By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – L’Observateur took home eight first-place awards, including the coveted General Excellence award, at last weekend’s Louisiana Press Association annual convention at the Paragon Casino and Resort in Marksville, La.

Competing against other newspapers across the state with similar circulations and publication frequencies, members of Georgia’s press association judged L’Observateur as having the best overall content in the competition.

L’Observateur’s editorial team also took top prizes for news coverage and photo package. Additionally, Sports Editor Ryan Arena took first place in the Sports Column category with a couple of columns dealing with the NFL.

The Advertising Department also fared well this year, taking first place in three categories: best staff-generated color ad, best non-retail services ad and best animated online ad.

Finally, L’Observateur took home a first-place plaque for its efforts in community service, specifically for its involvement with a holiday program it conducts with the St. John Parish Young Marines to provide gifts for residents of the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve.

Publisher Sandy Cunningham said she is very proud of the entire staff for all the awards, especially the award for General Excellence, which shows the strength of the newspaper as a whole.

At this year’s convention, the 132nd in the organization’s history, Cunningham relinquished the role of president, which she held for the past two years.

L’Observateur came away from the weekend with a total of 19 awards, including the eight first-place finishes. Other awards included:

• Second place for Best Online Advertising – Single Ad, Animated

• Third place for Best Front Page

• Third place for Best Editorial Page

• Second place for Best Overall Sports Coverage

• Third place for Best Lifestyle Coverage

• Third place for Best Headline

• Third place for Best Sports Photo

• Third place for Best Special Section

• Second place for Multiple Advertiser Page

• Third and Honorable Mention for Advertising Idea/Promotion.