INDIANAPOLIS

The Tribune was the best newspaper in its division Saturday during the 2018 Hoosier State Press Association Foundation Better Newspaper Contest.

The General Excellence award is based on points accumulated by the newspaper in individual categories. It was the third time in four years that The Tribune earned that honor in its contest category.

That honor was among 19 awards earned by The Tribune’s news staff during the 52nd annual contest. The Tribune competed in Division 3 for newspapers with paid circulation less than 5,000.

Besides the General Excellence award, The Tribune staff won 12 first-place awards, four second-place awards and two third-place awards. The contest period covered entries between July 1, 2017, and April 30, 2018.

First-place awards went The Tribune staff for:

Best News Coverage Under Deadline Pressure for “Crash leads to chemical fire”

Best Editorial Writer

Best Sports Section

Best Use of Graphics

Best Feature Section or Page(s)

Community Service

Best Newspaper Design

Best Website

Reporter Zach Spicer earned first-place awards for:

Best News Coverage With No Deadline Pressure for “Second chances”

Best In-Depth Feature or Feature Package for “Ride of his life”

Best General News Photo for “Colors!”

Photographer Aaron Piper earned first-place honors for:

Best Multiple Picture Group for “Scale Masters”

The Tribune staff also won second-place awards for Best Editorial Page and Best Feature Section or Page(s), while Spicer earned thirds for his “Seniors” photo in the Best Portrait and “Balloon glow” in the Best Multiple Picture Group. Piper won second-place awards for “Hand wave” and “Diver.”

The Tribune is part of AIM Media Indiana.