Carroll County Newspapers managing editor Scott Loftis and associate editor Robert Cox received a total of five awards in the National Newspaper Association Foundation’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest — including first place for Loftis in Freedom of Information reporting — the foundation announced Thursday, June 30.
Loftis received first place in the Freedom of Information category for non-daily publications with circulations of less than 2,000. His winning entry was a series of reports on the Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission published in the Carroll County News and its sister newspaper, the Lovely County Citizen.
“Extremely well done,” the judge’s comments said of Loftis’ entry. “Fascinating read. Use of the call-out quotes made us want to continue to read.”
Loftis also received third place for Best Reporting on Local Government and honorable mention for Best Investigative or In-Depth Story or Series, also based on his reporting on the CAPC.
Cox was awarded second place for Best Profile Feature Story for a story about former Carroll County sheriff Chuck Medford and third place for BestBreaking News story for a report on an accident that claimed the lives of two brothers on a local farm.
“I’m just astonished,” Loftis said. “What we do isn’t about winning awards, but this is a big deal. I’m honored and humbled. I’m so proud of our newspaper and so proud of our profession. What we do matters and these awards demonstrate that even a ‘small’ newspaper can do big things. And thanks to Rob for his award-winning reporting and his design work. The fact that the judges specifically pointed to design elements on the CAPC series proves just how important those things are.”
“Receiving any honor is always welcome, but there’s something extra special about national recognition,” Cox said. “It shows the quality of work we do here and the importance of community journalism. I couldn’t be prouder to be part of the team here at Carroll County News and to work with such talented people.”
The Carroll County News was the only Arkansas newspaper to receive an award in the national contest, which included 1,333 entries.
The awards will be presented at an awards ceremony Oct. 8, during the national association’s 136th Annual Convention & Trade Show in San Francisco.
“My wife and I are already looking at flights,” Loftis said. “We wouldn’t miss this for the world!”
Judging in the contest was performed primarily by active community newspaper editors and publishers, as well as retired university journalism professors and retired or former newspaper professionals.
Judge Larry Hochberger, associate publisher of The Ithaca (N.Y.) Times said, “Thanks for the opportunity to judge this contest. It is great to see that in the already-challenging world facing newspapers and then a pandemic, these papers are surviving and thriving and doing great work for their communities..”
Established in 1885, the National Newspaper Association describes itself as “the voice of America’s community newspapers” and is the one of the largest newspaper associations in the country.
The NNA Foundation is the association’s educational arm. Its mission is to promote news literacy, protect the First Amendment, and enhance the quality, role and capabilities of community newspapers and community journalists.