The Hudson Reporter newspaper group, based in Hoboken, has won four statewide awards in this year’s New Jersey Press Association Better Newspaper contest.
The four awards were in categories for news writing, feature writing, retail ad design, and classified ad design.
In the annual competition, the Reporter newspapers compete with dozens of weekly newspapers all over the state.
The company runs weekly papers in Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City, West New York, North Bergen/Guttenberg, and Secaucus.
The winners will get their awards at a banquet in Trenton on April 5.
“The staff of the Reporter works hard and puts all their efforts on the line on a daily basis,” said co-publisher and owner Lucha Malato last week. “It’s good to see their efforts rewarded by a professional organization.”
“I am very proud of our newspapers and staff,” said the paper’s other publisher and co-owner, David Unger. “It is rewarding to be recognized by our peers for our efforts.”Do you know where your city budget is?
In the news writing category, first-time winner Ricardo Kaulessar, who covers the Jersey City beat, garnered third place for his investigative story published last summer, “It’s August – Do you know where your budget is?” It was subtitled “Four Hudson County towns are always late, and your wallet suffers.”
The story discussed four Hudson County cities – Union City, Hoboken, Jersey City and Bayonne – who submit their budgets late year after year, forcing them to often rely on one-shot revenue sources and emergency measures.
Kaulessar commented last week, “I feel proud to have received this award, as it is a validation of the hard work and time I put into this article. And I dedicate my NJPA award to my mom for the guidance she has provided me in my four years as a working journalist.”
Reporter Managing Editor Diana Schwaeble noted that Kaulessar makes a real effort to reach out to the community at large, often spending weekends making valuable connections.
To read the story, click http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17082961&BRD=1291&PAG=461&dept_id=523584&rfi=8.
In the feature-writing category, Managing Editor/Hudson Current Editor Schwaeble and then-Managing Editor Tom Jennemann won second place for a series they wrote for the chain’s Hoboken edition and the weekly Hudson Current arts and entertainment paper. The series, “Home Sweet Hoboken,” profiled long-time family-run Hoboken businesses, a quaint and dying breed. Too hot to cook
In the retail advertising category, graphic artist Lisa M. Cuthbert and sales representatives Kelly Kobryn and Marybeth Ponik won second place for their ad, “Too Hot to Cook” that appeared in the Bayonne Community News.
In the classified advertising category, artist Erika Fiallos and sales representative Ann Reilly won second place for a house ad entitled, “Stick to the Hudson Reporter Newspapers.” It appeared in the Secaucus Reporter.
“I am honored to receive this award,” said Cuthbert last week. “I would also like to congratulate my colleagues.”
The paper’s art director, Jennifer Martiak, said, ” I am very proud of the hard work and determination of the designers here at the Reporter. I am especially proud of the awards won by designers Lisa and Erika. They are both truly creative individuals and bring life to the pages of our newspapers.” The awards
The chain has won numerous awards for investigative reporting, advertising, and graphic design in the competition over the last several years.
“I’m sure these are only a sign of more awards to come,” said Editor-in-Chief Caren Lissner. “We wrote many investigative stories last year, and the graphics and sales staffs work very hard to make the paper pleasing to the eye and to make the ads attractive and attention-getting. We have a large pool of talent here and I’m glad when it’s recognized.”