Selma Sun wins first, second place in National Newspaper Association contest

The Selma Sun has taken home first and second place awards for journalism excellence in the National Newspaper Association Foundation’s 2024 Better Newspaper Contest.

The Selma Sun placed first in the country in the Communication in Crisis category for daily and non-daily newspapers for tornado recovery news coverage after the Jan. 12, 2023 storm ripped a path of devastation through the Queen City.

Continuing its dominance in innovative categories, the Selma Sun placed second in the nation in the social media journalism category for the Black Belt Newscast, a live weekly newscast hosted by Selma Sun Publisher Cindy Fisher and reporter Todd Prater. Judges called the newscast a “great segment!”

“These two have a good on-camera presence, and they get right to the matter of news," the judges said. "They also do a good job of using most available social media platforms. Congratulations on 2nd place!”

The Black Belt Newscast also won first place in the Alabama Press Association’s Media Awards last month, along with 10 other awards for innovative multimedia efforts as well as breaking news coverage. The newscast runs live on Fridays on Selma Sun’s and Black Belt News Network’s social media platforms.

The NNA’s contest had 1,513 entries in the Better Newspaper Editorial Contest and 245 entries in the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest for a total of 1,758 entries. There were 676 awards won by 92 newspapers in 32 states.

The Selma Sun was the only Alabama newspaper to place in this year’s contest.

The tornado recovery award recognized the Jan. 19, 2023, edition with the headline “Rising from the Rubble” that went to press just five days after an EF-2 tornado hit Selma, and the newspaper was put together when Selma Sun reporters still had no power or internet at their homes or at the office on Broad Street in downtown Selma.

Judges called it a “great follow up to this breaking story, multifaceted coverage looking at governmental response, local businesses and individuals. Well done.”

The edition included an in-depth interview by Associate Publisher Brad Fisher with Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox sharing advice on challenges Selma should expect to overcome, pulling from his experience rebuilding after his city’s 2011 monster storm.

Brad Fisher also spoke to scholars with The University of Alabama about how Selma’s impoverished residents would struggle the most to recover, especially being able to afford to rebuild, which has played out in Selma 18 months later.

Reporter Todd Prater and Publisher Cindy Fisher hit the streets within minutes of the storm’s departure to gather immediate aftermath photos and videos of the carnage.

Prater followed utility workers on the badly hit east side of Selma to outline efforts to rebuild the power grid. Cindy Fisher covered the west side until trees were cleared so she could reach downtown to document damage to homes and businesses.

With little access to WiFi and cell service, Fisher worked out of her Honda Pilot in the parking lot of the armory on Highway 80, where she was able to get enough service to upload photos, videos and stories for SelmaSun.com and the print edition.

The print tornado edition included a key “how to get help” section with information on the Red Cross, lists of ways to file with FEMA, SBA, insurance companies and how to volunteer.

A color photo page featured the best photos taken by Prater and Fisher starting less than 30 minutes after the storm cleared through the early days of digging out.

Winners of the National Newspaper Association’s contest will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Sept. 27 during NNAF’s 138th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Omaha, Nebraska.

Judging was performed primarily by more than 60 active community newspaper editors and publishers, as well as retired university journalism professors and retired or former newspaper professionals.

Established in 1885, the National Newspaper Association is the voice of America’s community newspapers and is the one of the largest newspaper associations in the country. The NNA Foundation is the educational arm of the NNA. Its mission is to promote news literacy, protect the First Amendment, and enhance the quality, role and capabilities of community newspapers and community journalists.

The Selma Sun is the print newspaper owned by Kingfisher Media, which also owns and operates the Black Belt News Network. The Black Belt News Network is a hybrid nonprofit agency that accepts donations through a fiscal sponsor, Tiny News Collective. To donate and support BBNN's award-winning hyperlocal news work in the rural Black Belt of Alabama, go here.