Staff report

The Times-Journal was among the winners in this year’s APA Advertising Contest.

Winners were announced this week by David Moore, chairman of the APA Advertising Contest Committee.

“I am very proud of and proud for our advertising and creative staff for being recognized among the best in the state of Alabama,” said Regional Advertising Director, Erica Slone.

Forty-eight newspapers submitted more than 1,000 entries in this year’s contest. The entries were judged by the Arkansas Press Association.

This year the awards will be presented along with the Better Newspaper Contest awards on Saturday, July 19 at APA’s Summer Convention in Orange Beach at the Perdido Beach Resort.

The Sweepstakes Award is given to newspapers in each of the four divisions that earn the highest number of points in the entire contest.

“The awards are a tribute to our staff’s hard work, ideas, ingenuity and dedication to good customer service,&8221; Slone said. &8220;Our newspaper and its customers are fortunate to be associated with such a high-quality group of people.” I’m proud to be a part of this creative and dedicated staff,” said Slone. “These awards not only represent outstanding achievement but also a lot of hard work and commitment of the standard of excellence we can provide our customers.

“We are proud to offer effective, award winning campaigns created by the staff of Bill Tomey, Marlene Craft, Ashley Key, and Christann Thomas and complemented by the creative graphic artist Karen Lawler.”

Ad of the Year

To be announced at the Summer Convention awards banquet on Saturday, July 19.

Category 1 – Best Presentation of ROP Advertising

Division B

1st Place &045; The Opelika-Auburn News

2nd Place &045; The Cullman Times

3rd Place &045; The Selma Times-Journal

Category 7 – Best Regularly Scheduled Special Section

Division B

1st Place The Cullman Times for &8220;Meet the Candidates&8221; section by Kathy McLeroy and staff

(10/31/07)

2nd Place The Selma Times-Journal for &8220;2008 Membership Directory & Buyers Guide&8221; section by staff (2007)

3rd Place The Fort Payne Times-Journal for &8220;2007 A Season to Remember&8221; section by staff

Category 9 – Best In-Paper Promotion of Newspaper

Division B

1st Place The Cullman Times for &8220;One Day Only&8221; promotion by Naomi Smith and Kathy

McLeroy (11/11/07)

2nd Place The Messenger (Troy) for &8220;Prime Time, Drive Time, Anytime&8221; promotion by staff

(5/2/07)

3rd Place The Selma Times-Journal for &8220;Crazy Weather?&8221; promotion by Karen Lawler (3/13/07)

Category 11 – Best Original/Creative Idea

Division B

1st Place The Selma Times-Journal for &8220;The Hunt&8221; ad by staff (6/1/07)

2nd Place The Andalusia Star-News for Covington County Bank ad by Jill Prevett (2007)

3rd Place The Clanton Advertiser for &8220;Clanton’s &8216;Big Money’ Scavenger Hunt&8221; ad by Jennifer Locke and Sheryl Smith (10/27/07)