Winners Announced in 2016 Mississippi-Louisiana AP Competition

BC-Mississippi-Louisiana AP Awards

Winners Announced in 2016 Mississippi-Louisiana AP Competition

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) _ Winners of the 2016 Mississippi-Louisiana Associated Press broadcast, newspaper college competitions were announced Saturday at an awards presentation in Jackson.

AP-member broadcasters and newspapers in both states submitted nearly 2,000 entries in the contests conducted by the Mississippi and Louisiana AP Broadcasters and the Louisiana-Mississippi AP Media Editors. College student journalists from 10 schools submitted nearly 300 entries in the AP contests.

The awards honored exemplary journalistic work published and broadcast in 2016. The AP is a not-for-profit news cooperative representing about 4,000 newspapers and 5,000 broadcasters in the United States.

Winners in Division I newspapers:

Breaking News: First, Whitney Downard, Cheryl Owens and Randy Hammons, The Meridian Star, "Firefighter Dies in Crash"; Second, Lindsey Shelton, The Natchez Democrat, "Flooding Forces Crosby Residents to Flee"; Third, John Surratt, The Vicksburg Post, "Man Jumps to his Death from Interstate 20."

General News: First, Zack Steen, TheDailyCorinthian, "Two Schools' Final Chapter"; Second, Tim Kalich, The Greenwood Commonwealth, "Is Greenwood Ready for Fluoridation?"; Third, Vershal Hogan, The Natchez Democrat, "County Votes to Take State Flag Down."

Features: First, Bobby J. Smith, TheDailyCorinthian, "Day at the Fair"; Second, Kathryn Eastburn, The Greenwood Commonwealth, "Facebook Justice"; Third, Terri Frazier, The Vicksburg Post, "Jeffery's Friends."

Business: First, Kimberly Shelton, TheDailyCorinthian, "Soda Shop Pops the Top Off Nostalgia"; Second, Randy Hammons, The Meridian Star, "450 Jobs"; Third, Ernest Herndon, Enterprise-Journal, "Deal Doldrums."

Continuing Coverage: First, Matt Williamson, Enterprise-Journal, "Summit Church Dispute"; Second, Ernest Herndon, Enterprise-Journal, "Flood Relief"; Third, John Surratt, Terri Frazier and Staff, The Vicksburg Post, "Murder Suspect Escapes."

Investigative/Public Service: First, Donna Ladd and Imani Khayyam, Jackson Free Press, "A Hunger to Live: Interrupting Violence in Jackson, Miss."; Second, Maki Somosot and Bridget Mire, TheDaily Comet, "Deadly Standoff"; Third, The Vicksburg Post, "Breast Cancer."

Breaking Sports: First, Ernest Bowker, The Vicksburg Post, "Clinton Knocks WC out of the Playoffs with Overtime Win"; Second, Teddy Renois, Thibodaux Daily Comet, "Family, Friends Thrilled for Orgeron"; Third, Ernest Bowker, The Vicksburg Post, "Vikings' Ride is Over."

Sports Enterprise/Feature: First, Davis Potter, The Oxford Eagle, "Oxford Man Makes Name for Himself in Special Olympics"; Second, Ernest Bowker, The Vicksburg Post, "Summer Camps, Social Media Alter the Landscape of Football Recruiting"; Third, Kelly McElroy, TheDaily Comet, "Game Changer: Local Coaches Offer Insight into Pat Summitt's Life, Impact."

Editorials: First, Jackson Free Press; Second, The Meridian Star;Third, Tim Kalich, The Greenwood Commonwealth.

Personal Columns: First, Kevin Cooper, The Natchez Democrat; Second, David Magee, The Oxford Eagle; Third, Tim Kalich, The Greenwood Commonwealth

Headlines: First, TheDailyCorinthian, "Cost of Freon Makes AC Units a Hot Topic, Eaves Dropping, KHS Asked to Steer Clear of Texas Logo"; Second, Tim Reeves, The Vicksburg Post, "Crest Easy"; Third, Matt Williamson, Mack Spencer and Ernest Herndon, Enterprise-Journal, "Irvin Cooks Rice/Railroad Blvd. Grant Derailed/Sawdust & Splinters Loses Edge."

Layout & Design: First, TheDaily Comet; Second, TheDaily Comet; Third, Bill Graham, Helen Reynolds and Robbie Robertson, The Meridian Star.

Photo Breaking News: First, Ben Hillyer, The Natchez Democrat, "Early Morning House Fire"; Second, Nicole Hester, The Natchez Democrat, "Two Men Found Dead in Parish"; Third, Bruce Newman, The Oxford Eagle, "House Fire."

Photo General News: First, Bill Graham, The Meridian Star, " of The "; Second, Ben Hillyer, The Natchez Democrat, "Bye, Bye Balloons"; Third, Abby Tabor, TheDaily Comet, "Finding Home."

Photo Features: First, Bruce Newman, The Oxford Eagle, "Walk To School"; Second, Abby Tabor, TheDaily Comet, "Beauty on the Bayou"; Third, Matt Williamson, Enterprise-Journal, "Dairy Fest Delights."

Multi-Photo: First, Nicole Hester, The Natchez Democrat, "Faces of the Flood: Crosby Victims Return to Houses"; Second, Courtland Wells, The Vicksburg Post, "Air Show"; Third, Matt Williamson, Enterprise-Journal, "Outside the Walls."

Portrait/Personality: First, Matt Williamson, Enterprise-Journal, "A March in the Sun"; Second, Courtland Wells, The Vicksburg Post, "Secret Santa"; Third, Nicole Hester, The Natchez Democrat, "I Can Beat You."

Photo Sports Action: First, Courtland Wells, The Vicksburg Post, "The MVP"; Second, Bruce Newman, The Oxford Eagle, "Ryan Olenek"; Third, Chuck Barnes, Enterprise-Journal, "Parklane Falls to MRA."

Photo Sports Features: First, Nicole Hester, The Natchez Democrat, "Love of the Game"; Second, Bruce Newman, The Oxford Eagle, "Sugar Rush"; Third, Ernest Bowker, The Vicksburg Post, "At the End of the Day."

Multimedia Package: First, Ashlee Hill, TheDaily Comet, "The Home Front: Local View of World War II"; Second, Ashlee Hill, TheDaily Comet, "Black Friday Guide"; Third, Kevinisha Walker and Chris Heller, TheDaily Comet, "Relatives of The Massacre Victim Gather in Memory."

Video: First, Chris Heller, TheDaily Comet, "TARC Bell Choir Plays Houma's Main Library"; Second, Ashlee Hill, TheDaily Comet, "Shrimpers See Good Shrimp, Bad Prices in Opening Week of Season"; Third, Ashlee Hill, TheDaily Comet, "Main Stage Lounge Orlando Benefit Night."

Winners in Division II newspapers:

Breaking News: First, The News-Star, "Region deluged"; Second, Guilbeau Glenn, The Daily Advertiser, "LSU Fires Les Miles"; Third, Caleb Bedillion and William Moore, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Shumpert Grand Jury."

General News: First, Emily Fontenot, The American Press, "Trump Country"; Second, Jacob Batte and Maki Somosot, The Courier, "Gun Control"; Third, Zack Orsborn, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Mississippi Buffering."

Features: First, Megan Wyatt, The Daily Advertiser, "Second Chances"; Second, Kevinisha Walker, The Courier, "A Last Run"; Third, Kristin Askelson, The Daily Advertiser, "It's Hard to Beat Cajuns Baseball Fans."

Business: First, Haskel Burns, The Hattiesburg American, "Working to Buck Financial Trends"; Second, Dennis Seid, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Hancock Closing"; Third, Derek Russell, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Pure Imagination."

Continuing Coverage: First, Crystal Stevenson, The American Press, "Trial of Ex-Priest"; Second, The Daily Advertiser, "Acadiana Flooding"; Third, Caleb Bedillion and William Moore, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Shumpert Shooting Coverage."

Investigative/Public Service: First, Michaela Morris and William Moore, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Opioid Series"; Second, Maki Somosot and Bridget Mire, The Courier, "Stuck in Jail"; Third, Megan Wyatt, The Daily Advertiser, "Red Cross Fails Flooding Victims."

Breaking Sports: First, Glenn Guilbeau, The Daily Advertiser, "LSU to Host Gators, then Play Second Straight at Florida"; Second, Jason Munz, The Hattiesburg American, "Monken Moving On"; Third, Sean Isabella, The News-Star, "Tech Names NSU's Brooke Stoehr as New Women's Hoops Coach."

Sports Enterprise/Feature: First, Sean Isabella, The News-Star, "The Fobbs Playbook: A Guide to Revival"; Second, The Hattiesburg American, "100 Years of Southern Miss Football"; Third, Kelly McElroy, The Courier, "Local man in running to grace front of national magazine."

Editorials: First, Erin Kosnac, The Hattiesburg American;Second, Michael Gorman, The Courier; Third, Robyn Jackson, The Hattiesburg American.

Personal Columns: First, Kevin Foote, The Daily Advertiser; Second, Jim Gazzolo, The American Press;Third, Derek Russell, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.

Headlines: First, The Courier, "Tragedies"; Second, The Courier, "Headlines: Our Nation"; Third, Pamela Seal, The American Press, "Orchid Rooted Pawfection."

Layout & Design: First, Donna Price, The American Press, "Roundabouts Promise Fuel"; Second, Nicole Moller, The American Press, "RV Flow Guilott"; Third, The Courier, "Tragedies."

Photo Breaking News: First, Scott Clause, The Daily Advertiser, "Baton Rouge Police Shooting"; Second, Adam Robison, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Going in the Hard Way"; Third, Rick Hickman, The American Press, "Aftermath."

Photo General News: First, Thomas Wells, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Veterans Day"; Second, Lee Celano, The Daily Advertiser, "Officer Matthew Gerald Funeral"; Third, Scott Clause, The Daily Advertiser, "Matthew Gerald Funeral Procession."

Photo Features: First, Adam Robison, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Bike Rodeo"; Second, Hannah Baldwin, The News-Star, "A Bouncing Good Time"; Third, Thomas Wells, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Finding Shade."

Multi-Photo: First, Lauren Wood, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Greater Access"; Second, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Graduation Day"; Third, Kirk Meche, The American Press, "Texas Relays."

Portrait/Personality: First, Rick Hickman, The American Press, "Running"; Second, Rick Hickman, The American Press, "Step Up for Downs"; Third, Bonnie Bolden, The News-Star, "I don't Look Broken, but I have Been'."

Photo Sports Action: First, Thomas Wells, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Hanging on Until Help Arrives!"; Second, Danna Chiasson, The Courier, "Tied at the Top"; Third, Rick Hickman, The American Press, "Out of Reach."

Photo Sports Features: First, Thomas Wells, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Don't Feed the Mascots!"; Second, Hannah Baldwin, The News-Star, "West Loses Title"; Third, Thomas Wells, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Fall Football."

Multimedia Package: First, Sean Isabella, The News-Star, "The Fobbs Playbook: A Guide to Revival"; Second, Ashlee Hill, The Courier, "The Home Front: Local View of World War II"; Third, Bob Lenox, The News-Star, "Overwhelmed: Floods Ravage Fragile System."

Video: First, Hannah Baldwin, The News-Star, "Four Hours to Showtime"; Second, Brett Hudson and Hannah Baldwin, The News-Star, "Player vs. Reporter: Quarterback"; Third, Lauren Wood, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, "Cliff Wilson Swimming Milestone."

Winners in Division III newspapers:

Breaking News: First, The Times-Picayune, "The Killing of Will Smith"; Second, Jerry Mitchell, The Clarion-Ledger, "Two Nuns Fatally Stabbed"; Third, The Advocate, "Three Officers Killed, Three Wounded in Shootout."

General News: First, Sarah Fowler and Bracey Harris, The Clarion-Ledger, "Aftermath of Shootings: Unease all Around"; Second, Ramon Antonio Vargas, The Advocate, "Call for Unity"; Third, Anna Wolfe, The Clarion-Ledger, "Reacts to Police Shootings."

Features: First, Ted Jackson, The Times-Picayune, "Isle de Jean Charles - Island in Crisis"; Second, Jed Lipinski, The Times-Picayune, "Shucker for a day: Oysters, Immigrants and an Aching Back"; Third, Judy Bergeron, The Advocate, "Deeply Rooted': LPB Profiles Seed, Story Preserver John Coykendall."

Business: First, Richard Thompson, The Advocate, "Louisiana Ports Miss Boat on $79 Million"; Second, Justin Vicory, The Sun Herald, "New Overtime Regulaitons Mean Stark Changes"; Third, Ted Griggs, The Advocate, "Black Gold, Red Ink."

Continuing Coverage: First, The Advocate, "The Great Flood of 2016"; Second, Margaret Baker, The Sun Herald, "Transgender Teen Murder"; Third, The Advocate, "A Violent Time in July."

Investigative/Public Service: First, Jerry Mitchell, The Clarion-Ledger, "Gone: The Felix Vail Saga"; Second, Gordon Russell and Maya Lau, The Advocate, "Are Criminals Guarding the Criminals?"; Third, Jonathan Bullington and Richard Webster, The Times-Picayune, "The New Orleans Gun Pipeline."

Breaking Sports: First, Ross Dellenger, The Advocate, "Les Miles Fired"; Second, Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune, "Jrue Holiday to Miss Start of Pelicans Season as Pregnant Wife Faces Brain Surgery"; Third, Hugh Kellenberger, The Clarion-Ledger, "Laremy Tunsil Admits Taking OM Money."

Sports Enterprise/Feature: First, Will Sammon, The Clarion-Ledger, "Refusing to let his Past Beat him"; Second, Will Sammon, The Clarion-Ledger, "Teen Knows Recruiting Secrets"; Third, Diana Samuels, The Times-Picayune, "Fighting her Way to the Olympics: What it's Like to be a 14-Year-Old Champion Boxer."

Editorials: First, Danny Heitman, The Advocate; Second, Lanny Keller, The Advocate; Third, Sam Hall, The Clarion-Ledger.

Personal Columns: First, Katie Eubanks, The Clarion-Ledger; Second, Jarvis DeBerry, The Times-Picayune;Third, Paul Hampton, The Sun Herald.

Headlines: First, Charles Chauff, The Advocate, "Brow-Wow-Wow, Songs in the Key of Laugh, Pumps and Circumstance"; Second, Chris Martin, The Advocate; Third, Phil Womack, The Advocate.

Layout & Design: First, Susan Langenhennig, Anne Webbeking and Ted Jackson, The Times-Picayune, "The Elegance of Ferns: Prehistoric Plants Add Grace and Beauty to a Metairie Backyard"; Second, Chris Martin, The Advocate, "Godspeed, The Right Direction, Open the Eyes of America"; Third, Susan Langenhennig, Ann Maloney and Adriana Garcia, The Times-Picayune, "Chop Like a Chef: Justin Devillier and Other Local Chefs Pick Cutlery that's a Cut Above."

Photo Breaking News: First, Brianna Paciorka, The Advocate, "Police Officers Tackle and Arrest Protestors"; Second, Matthew Hinton, The Advocate, "Duke Protester at Dillard University"; Third, Travis Sprading, The Advocate, "Floodwater Rescue."

Photo General News: First, Hilary Scheinuk, The Advocate, "Parents Weep"; Second, David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune, "Alton Sterling's Funeral in Baton Rouge"; Third, Ted Jackson, The Times-Picayune, "Defiant Flood Survivor."

Photo Features: First, Travis Spradling, The Advocate, "Angola Rodeo"; Second, Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune, "Jump"; Third, John Fitzhugh, The Sun Herald, "Mardi Gras Kid."

Multi-Photo: First, Ted Jackson, The Times-Picayune, "Louisiana Flooding"; Second, Ted Jackson, The Times-Picayune, "Isle de Jean Charles - Island in Crisis"; Third, Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune, "Baton Rouge Police Shooting and Protests."

Portrait/Personality: First, Ted Jackson, The Times-Picayune, "Brave Young Flooding Survivor"; Second, Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune, "Barbershop in Central City"; Third, Leslie Westbrook, The Advocate, "Seventh Bishop of Lafayette."

Photo Sports Action: First, Matthew Hinton, The Advocate, "Hail Mary Interception"; Second, Bill Feig, The Advocate, "Losing his Helmet"; Third, The Advocate, "High Flying."

Photo Sports Features: First, Leslie Westbrook, The Advocate, "Taking the Field"; Second, Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune, "State Champions"; Third, Michael DeMocker, The Times-Picayune, "Sack Happy."

Multimedia Package: First, Jerry Mitchell and Staff, The Clarion-Ledger, "Gone: The Felix Vail Saga"; Second, Diana Samuels, The Times-Picayune, "The Southern Girls Project"; Third, Wesley Muller, John Fitzhugh and Christopher Bostick, The Sun Herald, "Fostering Secrets."

Video: First, Ted Jackson, The Times-Picayune, "Isle de Jean Charles - Island in Crisis"; Second, Ted Jackson, The Times-Picayune, "Cajuns Respond to Louisiana Flood of 2016 with Self Reliance"; Third, Andrew Boyd, The Times-Picayune, "Ghost Bikes and their Builders."

Frank Allen Excellence in Writing Award: Jerry Mitchell, The Clarion-Ledger, "Gone: The Felix Vail Saga."

C.P. Liter Excellence in Photography Award: Hilary Scheinuk, The Advocate, "Parents Weep."

Winners in Mississippi-Louisiana Radio:

Feature Story: First, Paul Boger, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, "Mixed Feelings Over Guns in Church Bill"; Second, Desare Frazier, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, "The First Grammy Museum Outside of LA Opens in the Delta"; Third, Gina Carter-Simmers, WJSU-FM, "Audra McDonald."

Sports Story: First, Rob Jay, WJSU-FM, "Muhammad Ali"; Second, Dave Cohen and Jeff Palermo, WWL-AM/FM, "Wild Season for the Tigers sees Miles Fired and Coach 'O' Arrives"; Third, Breck Riley, Josh West and Chris Ebelhar, WCKK-FM/WLIN-FM, "Graphic Edge Bowl Recap."

Sportscast or Sports Program: First, Steve Geller, WWL-AM/FM, "Saints Ground Seahawks and on Halloween Tigers Prepare for 'Bama"; Second, Sam Wells and Jay White, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, "MPB'S Season Pass: Meet David Francis"; Third, Sports Staff, WCKK-FM/WLIN-FM, "2016 Graphic Edge Bowl Broadcast."

Use of Sound: First, Dave Cohen, WWL-AM/FM, "Barrage of Bullets Ring out as Sniper Kills Cops"; Second, Dave Cohen, WWL-AM/FM, "Cops Kill Suspect, and it's Caught on Video"; Third, Breck Riley, WCKK-FM/WLIN-FM, "Big Red Wins State Championship."

Multimedia Story: First, Ian Hoch and Scott Colomb, WWL-AM/FM, "Remembering Hokie: A Great Man, Broadcaster, Saints Player and LSU Star"; Second, Breck Riley and Markeith Selmon, WCKK-FM/WLIN-FM, "Big Red Band Wins State Championship."