The West Virginia Press Association has released the results of their 2020 Newspaper Editorial and Advertising Contest, which they host annually. Newspapers from across the state compete with other publications in their circulation division in multiple editorial and advertising categories.
This year, the Mountain Messenger staff was awarded second place overall in the Best Special Section category for the 2019 West Virginia State Fair Guide. Last year, the 2018 State Fair Guide placed second, and in 2017 the 2016 Fair Guide earned first place.
Head Editor Sarah Richardson won first place in the Best News Feature category for her piece, “Local Entrepreneur Strives to Bring Augmented Reality into Classrooms,” which was published in April of last year. The piece is available to read online at https://mountainmessenger.com/local-entrepreneur-strives-to-bring-augmented-reality-into-classrooms/.
Mountain Messenger contributor Lyra Bordelon scored second place in the Best Investigative or In-Depth Story category for his piece, “Potential Plan to Improve Air Service Complicated by Bed Tax Stakeholders,” written for the West Virginia Daily News and Greenbrier Valley Ranger in March 2019.