MISSOURIAN WINS FOUR AWARDS IN SNA CONTEST

The Southeast Missourian captured four awards -- including one first place -- in the 1997 Suburban Newspapers of America Editorial Contest.

The contest drew more than 1,100 entries from newspapers across the country.

The newspaper won top honors in the Best Front Page category.

Judging was based on news writing, layout, design, graphics, flag and use of headlines. The award came on three front pages published between September 1996 and October 1997.

Joni Adams won second place for Best Editorial Writing based on three local-interest editorials. Adams is managing editor of the newspaper and a member of the newspaper's Editorial Board. She is one of several individuals who write editorials for the newspaper.

SNA awarded a second-place honor for Best Local Election Coverage. The coverage centered on the newspaper's extensive coverage of the Cape Girardeau public schools' bond issue April 1.

Peggy Scott and Tamara Zellars Buck wrote the many articles submitted for the judges' consideration. Judges also considered editorials, personal columns and letters to the editor.

The newspaper won a third-place award for Best Graphic Artwork, which was created by Teresa Connell, graphics editor of the news department. The winning entry, "Inside the Numbers," was published in September. It detailed how Southeast Missouri State University is tackling low minority enrollment.

The awards will be presented March 4-7 in Marco Island, Fla.

The Suburban Newspapers of America members include about 2,000 newspapers in North America. The newspapers reach more than 17 million households and more than 42 million readers in the United States and Canada.