The Ocracoke Observer won three awards in the annual N.C. Press Association editorial contest, announced at the annual convention Sept. 18 in Cary.
The Observer won second place for its editorials.
The winning editorials were “Education is the original level playing field,” “How will federal funding cuts affect small communities like Ocracoke?” and “On the loss of friends and loved ones.”
Last year, it won first-place prize in this category.
Editorials are written by Observer co-publishers Peter Vankevich and Connie Leinbach, editor.
In addition to the editorial awards, Leinbach won third place for feature writing for her story about Jonathan Zoesman’s visit to Ocracoke in his “Arctic Tesla Film” vehicle.
She won third place for General News Reporting for her story “Holiday boat parade lights up Silver Lake harbor.”
The winning stories were published on http://www.ocracokeobserver.com between April 1, 2024, and March 31.
Additionally, the Observer’s designer, Jesse Davis of Manteo, won first place for the second consecutive year in the Magazine division for his work on the quarterly publication “Milepost,” published in Kill Devil Hills.
Although the Observer prints a monthly issue 10 times a year, it competes in the online division in the press association’s annual contest.
It has won more than 60 awards, many in first place, since joining the N.C. Press Association in 2015 and entering the contest starting in 2016.
Some highlights are first place for General Excellence for Websites in its division in 2021and first place in breaking news coverage for its Hurricane Dorian reporting.
Judging is done by newspaper staff from another state.
NCPA’s annual contest is one of the largest in the country, with over 3,500 entries submitted in 2023 from more than 125 newspapers and news organizations.
Founded in 1873, the nonprofit N.C. Press Association is one of the oldest and largest journalism trade organizations in the nation, established to protect First Amendment freedoms, promote the business interests of North Carolina newspapers and maintain high standards in the industry.
To view all of the NCPA members’ wins, click here.
Lucky us to have you to keep us up to date, and aware of island doings, people, plants, and creatures we might never otherwise know about.
congratulations on well deserved awards!
And rightfully so!
Congratulations!
From a grateful, avid reader and always-curious island wannabe, Congratulations.
Congratulations on your well deserved recognition. What a great team! Keep up the good work. It is appreciated in Northeast Pennsylvania!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!!
Congratulations. Well-deserved.
Congratulations Connie and Peter! As distant readers of the Observer, we know how good you all are, and we’re grateful.
Dirk & Martha Wiley
Congratulations on your outstanding work!
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