By Michelle Han
The Times/Ledger Newspapers captured nine awards this year in the New York Press Association's annual Better Newspaper Contest, including a first place award for the newspaper's new Web site.
“This is a reflection of our continued commitment to excellence in journalism and the hard work of our reporters and editors,” said Publisher Steven Blank.
The contest drew more than 3,000 entries from 164 community newspapers across the state. The entries were judged by members of the North Carolina Press Association
The awards were given out during NYPA's Spring Convention on March 10 and March 11 in Saratoga Springs.
The Bayside Times, one of 13 publications under the Times/Ledger name and the chain's flagship newspaper, was awarded first place for Online Excellence for the new Times/Ledger Web site. The site, at www.timesledger.com, was launched late last year.
Judges cited the Web site's “excellent front page design” and innovative use of features that allow readers to post opinions about articles through e-mail.
“The Web site is something that is going to grow in importance,” Blank said. “The fact that we won for the best Web site I think is very important, considering the fact that we were competing with newspapers from all across the state.”
The judges said the Bayside Times' editorials, which took second place, “were tight and quick to the point.”
The Bayside Times won a first-place award for its 1999 Spring/Summer Guide to Queens front page illustration. The cover design featured an oil work by Great Neck illustrator Gregory Silverman.
The Forest Hills Ledger won a second-place award for in-depth reporting for its coverage of a small neighborhood's effort to preserve the Kew Forest Lane area from the development of a large apartment building.
The Richmond Hill Times won a second-place award for a feature story on the community's efforts to save a deceased Jamaica man from being buried at Potter's Field and the Bayside Times won an honorable mention for a sports feature.
A special millennium section published at the end of the year earned a second place progress edition award for the Bayside Times.
The Bayside Times also won two advertising awards. The newspaper took second place for best large space ad and third place for best advertising campaign – large space.
Blank bought the Bayside Times and the Little Neck Ledger in 1989 and since then has added 11 other newspapers that serve neighborhoods throughout Queens. They are the Whitestone Times, the Flushing Times, the Fresh Meadows Times, the Glen Oaks Ledger, the Queens Village Times, the Jamaica Times, the Laurelton Times, the Forest Hills Ledger, the Richmond Hill Times, the Astoria Times and the Ridgewood Ledger.
