MURPHY – Contest judges recognized the Cherokee Scout for journalism excellence in eight categories, including top awards for news coverage, community coverage and its annual Celebrating Our Veterans section.
The awards are released annually for newspapers throughout the state. Awards will be presented at the North Carolina Press Association's annual meeting in the Raleigh area in September. The Scout is also in contention for the top prize, General Excellence, which will be announced at the meeting.
The entire staff was recognized with first-place awards for Community Coverage and Magazine or Niche Publications (the Scout's annual Celebrating Our Veterans magazine).
Cherokee Scout Editor Randy Foster was recognized with a first-place award for Beat News Coverage for his coverage of issues leading to the resignation of former sheriff Dustin Smith.
Staff Correspondent Anngee Quinones-Belian won a second-place award for Spot News Photography for her photo of firefighters at a training session putting out a fire that had spread to a stand of bamboo.
Former publisher David Brown won three awards – second place for lighter columns and third places for Editorial Page and serious columns.
Sports Editor Cannon Crompton won a third-place award for Sports Coverage.