Each week, The Examiner staff spends long, hard hours reporting, writing, pho- tographing, laying out pages, editing and proofing before going to press with what once again has been deemed the secondbest weekly newspaper in the United States among National Newspaper Association members garnering four first place, 10 second place, eight third place and five honorable mentions in the 2024 (NNA) Better Newspaper contest.
Established in 1885, the NNA is the voice of America’s community newspapers and is one of the largest newspaper associations in the country. The NNA Foundation (NNAF) is the educational arm of the NNA. Its mission is to pro- mote news literacy, protect the First Amendment, and enhance the quality, role and capabilities of community newspapers and community journalists.
Judging was done by a cross-section of retired editors, university professors and professional journalists from across the country.
With 1,513 entries in the Better News- paper Editorial Contest and 245 entries in the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest, entries totaled 1,758, with The Examiner being honored with 27 awards, more than doubling the 13 received in the previous year at the National Newspaper Association Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
In 2021, the Examiner received 13 national awards, and in past years, in addition to multiple awards for its reporting, was deemed by the NNA as the second-best weekly newspaper in the country in 2021, third best in 2019, and awarded first place as the best weekly newspaper in the country with a circulation of over 12,000 in 2016.
In this year’s contest among the judges’ comments concerning winning the second-best weekly newspaper,
“Solid mix of news. Good storytelling. Clean layouts from cover to cover,” stated the judge.
Jennifer Johnson, an 18-year veteran Examiner reporter and managing editor garnered multiple awards, among them, a first-place award for Best Reporting on Local Government for “Community in crisis,” about first responders seeking new leadership.
“A well-written report on the threat to public safety posed by a staffing shortage of first responders in the city of Beaumont. The story quotes a range of residents, elected officials and first responders. They are supported with statistics from several sources. Very informed reporting,” commented the judge.
Johnson also scored second place for Best Profile Story for “Inner city girl rises to global leader,” a story centered on Nakisha Myles Burnes, who went from growing up in Houston's inner city to becoming the face and voice of ExxonMobil. “Good story. Nice quotes. Well written and presented. Solid writing from start to finish,” commented the judge.
Among non-dailies with a circulation of over 10,000, Johnson earned a third-place award for StorySeries: Best Localized National Story with “Fatalities multiply as fentanyl fills in for designer pills.”
Johnson also placed third in Best Use of Photographs for her story “Crime survivors pack courthouse” and an award for Preserving Local History with the story “Field of cotton, dreams and perseverance” as well as Honorable mentions for “Deadly drunk driver sentenced" and for Best Non-profile Feature Story category for the story “Bicycles and Bibles.”
Chad Cooper, longtime Entertainment and sports editor was recognized again this year as he has been for many of his 22 years with The Examiner for Best Photo Essay among dailies and non-dailies (12,000 or more circulation). Scott Stapp of Creed earned him first place in the United States for Best Photo Essay among dailies and non-dailies. “Excellent live concert photography worked into a creative page design,” the judge commented.
Cooper also placed second in the same contest for his photo essay of the UBR Rodeo, to which the judge stated, “Very good action photos of profession- al bull riding blended into a good page layout brings the sport to life.”
Cooper's photo of a Houston Rough- neck player celebrating after a touchdown took third place for Best Sports Photo among non-dailies.
“What makes this photo stand out even more is his teammates' reaction,” commented the judge.
As for his writing skills, Cooper’s “The ballad of Danny B and ‘Dem Boys” earned second place for Best Sports Feature Story or Series among dailies and non-dailies.
“Danny B still seems like a young boy enthusiastic about his team – I especially enjoyed the part about his birthday facetime,” stated the judge.
Also in the same division, his story, “A vision for Lamar Athletics” earned third place for Best Sports Story. The judge stated, “Interesting story with good information. Easy to read even though it contained a lot of infor- mation.”
Cooper and Graphic Designer Britney Chaney combined their talents for second place in Best Use of a Double Truck with "Convo with Collective Soul,” “Very nice background and use of space,” the judge stated.
Barbara Davis’ writing was recognized in three categories. A riveting three-part series detailing the city of Beaumont’s struggles surrounding the homeless population, earned her first place for “Homes for the Homeless” in the Best Feature Series category.
“A solid series on the homeless situation in the community. Well done,” the judge stated.
Her entry, “Transforming the system," centered on the privatization of child placement within the Department of Family and Protective Services, earned second place for Story Series: Best Non-Profile Feature Story. The judge noted, “Well written. Very informative.”
Davis’ “Hope in the darkness,” a story from the perspective of two local suicide survivors bravely sharing their struggles and victories in the hope of inspiring others in need of help with mental illness , finished third in Story Series: Best Profile Feature Story.
The judge added, “Hardhitting story that offers hope to those who are seeking it. Well written. Good quotes.”
Dannie Oliveaux’s front page design “Big Money Beaumont” received second place for Best Front Page Design.
“Very interesting first page with eye-catching art and good use of the right side of the page to encourage people to look inside the issue,” remarked the judge.
In the same division, Oliveaux also earned an honorable mention for Best Reporting on Local Government for his sto- ry, “Kountze city administrator terminated.”
“Unbiased coverage of the ouster of a city administrator shows how petty politics can disrupt a community. Fair, good reporting,” noted the judge.
Chaney’s superb creative and graphic skills resulted in five awards.
Her eye-catching design on the 2023 High School Football Magazine was a second-place winner in Best Use of Local Photography in Ads among dailies and non-dailies.
“Great dominant photo,” commented the judge.
Chaney’s “Halloween Happening” received second place for Best Informational. In Best Holiday Ad, Chaney’s “Happy Thanksgiving” placed third and Best Use of a Double Truck for “Rodeo.”
Chaney’s ads for Fred Miller's Unique Gifts earned honorable mention for Best Small-Page Ad and Best Single Ad Idea.
Publisher Don Dodd was recognized nationally with first and second-place honors for editorial writing titled “City deserves better,” expressing opposition to Proposition A being put on the city election ballot, which would have extended mayor and city council member terms from two years to four years. The editorial expressed that the citizens of Beaumont expect them to prioritize the needs of the community over their own self-interests.
"Solid, tightly written editorial that gets right to the point and makes it strongly. Well done,” commented the judge.
In the same category, winning a second-place award with "Heat and a hangover,” an editorial in the case of Orange County Pct. 4 Constable Matt Ortego, he’s not only a drunk with authority, but the law enforcement officer also possesses a badge and a gun – which he admittedly threatened to use unlawfully in the presence of his minor child against the peace and dignity of the community he is paid to serve.
The judge in this case commented, “Bold editorial, but maybe a bit too bold, accusing the subject of being a drunk. I appreciate the accountability called for here, but the tone wasn't quite right.”
Dodd said he is excited for national recognition by such an esteemed group of judges and from such an icon of the newspaper industry, the National Newspaper Association.
“I am so proud of each and every member of our team,” said Dodd further emphasizing that while each individual deserves the awards they have been recognized with, “It is a team effort here at the Examiner, no one person does this by themselves, every member of this team works diligently to publish what we believe is truly of the best quality, and the most accurate source of news and information in Southeast Texas. By receiving acclaim on a national level, let’s just say I am beaming with pride and honored to be working with such a talented, honorable and skilled group of people. To be able to get up every day and be blessed with such a good staff and a publication we are proud to publish each week, well I don’t think it gets much better.”
Awards will be presented this year at the 138th annual National Newspaper Association Awards Ceremony on Sept. 27 in Omaha, Nebraska, where the firstplace general excellence winner in each division will be revealed.