THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 5, 1995 TAG: 9502050044
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE AND RANDY JESSE, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
The Virginian-Pilot has won the sweepstakes award for overall excellence in its circulation category from the Virginia Press Association.
The Pilot, published in Norfolk by Landmark Communications Inc., won the sweepstakes award among daily newspapers in the state with circulations greater than 50,000.
And Pilot columnist Guy Friddell, whose writing has brightened the lives of readers in Virginia for nearly five decades, was recipient of a singular honor: his name now appears on the VPA's top award for writing in daily newspapers.
Friddell came to Norfolk in 1963 as editorial page editor of The Pilot. He had previously worked as city hall reporter for the Lynchburg News (now The News and Advance), county reporter for the Nyack (N.Y.) Journal-News and political writer for the Richmond News-Leader.
His writing has not been confined to newspapers. He is the author of several books, including:
``Hello, Hampton Roads,'' 1987, a words-and-pictures portrait of Southeastern Virginia; ``Miracle at Yorktown,'' 1981; ``Colgate Darden: Conversations with Guy Friddell,'' 1979; ``Washington, D.C., the Open City,'' 1974; ``The Virginia Way,'' 1973; ``We Began at Jamestown,'' 1968; ``What Is It About Virginia,'' 1966, which led to a Virginia Senate resolution honoring Friddell in 1968; ``I Love You, I Hate You,'' 1965; ``Tales of Sgt. Bull Maypop,'' and ``Jackstraws,'' a collection of columns written for the News-Leader.
Friddell previously has been honored by induction into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame (1990); recognition as a Friend of Education by Phi Delta Kappa (1988); presentation of the George Mason Award by the Society of Professional Journalists (1978); presentation of an honorary doctor of letters degree by the University of Richmond (1963); and as winner of a National Headliner Award for feature writing (1959).
Coincidentally, some of Friddell's columns were a part of the entry that won the first Guy Friddell Best-in-Show/Daily Writing Award.
The Pilot staff won that award for its extensive coverage of last year's Virginia Senate campaign.
``The rest of the nation watched the bitter race, imagining the angst that it was causing Virginia voters,'' said Tom Bennett, assistant metro editor of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, who judged the competition. ``This paper's provocative and even-handed coverage kept readers a step ahead and made it possible for them to choose.''
As for direct coverage of the candidate who helped make the race a national story, Bennett said: ``North's role in Iran-Contra was aired fully. In other stories, he emerged as a candidate exploiting religious fundamentalism and telling an increasingly taller tale about his immigrant grandfather.''
The Pilot also received two other best-in-show awards for daily newspapers. One, for artwork, was won by Sam Hundley for an illustration, ``Contemporary Insanity.'' The other was for news presentation.
Of Hundley's work, judge Rick McKee of the Augusta Chronicle wrote: ``This piece shows that it takes more than just a good drawing (which this is) to make a great illustration. The idea or concept must be thought-provoking as well. Hundley's style of illustration is beautiful and unique. It complements and emphasizes the brutality of the subject matter. Very compelling and eye-catching. I'd hate to meet this person in a bright alley, much less a dark one.''
For news presentation, judge Ralph Ellis of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution wrote: ``The Pilot has put together a strong, well-unified design. The paper has a bright, varied look without being junky. Photos are always sharp, well-composed and played the right size. This is an easy paper to work your way through.''
The Best-in-Show for daily photography was won by Kenneth D. Lyons of the Daily Press in Newport News, for ``G.I. John,'' a general news photo showing a paratrooper landing atop portable restrooms.
Other sweepstakes award winners were:
The Rappahannock News, Washington, weekly papers with circulation less than 4,000.
The Post, Big Stone Gap, weekly papers with circulation between 4,000 and 6,000.
The Coalfield Progress, Norton, weekly papers with circulation between 6,000 and 12,000.
The Fauquier Times-Democrat, Warrenton, weekly papers with circulation greater than 12,000.
The Northern Virginia Daily, Strasburg, daily papers with circulation less than 20,000.
The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, daily papers with circulation between 20,000 and 50,000.
The awards were presented Saturday night at the Virginia Press Association's winter meeting in Richmond. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Davis
Eaton
Hundley
Jackson
Miller
Minium
Monroe
Murray
Bergman
by CNB