American Press winner of eight Louisiana Press Association awards

The American Press was presented eight awards during the Louisiana Press Association 2023 Better Newspaper Competition luncheon Friday at the Baton Rouge City Club.

Executive Editor Crystal Stevenson and sports writer Rodrick Anderson won first place for best overall website. The American Press competes in Division I against The Advocate in Baton Rouge, The Times Picayune in New Orleans and The Shreveport Times.

Columnist Jim Beam won first in best single editorial for his piece on U.S. Sens. John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy trying for the fourth time to help local newspapers with the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act.

The American Press staff also won first place in the web project category for its annual People’s Choice SWLA competition and received second in the special section category for its annual Progress edition, which recognized the American Press Volunteer of the Year.

Sports editor Scooter Hobbs received second place in the best sports column category for his column “Back by popular demand,” in which he revealed to readers his battle against cancer and the ensuing health problems that followed his treatment. He is now cancer-free.

Design editor Donna Price took second place in the layout and design category for a cover featuring images from the Chennault International Airshow.

Price and Stevenson also placed second in the best front page category — Price for designing the Top 10 Stories of the Year New Year’s Eve cover and Stevenson for her “Earth, Wind & Fire” cover design which featured coverage of the Tiger Island Fire and Hurricane Idalia hitting Florida.

Stevenson also placed third in the headline category for “Earth, Wind & Fire.”