Herald named among nation's top weekly newspapers

The Jackson Herald was named among the nation’s top weekly newspapers for 2011 by the annual National Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. The Herald was named Honorable Mention for General Excellence in its division of weekly newspapers 6,000-10,000 in circulation. It is the second time The Herald has been honored as among the nation’s best weekly newspapers.
The award was presented Saturday at the NNA's annual convention held in Charleston, SC.
The Herald also won second place for best business feature story by Jana Mitcham and honorable mention for best serious column by editor Mike Buffington.
Of Mitcham’s article, the judges said: " A real nice job on a kind of place that is disappearing and worthy of documentation."
Of Buffington’s column about the impending removal of trees around the old Jackson County courthouse, the judges said: "Part editorial with some biting comment and criticism summed up well with the great sentence pulled out for the headline. Classic case of a watchdog not letting something slip by without due consideration."
The Banks County News, Homer, a sister publication of The Herald also won honorable mention for best editorial writing. And the Barrow Journal, Winder, another sister newspaper won four NNA awards, including first place for best sports photo, second place for best local news coverage and community service and honorable mention for best feature photo.