The National Newspaper Association today announced the winners of its annual Digital Edge Awards, part of the NAA’s Media Innovation Awards. The awards were presented during the NAA’s Connections conference in Orlando, Fla.
The NAA awards are open to U.S. newspaper websites, and awards are given in three circulation categories, based on papers’ print circulation. The Lawrence (Kansas) Journal-World, a multiple Edgie Award winner among small-circulation papers, continued its dominance in the awards, winning for best overall newspaper website, innovative storytelling and for best local guide in its circulation categories. E.W. Scripps’ Knoxville (Tennessee) News-Sentinel won among the mid-sized newspapers, also earning Edgies for design and innovative visitor participation.
Poynter’s St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly won the large-paper award for best overall site for their PolitiFact project, a joint website where Times and CQ reporters fact-check claims made by U.S. presidential candidates.
In addition to announcing the awards, the NAA released a report on the winners, with details and essays from the winning sites. It’s a useful rubric for news site designers looking for inspiration to improve their online publications. Ironically, however, the report is in PDF format, most suitable for, well, printing.
Here are this year’s Edgie winners, in the editorial categories:
Best Overall Newspaper Website
LJWorld.com, The Lawrence Journal-World/The World Co. (circ. < 75,000)
Knoxnews.com, Knoxville News Sentinel (circ. 75,000 – 250,000)
PolitiFact.com, St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly (circ. > 250,000)
Best Design and Site Architecture
PrepZone.com, Naples Daily News (circ. < 75,000)
Knoxnews.com, Knoxville News Sentinel (circ. 75,000 – 250,000)
washingtonpost.com, Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive (circ. < 250,000)
Most Innovative Multimedia Storytelling
24 Hours in Lawrence Lawrence Journal-World/The World Co. (circ. < 75,000)
BrokenTrust, Sarasota Herald-Tribune (circ. 75,000 – 250,000)
A People Torn, Minneapolis Star Tribune (circ. > 250,000)
Most Innovative Use of Interactive Media
PigskinReview.com, Amarillo Globe-News (circ. < 75,000)
Ultimate Local Band Site and Text Voting Contest, tbt* Tampa Bay Times (circ. 75,000 – 250,000)
The Issues Tracker and HD Video Podcasts, washingtonpost.com (circ. > 250,000)
Most Innovative Visitor Participation
Creating a Two-Way Conversation with Our Community, Savannahnow.com/Savannah Morning News (circ. < 75,000)
School Matters Knoxnews.com/Knoxville News Sentinel (circ. 75,000 – 250,000)
cincyMOMS.com, Cincinnati Enquirer (circ. > 250,000)
Best Local Guide or Entertainment Site
Lawrence.com, The World Co. (circ. < 75,000)
Austin360.com, Austin American-Stateman (circ. 75,000 – 250,000)
Vita.mn, Minneapolis Star Tribune (circ. > 250,000)
About Robert Niles
