Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
KNOXVILLE, April 14, 2020 - Becky Jane Newbold, managing editor of the Lewis County Herald, has won the Tennessee Press Association’s (TPA) 2019 Public Notice Journalism Contest.
The contest recognizes journalists who use public notice, or the lack of required public notice, to raise awareness of its importance.
The judge wrote, “The Lewis County Herald wins the 2019 TPA Public Notice Journalism Contest for its comprehensive coverage of the failure of the Hohenwald City Council and other local governing bodies to adequately notify citizens of upcoming public meetings.
“Becky Jane Newbold exposed the city’s practice of not using the local newspaper to notify residents of upcoming matters. Instead of using the dominant local source of information, the city posted flyers at select public buildings and sometimes on its Facebook page.
“The Council changed its public notice policy after citizens showed up at a Council meeting to complain about not being told that the Codes Appeal Board was discussing plans to store 2,000 gallons of racing fuel in their neighborhood. They missed the flyers at the library and city hall but not in the Herald which reported it later.”
The judge also awarded an honorable mention to Tracey Wolfe of Grainger Today, writing, “After Grainger Today reported in June (2019) that the Town of Bean Station ‘may have violated’ state purchasing laws by not advertising a notice for competitive bids to build $12,500 in new parking spaces. Bean Station, as quickly as July 17 adopted its first-ever purchasing policy.”
Newbold’s entry has been advanced to the national contest, which is part of the National Newspaper Association’s contest and the award is sponsored by the Public Notice Resource Center.
A TPA plaque and prize of $200 are scheduled to be presented on September 24, 2020 as part of the TPA State Press Contests Awards dinner in Pigeon Forge.
This competition marked the fifth year of the TPA Public Notice Journalism Contest.
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