At the 142nd convention of the Texas Press Association, July 28–30, in San Marcos, The Caprock Courier, The Floyd County Hesperian-Beacon and The Texas Spur were among almost 80 Texas daily, semi-weekly, and weekly newspapers receiving annual awards for outstanding journalism in 18 categories in nine divisions ranked by circulation size; of these, 53 were weeklies in six divisions.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic disruptions of conference schedules the past two years, the 2020–21 Better Newspaper Contest covered content published for an extended period, from Sept. 1, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2021.
Spur-based Paragraph Ranch LLC, which has owned The Texas Spur since March 2018, acquired The Caprock Courier in March 2020 and The Floyd County Hesperian-Beacon in February 2021. Under the leadership of publisher Kay Ellington, it has won regional and statewide awards in multiple categories annually for each of its newspapers.
The Texas Spur, the flagship newspaper among the group, received recognition in five Division 8 categories:munity Service, to Barbara Brannon and Kay Ellington for “Small-Town Water Woes”;
• First place, Editorials, to Kay Ellington for “Electrical Unreliability Council of Texas,” Feb. 25, 2021; and “Austin’s Failure to Lead Results in ERCOT Summertime Issues,” June 17, 2021;
• First place, News Writing, to Barbara Brannon for “Red Mud Cemetery Markers Suffer Vandalism Damage,” Sept. 16, 2021; and “Argo Packs Palace to Announce Industry Plans, Commits to Rebuild Spur Pool,” Oct. 7, 2021;
• Fourth place, Special Section, to Barbara Brannon and Kay Ellington for Spur Homecoming, Sept. 30, 2021;
• Fourth place, Column Writing, to Barbara Brannon for “What Does—and Doesn’t—Arrive in the U.S. Mail,” Oct. 21, 2021; and “Clark Cat Exits Newsroom in Single Bound,” Nov. 4, 2021.
The Caprock Courier won awards in two Division 9 categories:
• Third place, Page Design, to Barbara Brannon and Claudia Pérez;
• Third place, Headline Writing, for “Collins Creates with Clay in Quitaque,” Aug. 19, 2021; “The Cowboys Wrote Away,” Aug. 26, 2021; and “Chrome Gleamed, Headlights Beamed,” Nov. 25, 2021.
The Floyd County Hesperian-Beacon won awards in six Division 8 categories:
• Second place, Column Writing, to Liz Adams for “Power Failure,” Feb. 25, 2021, and “Brothers on the Line,” Aug. 12, 2021;
• Third place, Editorials, to Barbara Brannon for “Into the Herd,” Feb. 4, 2021, and Kay Ellington for “Behind the Scenes of the Newspapers,” Oct. 14, 2021;
• Third place, Headline Writing, for “Pile on the Pumpkins!”, Sept. 2, 2021; “Santa Claus for a Cause,” Dec. 23, 2021; “and Candy Can-ines,” Dec. 23, 2021;
• Third place, Page Design, to Barbara Brannon;
• Third place, Feature Writing, to Barbara Anderson for “A Camp Man’s Winter Work,” Feb. 25, 2021; and Liz Adams for “Harmony Plains Singing School Continues Tradition of Resounding Praise,” Aug. 5, 2021;
• Fourth place, Advertising, to Barbara Brannon and Kay Ellington for Big Dog BBQ Cook-off Ad, June 17, 2021; Probasco Flying Service Christmas Ad, Dec. 16, 2021; and Mangold Hospital “Healthcare Close to You” ad, Apr. 8, 2021.
Full results of the competition may be viewed online at https://publisher.etype. services/Texas-Press-Assoc/e-paperspecial-edition/2D37FB061B881F7F
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.
