PNT wins award for investigative reporting

The Portales News-Tribune has won the New Mexico Press Association’s second place investigative reporting award for newspapers under 10,000 circulation. Staff members Tony Farkas, Mike Linn, Gary Mitchell, and Kevin Wilson received their award for the paper’s coverage of a conflict between the Portales police department and the Portales municipal judge.

During the association’s Saturday evening award banquet in Albuquerque, the Portales News-Tribune’s sister papers also won a total of 19 awards: 11 for the Clovis News Journal, seven for the Quay County Sun, and one for the overall design of the website serving all three newspapers.

General excellence awards went to the Clovis News Journal for Class 2 daily newspapers under 10,000 circulation, to the Albuquerque Journal for Class 1 daily newspapers more than 10,000 circulation, to the Taos News for Class 1 weeklies more than 3,000 circulation, and to the Sangre de Cristo Chronicle for Class 2 weeklies under 3,000 circulation.

Other Freedom Newspapers of New Mexico winners:

News Writing — Class 2 Dailies: Clovis News Journal, Claire Bushey.

In-depth Reporting — Class 2 Dailies: 1. Clovis News Journal, Haley Rice and Gary Mitchell.

Feature Writing — Class 2 Weeklies: 1. Quay County Sun, Dave Gragg.

Editorials — Class 2 Dailies: 1. Clovis News Journal, Ray Sullivan. 2. Clovis News Journal, David Stevens.

Sports Columns — Class 2 Weeklies: 2. Quay County Sun, Frankie Masters

Sports Writing — Class 2 Dailies: 1. Clovis News Journal, Rick White.

Sports Photo — Class 2 Dailies: 2. Clovis News Journal, Eric Kluth. Class 2 Weeklies: 1. Quay County Sun, Dave Gragg. 2. Quay County Sun, Eric Kluth.

Photo Series — Class 2 Dailies: 2. Clovis News Journal, Eric Kluth. Class 2 Weeklies: 1. Quay County Sun, Dave Gragg.

Black and White Advertising — Class 2 Dailies: 2. Clovis News Journal, Amanda Wright.

House Ads — Class 2 Dailies: 1. Clovis News Journal, Jess Merritt. Class 2 Weeklies: 1. Quay County Sun, Amanda Wright.

Creative Design and Typography — Class 2 Dailies: 1. Clovis News Journal, Staff. Class 2 Weeklies: 2. Quay County Sun, Staff.

Website — Class 2 Dailies: 1. Freedom Newspapers, Staff.