleaded not guilty to stealing $21,000 from the Unicoi County School System. From the judge: "Great photo! The best. You have to wait for the right moment and keep eye for detail, and that's exactly what this photo shows."
-- SECOND PLACE, BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ... for a series of stories detailing ethics meetings between the sheriff and county commissioners. (I shared this award with Rebekah Harris and Brandon Kane.) From the judge: "Exhaustive work ... It's evident your news staff is plugged into the beat."
-- THIRD PLACE, BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ... for a series of stories detailing production problems at Nuclear Fuel Services. From the judge: "Thorough coverage of an important local news story."
-- FOURTH PLACE, BEST SINGLE EDITORIAL. ... for my editorial noting the Chamber of Commerce was being overshadowed by the town of Unicoi's efforts at community outreach. From the judge: "Well done and full of strong details to support your conclusions."
... I liked that my final year at the Record, I was still involved in all aspects of the newspaper's operations, as the awards show. I wrote all the editorials, in addition to my personal column, but I was, as always, involved in reporting and photography. I took my job very seriously, and, in hindsight, I'm surprised how much I was able to accomplish.
I pushed myself, because I felt I would let the community down if I didn't work as hard as I could. That might mean making sure paper boxes were always full and working, writing a story, meeting with a concerned reader or being part of community events. Erwin was a great place to be, but, man, sometimes I wonder how I didn't fall over from exhaustion. Must have been the adrenaline!
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