Philipstown.info/The Paper Wins Three Awards

NYPA recognizes arts coverage, social media and design

Philipstown.info and The Paper again won awards from the New York Press Association (NYPA) at the organization’s spring convention held last weekend (March 27–29) in Saratoga Springs. The NYPA is a trade group whose members are mostly weekly newspapers.

Members of the Iowa Press Association judged the contest.

Philipstown.info’s April 2013 One Poem a Day project won first prize among newspapers of all sizes for best use of social media. Mary Anne Myers, who organized the project that recorded nearly 40 local residents reading their favorite poems, was cited in the award. Kate Vikstrom, Greg Gunder and Chip Rowe assisted in the graphic, video and broadcasting of the readings. The project continues this year.

Arts editor Alison Rooney won a third-place award among Division 1 papers (circulation of 5,000 or less) for coverage of the arts. “This writer is someone whose writing I would deliberately seek out,” wrote one judge. “It’s impressive to be able to take such a wide variety of topics — ranging from luthier’s work to scary dolls — and write about them in a clever, appealing way. These stories have an eye for detail; knowing the costume designer had a Henry VIII doll and dressed up his doll wives made me enjoy that article all the more. You learn something from these articles, and they’re a blast to read to boot.”

The Paper’s layout editor, Kate Vikstrom, won honorable mention in the graphic illustration category for Division 1 newspapers. “Clearly the best of the rest. Could have easily been a top-three finisher,” reported the judge.

Last year Philipstown.info / The Paper won 10 NYPA awards in its first year of eligibility.

“I had the privilege of representing our organization at the convention and proudly accepted the awards on behalf of my colleagues Alison, Kate and Mary Anne,” said Kevin E. Foley, managing editor of Philipstown.info / The Paper. “I know all of them credit the work and support of their colleagues in contributing to their personal success.”