Beacon News, Wilmette Life Newspapers Receive Prestigious Awards
2008-08-14 23:39:05 -
www.thesuntimesgroup.com - Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. Tammy Chase (312) 321-3230 or tchase@suntimes.com The Sun-Times News Group was notified that two of its newspapers have received top journalism awards from the Suburban Newspapers of America as part of its annual 2008 Newspaper of the Year/General Excellence Contest Winners.
The Beacon News in Aurora won 1st Place Newspaper of the Year
in Class E, Dailies Under 30,000 Circulation, and the Wilmette Life/Pioneer Press Newspapers received 2nd Place - General Excellence in Class A, Non-Dailies, Up to 10,000 Circulation, the SNA announced today.
"These are exceptional honors for our newspapers, and we are delighted that our employees are getting the recognition they deserve," said Cyrus Freidheim, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sun-Times Media Group, Inc., the parent company of the Sun-Times News Group. "Congratulations to Fred Lebolt, President & Publisher, Fox Valley Publications; Beacon News Publisher and Vice President of Editorial Rick Nagel; Denise Crosby, Senior Print Editor of all Fox Valley publications; Pioneer Press Publisher Larry Green; Pioneer Press Editor-in-Chief Jeff Wisser and Wilmette Life Editor Gary Taylor and their talented, hard-working staffs for their fantastic work."
Below, the judges' comments for each newspaper:
The Beacon News
Judge's Comments:
Editorial: "This paper has the complete editorial product-engaging writing; good focus on diverse local issues and people; terrific reader engagement in its news and feature sections. We especially liked the opportunity for in-depth writing presented by the storyteller section. Good balancing act between local and national, especially in sports." Typography: "Clean and consistent. Excellent color, very energetic section break pages." Advertising: "Auto, real estate, health and financial services form the advertising backbone here, all well presented with lots of color." Other Comments: "There were many little touches to like here: click-to-it referrals to online, the classified "message" header and the cover greetings to subscribers, to name just a few.
Wilmette Life/Pioneer Press Newspapers
Judge's Comments:
Editorial: "Readers get WAY more than their money's worth with Wilmette Life. Incredible package that covers everything from hard-hitting news to columns, health news to calendars. Terrific arts & leisure coverage. Coming in at 140+ pages, one edition of Wilmette Life must take readers an entire week to get through." Typography: "Clean looking design and layout. Lots of photos of local people - including society sections - which is a big plus for readers." Advertising: "Wilmette Life is fat with advertising - a true feast of retail advertising. Classified is solid." Other Comments: "A solid suburban weekly that provides its readers pretty much what they need to know in order to live and have fun in Wilmette."
About the Sun-Times Media Group
Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. (OTCBB:SUTM) is dedicated to being the premier source of local news and information for the greater Chicago area. Its media properties include the Chicago Sun-Times and Suntimes.com as well as newspapers and Web sites serving more than 200 communities across Chicago. Further information can be found at www.thesuntimesgroup.com.
The Sun-Times News Group's Beacon News (Aurora) is named 1st Place
Newspaper Of The Year In Its Class By The Suburban Newspapers Of
America; Wilmette Life Receives 2nd Place - General Excellence In Its
Category
