Deseret News wins Utah Press awards

ST. GEORGE — The Deseret News walked away with top honors this weekend at the Utah Press Association's 117th annual winter convention and Better Newspaper Contest by winning the "general excellence" award among the state's largest newspapers.

The Deseret News also placed first in the sports column category and second in the feature column division.

In addition, the News won third place in the best sports story division, first in best use of color in advertising, first and third in the best advertising idea group, second in the best classified ad pages category, and third in the best sports page judging.

Longtime Manti Messenger publisher Suzanne Dean was awarded the association's most coveted honor, The Master Editor and Publisher award.

Other awards went to Darren Shepherd of Questar Gas, Honorary Publisher Award; Lloyd Call, Distinguished Service Award; and Utah Press Legislative Monitor Joel Campbell, John E. Jones Award. Campbell is also the Mormon Media Observer in the Mormon Times section of the Deseret News.