By George E. Curry
Editor-in-Chief
NNPA News Service
ATLANTA (NNPA) – The St. Louis American won seven first-place Merit Awards Thursday night en route to winning the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s coveted John B. Russwurm Trophy presented to the newspaper that accumulates the most points in the organization’s annual journalism competition.
In 1827, Russwurm co-founded Freedom’s Journal, the nation’s first Black owned and operated newspaper.
The St. Louis American, published by Dr. Donald Suggs, won first place in categories ranging from general excellence to best layout and design for a broad sheet.
The Merit Award winners were:
General Excellence
1-St. Louis American
2-Charlotte Post
3-Philadelphia Tribune
Best Editorial
1-Philadelphia Tribune
2-Columbus Post
3-Michigan Chronicle
Best Column
1-Frost Illustrated
2-Miami Times
3-Michigan Chronicle
Community Service
1-Richmond Free Press
2-Philadelphia Tribune
3-Portland Skanner
Best News Story
1-Winston-Salem Chronicle
2-Houston Defender
3-Chicago Defender
Best Feature Story
1-Chicago Crusader
2-Charlotte Post
3-Houston Defender
Best News Picture
1-St. Louis American
2-Chicago Defender
3-Cleveland Call & Post
Best Editorial Cartoon
1-Los Angeles Sentinel
2-New Pittsburgh Courier
3-Philadelphia Tribune
Best Layout and Design – Broad Sheet
1-St. Louis American
2-Philadelphia Tribune
3-Michigan Chronicle
Best Layout and Design – Tabloid
1-LA Watts Times
2-The Final Call
3-Chicago Defender
Best Special Edition
1-St. Louis American
2-Miami Times
3-CrossRoads News
Best Circulation Promotion
1-Houston Defender
2-Portland Skinner
3-St. Louis American
Best Lifestyle Section
1-St. Louis American
2-New Pittsburgh Courier
3-Charlotte Post
Best Youth Section
1-Miami Times
2-Philadelphia Tribune
3-Chicago Crusader
Best Original Advertising
1-Houston Defender
2-Houston Forward Times
3-Columbus Post
Best Use of Photographs – Broad Sheet
1-St. Louis American
2-Philadelphia Tribune
3-New Pittsburgh Courier
Best Use of Photographs – Tabloid
1-LA Watts Times
2-Final Call
3-Chicago Defender
Best Church Page
1-Miami Times
2-Indianapolis Recorder
3-Philadelphia Tribune
Best Sports Section
1-St. Louis American
2-Houston Defender
3-Charlotte Post
Best Business Section
1-Philadelphia Tribune
2-Houston Forward Times
3-New Pittsburgh Courier
Best Entertainment
1-Indianapolis Recorder
2-St. Louis American
3-Philadelphia Tribune
Russwurm Trophy – St. Louis American
“Our member newspapers continue to improve each year, making the Merit Awards increasingly difficult to judge,” said Karl B. Rodney, chairman of the NNPA Foundation. “The Merit Awards recognize the excellent work NNPA papers produce on a consistent basis.”
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