Epoch Times staff members were honored with 25 awards at the 85th annual Better Newspaper Contest for the New York Press Association (NYPA).
The contest recognizes the best work of newspapers across the state of New York for editorial coverage in news and feature reporting, photography, advertising, and design.
Overall, Manhattan-based Epoch Times took home 10 first places prizes, six for second place, five third place finishes, and four honorable mentions.
Design and Advertising
The Epoch Times creative department led the pack with a total of 11 awards and three honorable mentions in the category of design and advertising.
For the second year running, the department won two of the most prestigious design categories: first prize in the Richard L. Stein Award for Overall Design Excellence and the only prize for the John J. Evans Award for Advertising Excellence.
Creative Director Robert Counts won first place awards for best online infographic and best large space advertisement.
Also given a first place award was Luba Pischick for best advertising campaign. An additional first place team award was given to Counts, Seth Holehouse, and Dane Crocker for a special advertising section they created.
“I think we’re having some great success here because people are seeing that our dedication to our media and the inspiration that drives us really reflects through our designs,” said Counts, after the awards were announced on Saturday. “Our team works so hard, day and night. It’s wonderful to be recognized for it.”
The creative department was also awarded second place for advertising excellence. Overall, the department won six first place awards, four second place awards, one third place award, and three honorable mentions.
Editorial Coverage
In the category of Editorial Coverage, the Epoch Times was honored with a total of five awards for a range of stories about news, events, and people in New York City and beyond.
First place for editorial coverage included a spot news story by New York City metro reporter Annie Wu on New Yorkers paying their respects to two police officers who were killed while sitting in their patrol car.
Reporter Arleen Richards also won a first place award for her feature story about struggling farmers who support fracking to help them survive a tough business. Richards said she was drawn to the story because it encompassed a little-heard-of point of view.
“I realized that despite the negative impacts of fracking that we often read about, farmers who have devoted their entire lives to providing food for the masses are losing their multigenerational family farms and their valuable land is all they have left as a source of income,” said Richards. “Farmer Graby has helped me put a human face on a much-debated topic.”
In addition to the two first place awards the Epoch Times won for its editorial coverage, the editorial team won one second place award, two third place awards, and one honorable mention.
Photography
Epoch Times photographers won a total of five photography awards for their work in 2014.
Samira Bouaou won first place for her news photograph of a shocked boy reading a local newspaper in the aftermath of a vicious knife attack on two small children in which the attacker remained at large for several days, leaving local residents terrorized.
Benjamin Chasteen also won a first place award for his feature photograph of New Yorkers in vintage clothing in front of some of the city’s vintage trains for an annual get together.
Chasteen, who traveled extensively in 2014 for work, said he felt that the recognition helped make it all worthwhile.
“Last year was really life-changing for me as a photographer,” said Chasteen. “After covering the protests in Hong Kong and Ferguson I feel I have matured in my artistry. I really put in a lot of effort and hard work and for me winning this award makes it feel like it was all worth it.”
The entire photography team also won third place for photographic excellence for a total of two first place awards, one for second place, and two for third place.
The Epoch Times also won second place for the NYPA’s Past President’s Award for General Excellence.
The prestigious first, second, and third place awards in 50 categories are chosen from among more than 4,000 entries every year.
Full List of Awards
NYPA 2014 Better Newspaper Contest
John J. Evans Award—Advertising Excellence
Richard L. Stein Award for Overall Design Excellence
First Place
Past Presidents’ Award for General Excellence
Second Place
Photographic Excellence
Third Place
EDITORIAL COVERAGE
Feature Story
First Place
For reporting on struggling farmers who support fracking
Spot News Coverage
First Place
For reporting on New Yorkers paying respects to two murdered policemen
Best News or Feature Series
Second Place
For series of stories on 9/11 Museum opening
In-depth Reporting
Third Place
For series of stories on Superstorm Sandy/Build It Back
Feature Story
Third Place
For reporting on a New Yorker walking 8,000 miles
Honorable Mention
For reporting on two sisters living together for 91 years
PHOTOGRAPHY
Spot News Photography
First Place
For photo of child reacting to story of young boy killed in elevator
Feature Photo
First Place
For photo of hipsters in vintage clothes on vintage train
Second Place
For photo of two people hugging at closing of South Street Seaport pub
Spot News Photo
For photo of aftermath of a five-alarm fire on Staten Island
Third Place
DESIGN AND ADVERTISING
Overall Design Excellence
First Place
Best Online Infographics
First Place
James Cameron, Deepsea Challenger
Best Special Section Advertising
First Place
Taste Asia
Best Large Space Ad
First Place
Taste Asia
Best Advertising Campaign
First Place
Nerai restaurant
Advertising Excellence
Second Place
Best Special Section Cover
Second Place
Best House Ad/Ad Campaign
Second Place
Graphic Illustration
Second Place
Best Small Space Ad
Second Place
Brazilia Cafe
Best Advertising Campaign
Second Place
The Four Seasons Restaurant
Best Special Section Cover
Third Place
Graphic Illustration
Honorable Mention
Special Sections/ Niche Publications
Honorable Mention
Health & Fitness special
Best Large Space Ad
Honorable Mention
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