Once again, the editorial and advertising staff of Coastal Point was recognized at the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association (MDDC) awards, an annual awards conference encompassing MDDC member newspapers.
Competing papers are placed in divisions based on size, where aspects of different advertising and editorial content are evaluated and rewarded. Coastal Point raked in a total of 18 awards between the MDDC advertising and editorial contests.
The awards were presented April 26 and 27 at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Md. Despite being only Coastal Point’s second year of MDDC award eligibility, the advertising department took home 10 division-level awards in Division C, for non-daily newspapers with circulation of 15,000.
Two of those 10 earned additional Best of Category awards, in Local Real Estate, black and white or color print — won by graphic artist Bob Bertram — and Special Section, Member or Vendor Support, presented to the ad department.
The ad department received individual awards in the following categories in Division C:
• 1st Place - Local Real Estate, black and white or color; Bob Bertram; Gulfstream Homes – “Discover Coastal Living”
• 1st Place – Special Section, Member or Vendor Supported; Ad Department; Various – “Millville Past, Present and Future”
• 1st Place – Print Promotion of Newspaper; Bob Bertram; Coastal Point 2007 Calendar
• 1st Place – Themed Feature Page; Bob Bertram; The Village of Fenwick Shopping Center – “The Village of Fenwick”
• 2nd Place – Local Real Estate, black and white or color; Shaun Lambert; Ocean Mist Townhomes – “The Only Thing Missing…”
• 2nd Place – 10lbs of Stuff in a 5lb Bag; Bob Bertram; X106.9 – “Surf Festival”
• 3rd Place – Local Retail Color, less than one page; Ruslana Lambert; iLand Art Gallery – “Eye Candy!”
• 3rd Place – Local Retail Color, 1/2 page or more; Jamie McNamee; World Gym – “What’s Your Strength?”
• 3rd Place – Local Recruitment, black and white or color; Jane Johnson; Carl M. Freeman Companies – “Career Opportunities”
• 3rd Place – Local Retail, black and white, 1/2 page or more; Bob Bertram; The Royal Zephyr Restaurant – “Step Back in Time…”
The Coastal Point’s Web design staff was also awarded for their “Homeplate Web site” in the Web Special Project category, which featured coverage of the 2006 softball World Series play held in Roxana.
And Coastal Point’s 2006 calendar earned first-place honors, a step up from its 2005, second-place counterpart.
Bertram, who has had years of design experience, said he is most excited to have his coworkers rewarded.
“It’s really great to see Jane [Johnson] and Jamie [McNamee] recognized for their work,” he said, “especially considering they haven’t been doing this as long as some of us. I think it’s fantastic how well they’ve done here. Everyone on our design team won something, and that’s really gratifying.”
McNamee came on board as a graphic artist for the newspaper less than a year ago, and Johnson as classified ad rep in the fall of 2005. “I came in not knowing how to use a Mac at all,” said Johnson, with a laugh.
The staff at the office isn’t the only ones reaping the benefits of their hard work. Jessica Clark, who owns iLand Art Gallery in Fenwick Island with husband, Chris, attributes much of her business to the ads.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “I’ve had customers come in and said they came in because they noticed the ad or they liked it so much. It’s incredible what the staff can do. Our business wouldn’t be the same without their hard work. I’m very thankful for what they do.”
The recognition for the Coastal Point didn’t end with the advertising department, though. The editorial staff earned five awards in the Editorial Contest, in Division E for non-dailies with circulation from 10,000 to 20,000.
Those wins include a second place for spot news on a group piece by News Editor Patricia Titus, staff reporter Jonathan Starkey and Editor Darin McCann. The package featured coverage of the helicopter crash that took the lives of local developer Joshua M. Freeman and pilot Alisa Danielle Howell this past December, as well as remembrances of the two.
Titus also received a first-place award in the division for her column regarding the possible impact of last year’s Cape Henlopen School District referendum on the Sussex Consortium — a school for local autistic children.
“I was particularly pleased to hear that the column concerning autism was recognized,” Titus said. “My godson’s struggle with the disorder, and his family’s efforts to help him be the best he can be, were something I wanted to share with a wider audience — to help bring home that some 1 in 150 kids are now being diagnosed with this challenging disorder and how important community support is for all those families.”
The Coastal Point editorial staff received the following MDDC awards for editorial content:
• 1st Place – Local Column: Critical Thinking; M. Patricia Titus; “Cape Henlopen Referendum Also Important”
• 1st Place – Sports Photo; Ruslana Lambert; “Skimboarding”
• 2nd Place – Business/Economics; Jonathan Starkey; “Biodiesel Plant Could Help Out Area Farmers”
• 2nd Place – Sports Page Design; Shaun Lambert; “Soccer Team Set to Rule the Pitch”
Ruslana “Rosi” Lambert again was recognized this year for her talent and work, after earning several awards last year, including Best in Show with another ad she designed for iLand Art Gallery. The Best in Show award put the Coastal Point in contention with newspapers of all sizes, including the Washington Post and Baltimore’s The Sun. The first-place-winning photograph also graced the cover of the award-winning Coastal Point calendar.
The distribution of the awards came as a pleasant surprise to Point Art Director Shaun Lambert, another repeat winner in this year’s awards, and husband to Ruslana. “Everyone here at the paper is very talented and it makes me proud to see that everybody is getting recognition for their efforts,” he said.
Equally pleased was a humble McCann.
“I couldn’t be happier for the staff,” he added. “It’s nice to see them receive some recognition for all their hard work, and it really reflects on their desire to put out an outstanding product every week. We obviously don’t do what we do for awards or to get attention, but this is an example that if you do what you really love, and put every ounce of energy you have into being the best you can be, you’ll be rewarded.”