Newspaper of the Year | News, Sports, Jobs

The Inter-Mountain photos From left are Inter-Mountain staff members Edgar Kelley, Taylor McKinnie, Anthony Gaynor, Joey Kittle, Executive Editor Brad Johnson, Lori Smith, Sue Blankenship, Accounting Manager Karen Channell and Circulation Supervisor Kristi Groves. Not pictured is Advertising Director Michelle Smith.

CHARLESTON — The Inter-Mountain was named the Newspaper of the Year during the 2024 West Virginia Press Association Convention Awards Banquet, held Saturday in Charleston.

The award signifies that The Inter-Mountain scored the most combined points in the 2024 West Virginia Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, counting both editorial and advertising awards.

“It is a great honor to be named Newspaper of the Year in West Virginia,” IM Advertising Director Michelle Smith said. “Our entire staff works very hard to provide great news coverage and a great product, and to provide great marketing for our advertisers. We are all committed to doing our very best for our readers and our advertisers.”

“We are very proud to be named the Newspaper of the Year,” IM Executive Editor Brad Johnson said. “Our staff members are very dedicated and have been working very hard for a long time. It’s wonderful to see them get this statewide recognition.”

The Inter-Mountain has been named the WVPA’s Newspaper of the Year once before, in 2014.

From left are Inter-Mountain staff member, Scott Shank, Mailroom Supervisor Verna Marie Carr, Production Manager Dave Ickes, Mary Cosner, Jerry Ferguson and Michael Gerlach.

In this year’s contest, The Inter-Mountain came in first place in Division 2 for the state in the editorial Press Association contest, and in first place in Division 2 for the state for the advertising Press Association contest. The work judged was from the 2023 calendar year.

In the editorial contest, The Inter-Mountain won eight first-place awards, 10 second-place awards and 11 third-place awards, totaling 55 contest points.

In the advertising contest, The Inter-Mountain won eight first-place awards, six second-place awards and six third-place awards, totaling 42 points in the contest.

IM Staff Writer Edgar Kelley won three first-place awards, while Executive Editor Brad Johnson won two, and Content Editor Anthony Gaynor won two, as well.

Kelley won Best Coverage of Breaking News for “Prisoner Escape” and Best Business, Economic or Labor Reporting for “Virgin Hyperloop Down the Tubes.”

Kelley also won Best Governmental Affairs Reporting with Johnson, for “County Battles City over TIF Application.” Johnson also won Best Reporting Generated from Public Notice for “Listening Session.”

Gaynor won Best Photo Essay with the IM’s Lori Smith for “Celebrating Christmas Eve,” and won Best Lifestyle Pages with Robert McCutcheon for “Mission to Africa.”

The IM Editorial Staff also won Best Front Page for the Oct. 2nd edition.

On the advertising side, IM account executives Sue Blankenship and Lori Smith won three and one first place awards, respectively.

Blankenship won Best Single Black & White Ad Larger than Quarter Page, Best Color Ad – Quarter Page or Less, and Best Ad Campaign – Half Page or Larger.

Smith won for Best Online Motion Ad.

The IM advertising staff won first place awards for Best Special Section – Sports, Best Online Newspaper Promotional Campaign, Best House Ad and Best Agency Advertisement.

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