Gueydan Journal, Lake Arthur Sun Times and Welsh Citizen all win LSN Awards at 2010 Convention

By Mike Rizzuto

Journal-Sun Times Editor

The tiny Lake Arthur Sun Times newspaper and it’s “sister paper,” the Welsh Citizen, surprised, confounded, and impressed many of the larger-staffed newspapers in their division by combining to win 22 Louisiana State Newspaper Editorial Awards--eight of them first places--at the 130th Annual Louisiana State Press Association Convention held this past Saturday afternoon, May 1, 2010 in the Holidome in Lafayette, La.

An esteemed panel of judges from the Florida Press Association judged both the editorial and advertising competitions this winter.

Sixty-seven newspapers, publications, and college/university student newspapers submitted at least 3,533 entries in the competition to be evaluated.

Lake Arthur Sun Times-Gueydan Journal Editor Mike Rizzuto won 10 awards for editorial writing and photography, five of which were judged first place winners. Rizzuto also had three second place awards, one third place award, and an honorable mention selection for material written in the calendar year 2009.

Those specific awards won by the Rizzuto and the Sun Times, their categories and their places were:

--Best Sports Story (Brad Armentor), first place;

--Best Sports Column (Tiger Woods really a “Cheetah”), first place;

--Best Lifestyle Coverage for 2009, first place;

--Best News Coverage for 2009, first place;

--Best Sports Photo (Darius Mitchell soars for two), first place;

--Best Regular Column (From the Mike), second place;

--Best Overall Sports Coverage for 2009, second place;

--Best News Story (Jennings Eight), second place;

--General Excellence for 2009, third place;

--Best Headline, honorable mention.

Bengt Lindell, Editor of the Welsh Citizen, also completed a dazzling 2009 by winning 12 total awards, three which were judged first place winners. Lindell’s impressive haul included:

--Best Continuing Coverage of a Single Event, first place;

--Best Breaking News Photo, first place;

--Best Feature Photo, first place;

--Best News Coverage, second place;

--Best Lifestyle Coverage, second place;

--Best News Story, second place;

--Best Breaking News Photo (placed twice in this category), third place;

--Best Regular Column, third place;

--Best Sports Photo, third place;

--General Excellence in Editorial, third place;

--Best Front Page, honorable mention;

--Best Feature Story, honorable mention.

Lake Arthur Sun Times/Gueydan Journal/Welsh Citizen Advertising Manager Angie Longon won three awards in advertising, one of them garnering a first place award.

Longon’s places included:

--Best Staff Generated Black and White Ad One Half Page or Less, first place (Longon and Crowley Post Signal’s Sherry Evans combined for Gueydan Journal);

--Best Staff Generated Color Ad Page One Half Page or Less, second place (Longon and Crowley Post Signal’s Stacy Jabusch combined for Gueydan Journal);

--Best Special Section, honorable mention (for Gueydan Journal).