The Washington Informer earned five newspaper and journalism awards at the 2023 National Newspaper Publishers Association Fund’s Messenger Awards.
The newspaper was recognized for its outstanding education and environment reporting, and community service. The Informer also received accolades for print layout and design, and its website.
“I am grateful for our hard-working and committed team that consistently seeks to educate, entertain, inform, and inspire our readers,” stated Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes.
She also thanked Informer readers and those who continue to support WIN-TV, the newspaper’s flagship web-based program that airs over several social media channels, including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, at noon on Fridays.
Meanwhile, the Sacramento Observer added the seventh John B. Russwurm Award to its storied history, scoring a resounding victory during the ceremony.
The Russwurm Award is presented to the top Black-owned newspaper in the country.
In all, the publication, established in 1962, took home 16 awards including Publisher of the Year.
Observer Publisher Larry Lee thanked his NNPA peers and his staff for the newspaper’s continued success.
“On a very humbling night during the NNPA Fund Messenger Awards, the Sacramento Observer won 16 awards including the Russwurm Award as the nation’s best Black newspaper,” Lee celebrated.
“I was also awarded Publisher of the Year. I cannot express how proud I am of our team,” he said.
The 2023 NNPA Fund Messenger Awards took place in Nashville, Tenn., during the NNPA’s annual convention.
Legendary Tennessee Tribune Publisher Rosetta Miller-Perry served as host and help guide members of the Black Press through Music City with a reception and tour of the National Museum of African American Music, and a taste of southern hospitality.
The annual awards help bolster a week of meetings, panel discussions, and other events that brings together more than 200 African American publishers and media company owners, their partners, and sponsors.
While the Observer took home the biggest awards haul, and The Informer earned five, other multiple-award winners included the Atlanta Voice, Houston Defender, and the Philadelphia Tribune.
Below is a list of winners from the NNPA Fund Messenger Awards:
NNPA FUND MESSENGER AWARDS 2023 CategorywinnersNewsletter Excellence AwardMichigan ChronicleNewsletter Excellence AwardNew Pittsburg CourierNewsletter Excellence AwardThe Philadelphia Tribune CategorywinnersLayout & Design (Tabloid) – Robert L. Vann AwardHouston DefenderLayout & Design (Tabloid) – Robert L. Vann AwardThe Observer NewspapersLayout & Design (Tabloid) – Robert L. Vann AwardWashington Informer CategorywinnersOriginal Photography Use AwardAtlanta VoiceOriginal Photography Use AwardBirmingham TimesOriginal Photography Use AwardSt. Louis American CategorywinnersFashion, Beauty & Lifestyle – Ada S. Franklin AwardHouston DefenderFashion, Beauty & Lifestyle – Ada S. Franklin AwardMichigan ChronicleFashion, Beauty & Lifestyle – Ada S. Franklin AwardThe Observer Newspapers CategorywinnersHealth – Emory O. Jackson AwardAtlanta VoiceHealth – Emory O. Jackson AwardThe Observer NewspapersHealth – Emory O. Jackson AwardHouston Defender CategorywinnersSpecial Edition – Leon W. Washington AwardSeattle MediumSpecial Edition – Leon W. Washington AwardThe Philadelphia TribuneSpecial Edition – Leon W. Washington AwardThe Observer Newspapers
CategorywinnersFaith & Religion AwardThe New York Amsterdam NewsFaith & Religion AwardThe Philadelphia TribuneFaith & Religion AwardWave Community Newspapers CategorywinnersEducation – Frank L. Stanley AwardBirmingham TimesEducation – Frank L. Stanley AwardHouston DefenderEducation – Frank L. Stanley AwardWashington Informer CategorywinnersVideo Campaign AwardAtlanta VoiceVideo Campaign AwardTexas Metro NewsVideo Campaign AwardThe Observer Newspapers CategorywinnersLayout & Design (Broadsheet) – Robert L. Vann AwardAfro American Newspaper (Baltimore)Layout & Design (Broadsheet) – Robert L. Vann AwardMichigan ChronicleLayout & Design (Broadsheet) – Robert L. Vann AwardThe Philadelphia Tribune CategorywinnersCommunity Engagement – W. A. Scott II AwardHouston DefenderCommunity Engagement – W. A. Scott II AwardSt. Louis AmericanCommunity Engagement – W. A. Scott II AwardThe New York Amsterdam News CategorywinnersYouth & Children AwardAtlanta VoiceYouth & Children AwardHouston DefenderYouth & Children AwardNew Tri-State Defender CategorywinnersSocial & Criminal Justice – Ida B. Wells AwardFinal Call
Social & Criminal Justice – Ida B. Wells AwardSt. Louis AmericanSocial & Criminal Justice – Ida B. Wells AwardThe New York Amsterdam News CategorywinnersEditorial & Opinion -Robert S. Abbott AwardSt. Louis AmericanEditorial & Opinion -Robert S. Abbott AwardThe Observer NewspapersEditorial & Opinion -Robert S. Abbott AwardThe Philadelphia Tribune CategorywinnersCommunity Service – Carl Murphy AwardWashington InformerCommunity Service – Carl Murphy AwardThe Observer NewspapersCommunity Service – Carl Murphy AwardThe New York Amsterdam News CategorywinnersFacebook Campaign AwardAtlanta VoiceFacebook Campaign AwardThe New York Amsterdam NewsFacebook Campaign AwardThe Observer Newspapers CategorywinnersInstagram Campaign AwardHouston Forward TimesInstagram Campaign AwardNew Pittsburg CourierInstagram Campaign AwardThe Observer Newspapers CategorywinnersEnviroment – Wilbert L HollowayThe Observer NewspapersEnviroment – Wilbert L HollowayThe New York Amsterdam NewsEnviroment – Wilbert L HollowayWashington Informer CategorywinnersSports – Don King AwardHouston DefenderSports – Don King AwardNew Pittsburg CourierSports – Don King AwardSeattle Medium
CategorywinnersEntertainment – Armstrong Ellington AwardThe New York Amsterdam NewsEntertainment – Armstrong Ellington AwardThe Observer NewspapersEntertainment – Armstrong Ellington AwardWave Community Newspapers CategorywinnersNewspaper Excellence – John H. Sengstacke AwardHouston DefenderNewspaper Excellence – John H. Sengstacke AwardBirmingham TimesNewspaper Excellence – John H. Sengstacke AwardThe Observer Newspapers CategorywinnersBusiness AwardMichigan ChronicleBusiness AwardThe Observer NewspapersBusiness AwardWave Community Newspapers CategorywinnersWebsite Excellence – A.Philip Randolph AwardThe Observer NewspapersWebsite Excellence – A.Philip Randolph AwardWashington InformerWebsite Excellence – A.Philip Randolph AwardHouston Forward Times CategorywinnersOriginal Advertising Campaign – E. Washington Rhodes AwardAfro American Newspaper (Baltimore)Original Advertising Campaign – E. Washington Rhodes AwardHouston DefenderOriginal Advertising Campaign – E. Washington Rhodes AwardThe Philadelphia Tribune
Newspaper Excellence AwardNew Pittsburgh Courier full editions – Feb. 9, Feb. 16, Feb. 23Voter outreach rally kicks off on King Day Houston Defender Layout – TabloidThe Sacramento Observer8/25/2022 & 9/1/2022 Election Central: The People Have SpokenSummerfest, food and funSchool Shooting Black women & Alopecia by ReShonda Tate | Black Maternity Crisis by Aswad WalkerFashion, Beauty & LifestyleLifestyle The Faces of Atlanta Medical Center *series*Our Birth StoriesNo Way Out? Black male suicides by ReShonda Tate Seattle Medium Juneteenth EditionBlack History Month: The making of Jackie Robinson (75th anniversary)A Culture Of Care: Black Nurses Special Edition
Faith and Religion storiesSharon Baptist Church: Celebrating 40 pastoral years togetherChurch at the Crossroads: Waning attendance stifling churches Maranathan Academy Still Serves Critical NeedBlack Families choosing homeschoolingGroup Challenges Colleges to Better Accommodate Student Parents REACTION: Herschel Walker vs Senator Raphael Warnock square off in only Debate10 Year AniversaryThe Sacramento Observer AFRO Layout & Design July 8 & 15, 2022Layout & Design BroadsheetVoter outreach rally kicks off on King Day Houston Defender “State of Black Women” The Power of Our Vote35th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Multi-Media Coverage: Community Engagement Dynamite Dance Factory epitomizes owner Kyri Hayes vision for youth danceGen Z & Voting: How young people could shape electionsBlack Cosplayers are Creating Their Own World in the Cosplay Community Hell on earth in Alabama
The Kevin Johnson story – In search of humanitySTOP THE BLOODSHED: Community demands, ‘Keep the bullets in the chamber’ Coming together as community in wake of tragedyReparationsMayor: Lead or leave Our House – Keeping Homes Black Owned in the DMVThe Sacramento Observer – Grand JuryBlacklight Fact Checks Ethnic Media Collaboration conversation w/ Senator Rev. Raphael WarnockBeyond the Barrel of the GunThe Sacramento Observer Worth the WeightNew Pittsburgh Courier’s Instagram page keeps Black Pittsburgh informedThe Sacramento Observer HeatwaveClimate goals, climate justice: Who gets left behind?Many School Uniforms Contain Potentially Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’: Study Sports: March 10 & 17 – Deion Sanders impact – Terrance Harris | Jodie B. JilesNew Pittsburgh Courier sports sections, Sept. 21 and Sept. 28The Grid – Seattle Medium Youth Football Coverage
Seun Kuti rocks Sony HallThe Sacramento ObserverLocal entertainment coverage Houston Defender – Oct 13, 20, 27General ExcellenceThe Sacramento Observer Banking on Detroit’s African American Communities_Donald JamesBlack Women Businesses‘Tyler Perry like’ studios to provide economic boom for L.A. The Sacramento Observerwww.washingtoninformer.comDigital Excellence 130th Anniversary Gala Advertising CampaignHouston Defender SMART MARKETING EVENTSOur Community. Our Health
Source: Washington Informer
