RALEIGH — The Richmond Observer added two more honors to hang on its walls following the N.C. Press Association’s 2024 Editorial and Photojournalism Contest.
Both awards this year were in sports categories.
Sports Editor Kyle Pillar placed third in sports enterprise reporting for a story about a decision by the N.C. High School Athletic Association to allow high school student-athletes in the state to benefit financially from name, image and likeness deals.
Click here to read Pillar’s story.
Managing Editor William R. Toler placed third in sports photography for his shots of the tire-smoking action from MB Drift’s first competitive round of 2023, “Back in the Ring,” at Rockingham Speedway.
“I am once again very proud of our team,” said co-publisher Charlie Melvin. “This year’s awards puts our five-year awards total at 45, including two general excellence awards in 2019 and 2023.”
This year’s contest was judged by members of the Colorado Press Association, with more than 4,000 entries from more than 125 news organizations.
The Richmond Observer competes in the NCPA’s online division, which includes similar community-based publications, as well as statewide public policy journals.
Since joining the NCPA, the RO has garnered a total of 45 awards, with nearly half of those going to Pillar. Toler has won more than 30 press awards in two divisions writing about Richmond County since moving here in 2014.
This year marked the 151st annual convention
Sen. Graig Meyer, D-Orange, was honored with the William C. Lassiter First Amendment Award.
C. Amanda Martin, former counsel for NCPA now at the Duke University First Amendment Clinic, was also honored for her longtime commitment to defending the rights of journalists in the state.
Shannon Vickery from PBS again served as emcee for the awards ceremony.
Earlier in the day, Gov. Roy Cooper, along with state Reps. Destin Hall and Steve Ross, spoke during the legislative session; and Spectrum News’ Tim Boyum led a roundtable discussion on N.C. demographics with Dr. Chris Cooper of Western Carolina University and Dr. Nathan Dollar of Carolina Demography.
