The Telegraph wins 17 awards in regional journalism competition

April 27, 2009 - The Telegraph, a Freedom newspaper in Alton, Ill., received 17 awards during the 2009 Southern Illinois Editorial Association's Better Newspaper Contest, including first in General Excellence and Best Web Site.

The publication, which was called "a very newsy paper" in the judges' comments, scored high marks in a number of categories, including Local News, in the General Excellence competition. The contest winners were announced Friday in Carbondale, Ill.

For its Web site, www.thetelegraph.com, the newspaper got props for excellent video and user community sections.

The Telegraph's coverage of the dramatic rescue of a Holiday Shores man whose foot had become trapped in a drainage valve at Holiday Shores Lake in March 2008 earned reporter Sanford J. Schmidt first-place awards for Best News and Best Feature Story, as well as Best News Photo for Telegraph Photo Editor John Badman.

Judges called Schmidt's articles, which included the breaking news story and a subsequent interview with the recovering victim, "compelling."

"It shows true skill that you were able to be quick enough to react to what was going on around you," judges wrote about Badman's "Lake Rescue" photo. Badman also earned second-place awards for Best News Photo and Best Photo Essay.

Telegraph photographer Jim Bowling earned third place and honorable mention for Best Sports Photo.

The small dailies category covered Illinois newspapers with circulations of 25,000 and under.

In that category, in addition to General Excellence, The Telegraph placed first for Best Use of Photography, Best Newspaper Design and Best Local News Coverage; second for Best Local Sports Coverage; and third for Advertising Excellence and Best Editorial Page.

Follows is a list of The Telegraph's 2009 SIEA Better Newspaper Contest Awards:

First Place:
-Best Feature Story - Sanford Schmidt, "Man recalls brush with death"
-Best News Story - Sanford Schmidt, "Trapped man rescued from lake"
-Best News Photo - John Badman, "Lake Rescue"
-Best Web Site (open submission category)
-General Excellence, Small Dailies
-Best Use of Photography, Small Dailies
-Best Newspaper Design, Small Dailies
-Best Local News Coverage, Small Dailies

Second Place:
-Best Local Sports Coverage - Small Dailies Best News Photo - John Badman, "Private Island"
-Best Photo Essay - John Badman, "Raging Rivers"

Third Place:
-Advertising Excellence - Small Dailies
-Best Editorial Page - Small Dailies
-Best Sports Photo - Jim Bowling, "Football collision"

Honorable mention:
-Best Editorial - Dennis Grubaugh, "Hayner's boss ducks intent of law"
-Best Sports Photo - Jim Bowling, "Soccer celebration"
-Best Community Service - Dan Brannan and Laura Griffith, "Veterans' Voices"