News-Gazette Wins Nine National Awards

The News-Gazette was the recipient of nine awards in the National Newspaper Association Foundation’s 2026 Better Newspaper Contest.

The awards were presented during the NNA’s 140th annual convention and trade show held Sept. 17 and 18 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Mich. A total of 1,798 entries were submitted by 93 newspapers in 32 states. Judges distributed 724 awards.

The newspaper’s staff took a fourth-place award for general excellence. “Excellent local coverage, plenty of sports and good photography,” wrote the judges. “Tapping into the thing that makes your community unique with the military focus and historical articles. Well-designed ads and overall pleasing layout.”

Joann Ware, copy editor, staff writer and columnist, took a second-place award in the serious column category. Ware was recognized for her column, “A Copy Editor Looks at 20,” in which she reminisces about her interactions with her colleagues during her two decades of working at the newspaper. The judges wrote: “Exceptional job of making the newspaper more than page in print ... but real people who care about their community. Well written.”

Ed Smith, assistant editor, reporter and staff writer, took a second-place award for a profile/feature story, “Lauded For Flavor,” about former Buena Vista resident Susan Gravatt’s participation in a holiday baking show broadcast on the Hallmark Channel. “Good use of descriptive language, quotes and more to make this a good read,” wrote the judges.

Smith took a third-place award for an editorial, “Message In Macy’s Book Resonates,” about journalist author Beth Macy’s book, “Paper Girl: A Memoir Of Home And Family In a Fractured America.” The editorial appeared last November, just before Macy announced her candidacy for Congress. The judges found the editorial to be “Well-written and timely.”

Smith also teamed with Joseph Haney, reporter and staff writer, to take a fourth-place award in the preserving local history category for a retrospective on the Election Day Flood of 1985. The judges praised their “solid research,” saying they did a “great job of taking the reader on a journey back in time.”

Haney also took a thirdplace award for his series of stories on the legal saga involving the removal of giraffes from the Natural Bridge Zoo. The judges described the stories as being about the “ongoing tug-of-war between the legal system and the owners of a shuttered local zoo,” chronicling “the far from usual chain of events that involved the state’s delay in transporting several confiscated adult giraffes, the death of one of the giraffes during transport, the alleged disappearance of two newborn giraffes, and the decision by one of the owners to go to jail rather than disclose whether the baby giraffes existed at all. Haney gives each development careful attention, keeping readers apprised of the twists, turns and possible subterfuges on both sides.”

Matt Paxton, publisher and columnist, won a third-place award in the serious column category for “Remembering Jimmy Carter.” In reminiscing about Carter on the occasion of the former president’s death, Paxton shares a personal interaction he once had with him. Paxton joined him and the former First Lady, Rosalyn Carter, for a tour of the Jackson House, back in the 1980s. “Nice job of taking national news and making it local and relatable,” wrote the judges.

Former reporter Scotty Dransfield took third place for a profile/feature story, “A Living Bridge,” about the connection between a newly commissioned officer and recent graduate of Virginia Military Institute, Thomas Langston, and a World War II veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, John “Jack” Moran. Moran served under Thomas’ great-granduncle and namesake, Tommy Langston. The elder Langston did not survive the battle. In interviews with the young officer and the nearly 100-year-old combat veteran, Dransfield was able to tell the story about the close bond that had developed between the two men of different generations. Judges said they “enjoyed the story.”

Gay Lea Goodbar, advertising coordinator for the newspaper, took a fourthplace award for best single ad idea, color. The ad for the Rockbridge Area SPCA featured photos of dogs up for adoption that were dressed in Easter bunny ears with the caption, “Picture one of these in your home for spring?” “Great ad, cute layout,” wrote the judges.