Among the Call News’ first-place awards in the Alabama Press Association contest were, above, “The Value of a Foot” and below, “Golson creating a new MGM,” both by editor Jimmy Wigfield.
Staff Report
The Call News won 11 awards, including five by editor Jimmy Wigfield, in the Alabama Press Association’s 2024 Better Newspaper Contest.
The Call News’ honors came in Division C among the state’s largest weekly newspapers.
Nearly 2,000 entries from 56 publications statewide were judged by the Hoosier Press Association of Indiana.
Wigfield won first place for the best sports single-event story “The Value of a Foot,” about Saraland’s defense stopping a two-point conversion in overtime — and its effects on the school going forward — in a 57-56 victory over Homewood in the 2022 state semifinals.
Wigfield also won the first two places for the best local sports column. He won first place for “Golson creating a new MGM,” about Mary Montgomery coach Zach Golson turning the Vikings into a championship contender. Wigfield’s column “Unforgettable! Bama’s TD bomb” — about Alabama’s fourth-and-31 game-winning TD pass over Auburn last season — won second place.
Wigfield won third place in the best sports single-event category for “Saraland plays for 6A championship” and third place for best sports feature story about “The Goat,” an in-depth look at what made UMS-Wright’s Terry Curtis the all-time winningest high school football coach in state history.
The Call News won three second-place awards, including the best news photo “WWII Vets stood for All” by Emmett Burnett, best spot news photo for “Reid wins Oil Queen Crown” by Bonita Roberts and best newsprint special section for its 2023 high school football preview.
The Call News won third place for best spot news story for “Twister’s Toll” by Patrick Darrington, third place for best layout and design by layout editor Doug Dimitry and third place for best production and printing.
Other awards will be announced at the APA’s annual summer convention June 27-29.
