Post Earns Eight Awards in Statewide Newspaper Contest

The Palisadian-Post earned eight awards, including one first-place honor, in the California Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2015 Better Newspapers Contest (BNC). The winners were announced Saturday, April 30.

Nearly 4,000 BNC entries are received each year, according to the CNPA.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our award-winning editorial, graphics and photography team at the Post, and I am so honored for this community treasure to be recognized by such a prestigious organization as the CNPA,” said Editor-in-Chief Frances Sharpe. “We are committed to bringing more award-worthy journalism to Pacific Palisades residents in the years to come.”

Assistant Managing Editor Jacqueline Primo (writer), Sharpe (editor) and Graphics Director BJ Samuels (designer) took first place in the “Enterprise News Story or Series” category among weekly newspapers with a circulation of 4,301-11,000 for the series on Rachel Ziselman, the 11-year-old girl who disappeared from Pacific Palisades in 1977.

“Enterprise” news is a proactive story or series that is not directly based on a news event and that covers a topic or issue in a new and creative way.

Judging considerations stated coverage should be comprehensive and enlightening while demonstrating an undertaking of risk, effort and difficulty; quality of writing; selection of material; balanced reporting; local appeal; photography; graphics and headlines.

Sports Editor Steve Galluzzo and Graphics Director Samuels earned second place in the Best Sports Game Story category for the article “Saving Her Best for Last,” which detailed Palisades Charter High School cross country and track phenom Marissa Williams’ final state competition.

Judging considerations incuded quality of writing, clarity, organization and effective use of language; originality, relevance and news value; graphic presentation; and headlines and photos.

Staff Photographer Rich Schmitt’s photo “Catching Baseball Fever,” which captured the excitement of PPBA opening day, was honored with second place in the Sports Action Photo category.

Judging considerations included visual impact, storytelling and technical quality.

Graphics Director Samuels took second place among all weekly newspapers—regardless of circulation numbers—for the Inside Page Layout & Design: Broadsheet category.

Judging considerations included layout and consistency throughout the paper, quality of story and headline writing, effective use of photography and graphic design, as well as effective use of color and/or black and white.

The Post notched four other honors, placing either third or fourth (results have not yet been released) in four additional categories.

“Lawsuits, Judgments Stack Up Against Prominent Local Biz Denton Jewelers,” which revealed the explosive news that 27 lawsuits alleged that Denton’s owner Saad Mazboudi had been systematically “misplacing” or “losing” high-end jewelry and watches, bouncing checks and reneging on legal judgments for more than a decade, placed in the Best Investigative Reporting category among weekly papers with circulation between 4,301-11,000.

In this category submissions needed to focus on one in-depth investigative story/series. Entries needed to exhibit extensive research and an above-average amount of interviewing, documentation and background research.

Judging considerations included effective organization of facts; thorough support and attribution; and thoroughness of investigation, initiative, enterprise and quality of writing.

The Post placed in the Best Front Page: Broadsheet category, which included all weekly papers regardless of circulation numbers.

Judging criteria included layout and news selection, quality of story and headline writing, as well as use of photography and graphic design.

Sports Editor Galluzzo’s article “Savoring His Riviera Moment,” which recounted golfer James Hahn’s win at the Northern Trust Open at The Riviera Country Club, along with Graphics Director Samuels’ treatment of the story earned a nod in the Best Sports Game Story category.

Staff Photographer Schmitt earned a second honor in the Sports Action Photo category for his “AYSO Season Opens” image depicting opening day for the youth sport, which ran in a September 2015 issue.