APA Media Awards and Hoover Sun logos
The team at Starnes Media captured 52 awards in the 2020 Alabama Press Association 2020 Media Awards competition.
This included 20 first-place awards, 18 second-place awards and 14 third-place awards in the free distribution category.
The Hoover Sun, one of seven monthly newspapers published by Starnes Media, took 14 first-place awards, nine second-place awards (including second in the overall General Excellence competition and second in the Advertising Sweepstakes competition) and four third-place awards.
The awards typically are given out at a ceremony at the Alabama Press Association’s annual conference in Orange Beach but this year were announced Friday in a virtual ceremony due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Here’s a breakdown of the Hoover Sun’s awards for work published in 2019:
FIRST PLACE
News:
- Best Lifestyle/Family Pages
- Best Use of Photography in Editorial Content
- Best Business Story or Column – Jon Anderson (Records indicate sales dip at Galleria campus in 2018)
- Best News Photo – Karim Shamsi-Basha (Unity walk at Hoover High School)
- Best Spot News Photo – Kamp Fender (Galleria shooting protest)
- Best Niche Publication (2019 Prep Football Preview)
- Best Production & Printing
- Best Public Service – Jon Anderson (Community discussions on racism)
Advertising:
- Best Regularly Scheduled Special Section (Women in Business)
- Best In-Paper Promotion of Newspaper (Football sponsors)
- Best Advertising Campaign – Layton Dudley (Bistro V)
- Best Original/Creative Idea – Matt Crawford (Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center)
- Best Niche Publication (205 Adventure)
- Best Use of Humor – Emily VanderMey (One Man & a Toolbox)
SECOND PLACE
News:
- General Excellence
- Best Sports News In-depth – Jon Anderson (Flag football flying high)
- Best Use of Social Media – Kyle Parmley (High school sports Twitter page)
- Best Newspaper Website
- Best Public Service – Jon Anderson (Recycling conundrum)
Advertising:
- Ad Sweepstakes Award
- Best Single Ad ½ Page & Under Color – Emily VanderMey (Molly Maid)
- Best Single Ad Over ½ Page Color – Emily VanderMey (Urban Home Market)
- Best Use of Humor – Layton Dudley & Emily VanderMey (The RE/MAX Home Team)
THIRD PLACE
News:
- Best Sports Single Event Story – Sam Chandler (Bucs soccer wins state in PK shootout)
- Best Use of Graphics/Illustration – Melanie Viering (Connecting Hoover)
Advertising:
- Best Single Ad ½ Page & Under Color – Layton Dudley (CASE Remodeling)
- Best Use of Humor – Matt Crawford (Hufham Orthodontics)
