The Carrboro Citizen won three awards in the 2009 North Carolina Press Association’s News, Editorial and Photojournalism contest. The association presented the awards at an assembly on March 18 in the Dean Smith Center.
The Citizen won first place in general excellence for its website, carrborocitizen.com. Staffers Michelle Langston and Mike Li and news and opinion editor Kirk Ross designed and produced the site.
In addition, Ross won third place in general news reporting for his story “Rebecca Clark dies,†which recounted the memories of those who knew the community leader and political organizer.
Staff writer Beth Mechum won third place in sports feature writing for her story “Gaining perspective on a life in athletics,†about Charlie Adams, the recently retired longtime director of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Mechum recently left The Citizen to work as a sports writer at the Mount Airy News.
Publisher Robert Dickson said he was happy to see The Citizen recognized by the association.
“We are particularly pleased at being awarded first place for our website. Our online presence is increasingly important in making The Citizen fully accessible to our readers,†Dickson said. “Kirk [Ross], Michelle [Langston] and Mike [Li] have done a great job in making this possible.â€
Despite winning the website award, “We’re not going to rest on our laurels,†Ross said. “We launched an updated version of our website the same day we won the award.â€
The association also presented UNC President Erskine Bowles with the NCPA North Carolinian of the Year Award for 2010. The association has honored outstanding representatives of North Carolina since 1993. — Staff reports