Freedom's Havelock News named top small community newspaper in North Carolina

Feb. 13, 2009 - The Havelock News was named the best small community newspaper in the state for 2008 at the N.C. Press Association awards banquet Thursday night.

The paper earned first place in general excellence for weekly papers up to 3,500 in circulation. It is the third straight year the paper has won the state's top prize in its division.

The paper won 17 total awards that included staff and individual honors at the annual banquet that features the best in journalism across the state.

Along with the general excellence award, other staff awards include best use of an online interactive feature. That award, given to weekly papers regardless of circulation size, was for the newspaper's special Cherry Point Air Show Web page that featured more than 150 pictures and more than 10 videos as well as stories and general information on the air show.

Other staff awards include first place in appearance and design, first place in use of photographs and second place in general excellence for newspaper Web sites.

Staff reporter and photographer Drew C. Wilson captured four awards, including first place in general news photography, first place in feature photography, third place in general news photography and third place in photo page.

Contributing photographer David de Jetley won first place and third place for sports photography.

Editor and general manager Ken Buday won four awards, first and second in best multimedia project, which combines newspaper and online content, first in headline writing and second in serious columns.

Former reporter and photographer Corey Friedman - now with Freedom's Gaston Gazette - won two awards, first in photo page and third in feature writing.

The 17 total awards for the Havelock News were the most of any newspaper in its division.