Freedom's Sun Journal wins two North Carolina press awards

Feb. 13, 2009 - The Sun Journal in New Bern, N.C. received two awards from the North Carolina Press Association yesterday.

Byron Holland (pictured at left) received a first-place award in sports photography in the in the 15,000 to 34,999 circulation category, and Natalie Sayewich, a former sports reporter at the paper, received a third-place award in sports columns.

The awards were given for work done between October 2007 and September 2008. Holland's winning photo captured a man playing basketball in the summer.

"It was just a couple of guys out having fun, and I spent a little time with them," Holland said. "It was a nice day, and I decided I wanted to shoot a silhouette. Every once in a while, you get lucky and find something that will make a great image."

Holland also said he appreciates the work copy editors do help make his photos look good on the page.

Holland has worked at the Sun Journal since December 1998, winning 15 awards from the association.

The North Carolina Press Association is a nonprofit organization that promotes the journalistic and business interests of newspapers across the state.