We’d like to pat ourselves on the back because The Oxford Leader recently won four awards in the Michigan Press Association’s 2008 Better Newspaper Contest.
In Weekly Circulation Class D, the Leader won first place for its editorial pages.
‘A nice mix of editorial pages and some variety from week to week,? wrote the judges. ‘The columnists, C.J. Carnacchio and Jim Sherman, are excellent. Peeking in the Past and Smile of the Week are reader-friendly.?
Editor C.J. Carnacchio won third place in the editorial writing category and received an honorable mention in feature writing.
Of Carnacchio’s feature story, the judges wrote, ‘The turn of phrase is priceless.?
Since joining the Leader in May 1999, Carnacchio’s won a total of 22 MPA awards plus two photo awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Detroit Chapter.
Former Leader Staff Writer Casey Curtis earned second place in the sports picture category for her dynamic photo of two soccer players going head-to-head for the ball.
‘Nice clean sharp image showing the intensity of the game,? the judges wrote. ‘This photo stood out from other like photos of the same sport.?