R-J stands out in ‘Better Newspaper Contest’

The Las Vegas Review-Journal won the general excellence award and several other top awards at the annual Nevada Press Association's "Better Newspaper Contest" banquet Saturday in Winnemucca.

Former political reporter Molly Ball was named the year's Outstanding Journalist, Assistant Editorial Page Editor Vin Suprynowicz won for Editorial of the Year, photographer John Gurzinski won for Photo of the Year and graphics specialist Jesse Dunaway won for Advertisement of the Year.

"It is always gratifying to be recognized by your peers," said Review-Journal Editor Thomas Mitchell. "But I also want everyone to remember those individual awards would not be possible without the support of the whole operation -- from press crews, to ad sales, to circulation, to technicians, to the business office, to the maintenance crew. Those awards are shared by everyone."

In the Outstanding Journalist category, judges said Ball was "tenacious" in her coverage, and her writing encompassed depth, detail, investigation and fairness.

"I was drawn in, educated and entertained," one judge said. "Good, solid reporting."

Suprynowicz's winning editorial, "A budgetary black hole," took aim at excess government spending during a financial crisis. It was praised for "great flow" and "importance" to readers.

Gurzinski's Election Night photo of a woman clasping her hands in "answered prayer" impressed judges with its visual storytelling.

"The hope, joy, pride and energy that surrounded the biggest story of the year is captured in the faces and body language in this image," judges said.

For its coverage of construction deaths on the Strip, the Las Vegas Sun took home wins for Story of the Year and in the Freedom of the Press category. The paper's series of stories and editorials earlier this year received the Pulitzer Prize for public service.

Adam M. Trumble of the Nevada Appeal took home the Journalist of Merit award, which goes to a journalist with less than five years of experience.

The Review-Journal also received 14 first-place awards, including Best Spot News Story for an effort by staff writers Lynnette Curtis, Brian Haynes, Lawrence Mower, Keith Rogers, and Washington, D.C., Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault detailing how an experimental plane crashed into a home in August 2008, killing the pilot and two residents inside.

"Very thorough package on deadline," judges wrote.

Arnold M. Knightly won the Best Business News Story category for a piece on construction workers drinking on the job. "A welcome return to boots-on-the-ground journalism," the judges said.

Sports writer Matt Youmans won Best Local Sports Story for his piece on the rebirth of University of Nevada, Las Vegas men's basketball,

The Review-Journal swept the awards in the Best Local Column category, with Mitchell taking first place and other staff writers taking the second, third and honorable mention spots.

Editorial Page Editor John Kerr placed first in the Best Editorial Writing category. "Concise, well thought out, takes a strong stand without being strident," judges wrote.

"Life on the Couch" columnist Christopher Lawrence won for Best Entertainment Writing.

The newspaper also took home the Best Special Section award for its "Best of Las Vegas" section, an annual survey of reader and staff picks of the valley's favorite dining spots, entertainment and other amenities.

In illustration, artist David Stroud took home the first- and second-place prizes for his depictions of singer George Michael and UNLV football coach Mike Sanford, respectively, with judges acknowledging Stroud's "simple, but very eye-catching" work.

In addition to being named Photo of the Year, Gurzinski's "Answered Prayer" also won Best General News Photo. Former Review-Journal photographer Jessica Ebelhar's "Fearing the Worst," a woman's reaction to a fatal fire, won Best Spot News Photo.

"You can really feel this woman's pain," judges wrote.

The Review-Journal's ad staff won several additional awards.

Dunaway, Mike Miller and Jennifer Dibble won for Best Large-Space Ad, Best Black-and-White Ad and Best Multi-Color Ad, respectively.

Miller also won first-place for Best In-House Advertising Promotion for "Best of Las Vegas."

Former Associated Press writer Brendan Riley, who covered Carson City for 37 years, was added to the Press Association's Hall of Fame, and retired state archivist Guy Rocha, who worked for the agency for 28 years, received a First Amendment Champion award.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky @reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.