Alabama Press Association Media Awards recognized the Selma Sun with 11 awards on Saturday, including four first-place awards for the Sun’s innovative multimedia efforts.
The Selma Sun took home first place for best local economic coverage and for their Spotlight newscast and Center Stage video segments that feature interviews with local residents on hot topics.
This year, 58 publications submitted 1,920 entries in the annual APA contest, which was judged by the North Carolina Press Association membership. Newspapers competed in divisions based on circulation size.
The Sun’s innovative videos topped the awards season, with several multimedia and social media awards for Center Stage one-on-one interviews with officials and residents on timely topics and more awards for the online Spotlight news broadcast that is the only Selma-based online news program.
Center Stage is produced by Todd Prater and Spotlight is produced by Publisher Cindy Fisher and staff members Todd Prater and Chico Cleveland. The Spotlight newscast’s accompanying podcast that runs on Spotify also received first place in the podcast category. It is produced by Todd Prater.
In the awards announced Friday, staff writer Todd Prater’s story "Bright Spot on Broad Street goes dark” about the closing of Swift Drug store won second place for Best Feature story.
The Sun’s collaboration for a community cleanup of the Marion Times Standard’s newsroom in downtown Marion won second place for best community event in its category.
Publisher Cindy Fisher said she was proud that the Sun was recognized for its work in both print and digital categories.
“The Selma Sun has always been a strong print publication, but we have put a lot of energy and focus on communicating with our readers wherever they get their news, whether in print, online or on their phones,” Fisher said. “We are honored to be recognized for being innovative in our field.”
In 2023, Fisher’s parent company, Kingfisher Media, expanded its news service into neighboring markets through the regional online news site BlackBeltNewsNetwork.com that covers six counties. Fisher says her team has enjoyed bringing their innovative journalism to these markets that have little online news coverage.
“We are thrilled to communicate and connect with even more communities in the Black Belt through strong hyperlocal news delivered online at BlackBeltNewsNetwork.com,” Fisher said. “We meet readers where they are through stories, videos and podcasts and are honored to now serve as the go-to information site for west and central Alabama.”
Check out the award-winning videos by the Selma Sun and Black Belt News Network at our YouTube channel here.
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