Community Impact Newspaper was awarded 16 awards in the National Newspaper Association’s 2017 Better Newspaper Contest. The awards recognize excellence in a variety of categories spanning editorial content as well as advertising. CI took home one-third of all awards submitted by publications in Texas. There were 1,433 entries in the Better Newspaper Editorial Contest and 221 entries in the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest for a total of 1,654 entries. A total of 475 awards were won by 117 member newspapers in 33 states. California had the most combined wins with 56, followed by Wyoming with 48 and Texas and Iowa tying at 47. Judging was performed primarily by active community newspaper editors and publishers as well as retired university journalism professors and retired or former newspaper professionals. CI’s 22 publications submitted awards as stand-alone publications and competed against one another in categories including education, literacy and investigative storytelling. For the first time, CI submitted nominations for video journalism excellence and was awarded first place, second place and honorable mention. It was also the first time CI was recognized for its use of social media in reporting. In all, Community Impact received three first place awards, six second place awards, four third place awards and three honorable mention accolades.

10 editorial awards include:

Community Impact Newspaper—Cy-Fair edition; Shawn Arrajj First place, best health story: Health care providers address physician shortage Community Impact Newspaper—Georgetown edition; Randy Robinson First place, video journalism: Pilot’s Choice Aviation Community Impact Newspaper—Cy-Fair edition; Danica Smithwick Second place, best business story: Oil decline leads to business startups Community Impact Newspaper—Spring/Klein edition; Vanessa Holt Second place, best education/literacy story: Graduates seek lower postsecondary tuition costs Community Impact Newspaper—Sugar Land/Missouri City edition; Amelia Brust Second place, best investigative or in-depth story: Annexation plans progress for Greatwood, New Territory Community Impact Newspaper—Georgetown edition; Randy Robinson Second place, video journalism: See inside the new Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel & Conference Center Community Impact Newspaper—Frisco edition; Lindsey Juarez and Nicole Luna Second place, social media journalism Community Impact Newspaper—San Marcos/Buda/Kyle edition; Brett Thorne Third place, best environmental story: San Marcos moves forward with Cape’s Dam removal Community Impact Newspaper—Lake Travis/Westlake edition; Lake Travis/Westlake edition staff Third place, social media journalism Community Impact Newspaper—Conroe/Montgomery edition; Randy Robinson Honorable mention, video journalism: Bel Ray Action Sports Park

Six design awards for Best Use of Ad Color include:

Community Impact Newspaper—Central Austin edition; Cierra Aiken First place: Peak Performers Community Impact Newspaper—The Woodlands edition; Alexandra Corradini Second place: Keller Williams – The Kink Team Community Impact Newspaper—Cy-Fair edition; Sadie Long Third place: Snapper Jack’s Community Impact Newspaper—Frisco edition; Stephanie Torres Third place: Frisco Auto Tint Community Impact Newspaper—Cedar Park/Leander edition; Cathy Chedrawi Honorable mention: Peonies and Lace Weddings Community Impact Newspaper—Spring/Klein edition; Evelia Gramajo Honorable mention: Captain Aaron Seafood 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. Since its first year competing in 2007, CI has received 122 awards from NNA in the Better Newspaper Editorial Contest and the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest.