Jobe Publishing wins 47 awards in KPA contest
Some 70 KPA members submitted a front page for this display in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency. All eight newspapers owned by Jobe Publishing were on display. Photo by Michelle Rowe, Jobe Publishing Inc.
Staff Report
The awards were announced Friday night at the Kentucky Press Association Winter Convention in Lexington. KPA is the nation’s 10th-oldest state press association, dating back to January 13, 1869. Members of the Arkansas Press Association judged the ad and news contests.
Jobe Publishing newspapers compete in the medium-size weekly newspapers. They have the Allen County Citizen-Times, Barren County Progress, Butler County Banner, Cumberland County News, Edmonson News, The Hart County News-Herald, Metcalfe Herald News, and the Russell County Times-Journal all located in south central Kentucky. The annual contests recognize excellence in journalism, advertising and graphic design.
“Our company has come a long way since attending my first state convention and not winning a single category back in 1999 to winning 47 this year,” Jeff Jobe.
The staff of the Allen County Citizen-Times won 2nd place in advertising for their special section.
The Barren County Progress took home 30 news and advertising awards, plus the coveted General Excellence 2024 Advertising Contest first-place award in the weekly division.
The editor of the Progress, Allyson Dix, won 2nd place for Best Business/Agribusiness Story and J.R. Jessie received 2nd place for Best Breaking News Picture, along with Teresa Thompson with 3rd place in the Best Sports Page all in the news division. Thomas Wampler and Teresa Thompson received 2nd place for Best Sports Page/Section and Thomas Wampler also won 3rd place for Best Sports Story.
The main ad designer for the Progress, Becky Jones, received 1st place advertising awards for Best Holiday Ad, Best Online/Digital Ad, Hardware/Appliance Ad, Sporting Goods/Athletics, Creative Use of the Newspaper, Automotive, Best Ad Series, Department/Discount/Jewelry, and Entertainment and Dining categories. Becky Jones received 2nd place in the Professional Services, Healthcare/Medical, Best Ad Series, Best Holiday Ad, General/Miscellaneous, Sporting Goods/Athletics, Creative Use of the Newspaper, and Best Online Digital Ad.
The Butler County Banner staff brought home five news and advertising awards. Renee Daffron won 1st place in the Best Financial Ad, 2nd place for Best Black and White Ad, and 3rd place for Best Use of Color category. Greg Moore won 2nd place for Best Sports Story and the staff won 3rd place for Best Front Page.
The Edmonton Herald-News won four awards in total. In the news contest, the editor P.J. Martin won 2nd place for Best Editorial Writer, and Allyson Dix won 2nd place for Best Investigative Story or Series. In the ad contest, Becky Jones won 2nd place for an advertisement she created in the Special Events category. Michelle Rowe won 3rd place in advertising under the category of Hardware/Appliance on advertising.
The Hart County News-Herald brought home six awards in the news and advertising contest. Editor Mary Beth Sallee received 2nd place for Best Breaking News Coverage, 3rd place for Best Editorial Writer, and 3rd place for Best On-Going/Extended Coverage Story. Lisa White won 2nd place for the Best Cover in the advertising category, and Becky Jones won 2nd place in the Entertainment Dining category and 3rd place for the Best Ad Series.
“On behalf of Jobe Publishing, your local news source in south central Kentucky, we want to thank our subscribers, readers, and advertisers that support our newspapers. I would also like to thank our dedicated talented employees who go above and beyond in their jobs to help us achieve these awards,” stated Michelle Rowe, President of Jobe Publishing.
“I’m honored to have these individuals and every member of Jobe Publishing from all eight newspapers represent our family business; I am indeed blessed,” Jeff Jobe said.
Representing Jobe Publishing at the Kentucky Press Association Winter Convention from left to right, back row, include Robbie Jones, Becky Jones, Teresa Thompson, Michelle Rowe and Beverly Bonilla; front row, Gaye and Thomas Wampler. Photo by Charles Rowe, Guest Contributor.
