A Decade of Wins
Almost 10 years in business—and 10 years as an award-winning newspaper. The Rockaway Times took home two awards in the New York Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest this past weekend, including another feature writing award for Managing Editor Katie McFadden.
The staff couldn’t make it to NYPA’s Spring Conference up in Saratoga Springs this year, but we were happy to learn that we were winners once again and have continued our streak as an award-winning newspaper 10 years in a row.
The 2023 Better Newspaper Contest awards, based on entries in New York newspapers in 2023, were judged by the Tennessee Press Association this year. They had the tough job of going through 2,530 entries in 70 categories from 142 New York newspapers. A total of 379 editorial and advertising awards were presented during NYPA’s Spring Conference from April 26-27.
Once again, Managing Editor Katie McFadden was awarded for her feature writing. NYPA describes the feature story category as “the most competitive” category in the Better Newspaper Contest, receiving the most entries out of any other category, next to news stories. Katie received third place for “A Real-Life Disney Princess,” a story from February 2023 about Arverne resident Chloe Ali, a fifth grader from Peninsula Prep Charter School, who had a reimagined Disney Cinderella doll made in her image, which was sold throughout Black History Month. In their comments, the judges said, “Sweet story about a real-life princess.”
The Rockaway Times also took home a first-place award for Art Photo. The selected photo was submitted to us by Deirdre Meehan and published on the cover of an issue in late July 2023. The epic shot depicted lighting shooting out over the beach in Breezy Point from a barrel cloud as a summer storm rolled in. The shot left our readers, our social media followers, and the contest judges in awe. In their comments, the judges said, “This photographer must have had some patience to capture this image and a great eye for the composition.”
We’re proud to say that when you’re reading The Rockaway Times, you’re reading an award-winning newspaper every year since its existence. Thank you for reading and supporting. Here’s to continued success!
