The Journal won four awards for writing and photography in the Virginia Press Association’s News, Editorial and Photo Contest — twice the number they earned last year. Awards were presented at the annual conference and awards banquet in Norfolk, April 9.

The Journal editorial staff — consisting of Jessica Herrink and Ruth Herrink — took first place for editorial writing. The entry consisted of three pieces: “LoBuglio’s coup against transparency,” which ran May 12; “Is Lynn Brownley Westmoreland’s Mayor Barry?” which ran Oct. 27; and “Barbara Worrell: A sense of betrayal,” which ran Dec. 22.

The judge comments said the portfolio was “easily the best in my opinion. Flowed nicely. Was very readable and was just good storytelling. Interesting and pot-stirring.”

Freelancer Marty van Duyne earned a first place prize in the general news photo category for a picture of Sunflower and Rosebud, two cows at the Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair, which ran in the Aug. 11 King George edition of the paper. The judge noted the “wide range of light and colors” and sense of place in the photo.

Staff reporter Kathy Flanagan took second place in the public safety writing category for her coverage of the arrest, trial and conviction of Barbara Worrell, former finance director at Colonial Beach Schools. Her three stories ran in the March 17, Sept. 22 and Dec. 22 Colonial Beach editions of the paper.

News editor Leslie M.A. Kompara took third place for her photo essay of the Montross Fall Festival, which ran Oct. 6.

The Journal’s winning entries can be viewed online HERE or in the 2010 gallery of contest winners at www.vpa.net.

The VPA contest is divided into competition groups based on frequency of publication and circulation size. The Journal competed against 25 other non-dailies with a circulation up to 4,999. Members of the Missouri Newspaper Association judged the entries.