Inquirer nabs four TPA newspaper awards at Denton convention

The Gonzales Inquirer won four awards in the 2024 Texas Better Newspaper Contest, with the results announced Saturday, June 21 during the Texas Press Association summer convention and trade show in Denton.

The Inquirer took first place in Feature Writing in Division 7 for Weekly Newspapers and added second-place finishes in both General Excellence and Page Design. Finally, the Inquirer placed third in a special category — Online Live Event Coverage.

“The competition for awards at the Texas Press Association seems to get tougher and tougher each year and the size of our division has been growing, which makes receiving any recognition extra special,” Publisher Lew K. Cohn said.

“We are proud of continuing a tradition of excellence at what is one of the most venerated newspapers in the state and we are thankful for our loyal advertisers, subscribers and readers, who depend on us to be a trusty, reliable source for news for Gonzales County.”

The Inquirer had won the Division 7 Sweepstakes Award for both 2022 and 2023, but finished just out of the top 4 in fifth place overall with 250 points. Sweepstakes this year went to the Frio-Nueces Current in Pearsall with 725, while the Center Light and Champion was second with 425 points (two firsts) and the Vernon Daily Record was third with 425 points (one first). The Lexington Leader was fourth with 325 points.

In Feature Writing, the Inquirer was recognized features by Cohn on pharmacist Bruce Blackwell being surprised by a visit from NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith at the Gonzales Walmart, as well as a story about the aunt of a murder victim finally getting justice for the death of her beloved nephew.

Of Cohn’s writing, the judges said, “This writer clearly knows how to grab a reader’s attention. And once in the door, so to speak, we’re treated to detail-rich storytelling and gripping narrative. Well done.”

The judges were also impressed with the overall quality of the newspaper, or general excellence. “Comprehensive local coverage especially strong on the sports page. Impressive array of news stories considering the number of reporters on staff. Events photos really liven up the publication and make it interesting. Really strong front page on Oct. 10 with urgent, relevant community news,” they wrote.

For page design by Marissa Ferreira, the Inquirer was recognized for “good use of spacing. Love the way they did the scores with sports photos. Photo spread looks great.”

Finally, Lew K. Cohn won third place for his coverage of the fire that burned down the old Buc-ee’s in Luling just a short time after the new building had its grand opening. Cohn was the first news media on the scene taking videos and photos and they were picked up for use by media outlets throughout the state. He submitted a compilation of all the coverage from that event.

“Thank you for the multiple links to show how your coverage evolved. I appreciate seeing the initial blurb, and seeing more in the story on your site, including a nice photo gallery,” the judges wrote.

The 2024 Texas Better Newspaper Contest featured 17 categories. Participating newspapers were invited to submit entries from work published during the calendar year 2024. This year, 108 newspapers submitted 1,021 entries in the contest.

Competitions were divided into divisions in which newspapers competed against publications of similar circulation.

Division 1 was reserved for the five metro dailies with the highest circulation in Texas, which complete only in the General Excellence category. Division 2 is designated for dailies; Divisions 3 and 4 for semiweeklies (newspapers publishing two or three times per week) and Divisions 5 through 10 for weeklies.

This year, 10 dailies competed in Division 2; 24 semiweekly newspapers competed in Divisions 3 and 4; and 74 weekly newspapers competed in divisions 5 through 10.

TPA member newspapers competing in each division had the opportunity to submit entries in 12 sweepstakes contest categories and five non-sweepstakes contest categories.

Entries were judged this year by members of the Kansas Press Association while Texas Press Association member volunteers judged entries in the KPA contest.

First place winners and sweepstakes winners receive plaques and certificates are awarded in first through fourth places.