• Virginia Press Association Award for Journalistic Integrity and Community Service, the association’s highest award, went to Local Media Connection/Mount Vernon Gazette for coverage and editorials relating to police reform in Fairfax County.
• Shirley Ruhe, 1st Place, In-Depth or Investigative Reporting, Arlington, Investigative Series-Sex Trafficking
• Mark Mogle, 1st Place, General News Photo, Wreaths Across America, Arlington Connection
• Eden Brown, 1st Place, Education Writing, Arlington Connection
• Shirley Ruhe, 1st Place, Column Writing, People at Work, Alexandria Gazette Packet,
• Jeanne Theismann, 1st Place, Headline Writing, Alexandria Gazette Packet
• Steven Mauren, Mary Kimm, Steve Artley, Geovani Flores and Laurence Foong, 1st Place, Editorial Pages, Alexandria Gazette Packet
• Mark Mogle, 1st Place, Picture Story or Essay, “Plaid Tidings,” Alexandria Gazette Packet
• Tim Peterson, 1st Place, Public Safety Writing, Burke Connection
• Bonnie Hobbs, 1st Place, General News Writing, Fairfax Mayor Caught in Sex-for-Meth Sting, Fairfax Connection
• Joan Brady, 1st Place, Feature Series or Continuing Story, Great Falls Connection,
• Alexandra Greeley, 1st Place, Personal Service Writing, Food Features, Great Falls Connection
• Tim Peterson, 1st Place, Sports Writing Portfolio, Springfield Connection
• John Bordner, 2nd Place, General News Photo, Kluge Farewell, Alexandria Gazette Packet
• Shirley Ruhe, 2nd Place, Feature Series, Homelessness, Arlington Connection
• Kemal Kurspahic and Staff, 2nd Place, General Makeup, Fairfax Connection
• Marilyn Campbell, 2nd Place, Personal Service Writing, Oak Hill/Herndon Connection
• Jon Roetman, 2nd Place, Sports Writing Portfolio, Oak Hill/Herndon Connection
• Shirley Ruhe, 2nd Place, Column Writing, In the Kitchen, Mount Vernon Gazette
• Jean Card, Laurence Foong, Renee Ruggles, 2nd Place, Informational Graphics, Guide to the Parks, Fairfax Station Connection
• Shirley Ruhe, 2nd Place, Personality or Portrait Photo, Vienna-Oakton Connection
• Ken Moore, 2nd Place, Health, Science & Environmental Writing, Great Falls Connection
• Kemal Kurspahic, Andrea Worker, Donald Sweig, Ken Moore, Geovani Flores, Laurence Foong, 3rd Place, Front Page Design, Reston Connection
• Shirley Ruhe, 3rd Place, Personal Service Writing, Arlington Connection
• Steven Mauren, Geovani Flores, Laurence Foong, 3rd Place, General Makeup, Arlington Connection
• Shirley Ruhe, 3rd Place, General News Photo, Arlington Connection
• Eden Brown, 3rd Place, General News Writing, Arlington Connection
• Jeanne Theismann, 3rd Place, Personal Service Writing, Obituaries, Alexandria Gazette Packet
• Steve Artley, 3rd Place, Illustrations, Editorial Cartoon, Alexandria Gazette Packet
• Vernon Miles, 3rd Place, Feature Writing Portfolio, Alexandria Gazette Packet
• Jon Roetman, 3rd Place, Sports Writing Portfolio, McLean Connection
• Jean Card, Laurence Foong, Renee Ruggles, 3rd Place, Informational Graphics, Guide to the Parks, Mount Vernon Gazette
• Tim Peterson, 3rd Place, General News Writing, Mount Vernon Gazette
• Laurence Foong, 3rd Place, Informational Graphics, Real Estate Map, Great Falls
• Mary Kimm, 3rd Place, Editorial Writing, Great Falls Connection
• Ken Moore, 3rd Place, Education Writing, Great Falls Connection
• Ken Moore, 3rd Place, Feature Writing Portfolio, Oak Hill/Herndon Connection

Your Award Winning Papers

Richmond Times-Dispatch (daily) and the Mount Vernon Gazette/Local Media Connection (non-daily), win the Virginia Press Association’s highest awards

Virginia Press Association’s highest award, the VPA Award for Journalistic Integrity and Community Service, went to Local Media Connection/Mount Vernon Gazette for coverage and editorials throughout 2016 relating to police reform in Fairfax County.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch won in the daily category for its series about the death of a mentally ill prisoner, Jamycheal Mitchell, in a Portsmouth Jail.

The judges noted, “The Mount Vernon Gazette covered the complex issue of police reform from February through December 2016, sparked by the shooting of an unarmed man by a Fairfax County police officer. … The Gazette focused community attention on the case, particularly on the efforts of citizens and representatives of law enforcement agencies working together on reforming police practice. This led to the creation and implementation of a Civilian Review Panel to provide oversight of police policy, procedures and activities. … The approach of the Gazette in this matter provides a good illustration of the positive role a community newspaper can play when it takes an activist approach to issues of importance to its readers.” Editor Mary Kimm and reporter Tim Peterson accepted the award.

Virginia Press Association honored its 2016 award winners on Saturday, April 8, 2017 in Richmond at its annual dinner. The Connection papers, including the Alexandria Gazette Packet, garnered more than 35 awards in many categories, including investigative reporting, education coverage, headline writing, photography, column writing, sports writing, obituaries, environmental writing, food writing, graphics, and more.

Shirley Ruhe was the top award winner, earning seven different awards including two first place awards, one for investigative reporter for her series on sex trafficking.

Other first place award winners include photographer Mark Mogle, who also won two first places; Bonnie Hobbs for General News for her coverage of the rise and fall of the mayor of the City of Fairfax; Eden Brown for Education writing; Tim Peterson for Public Safety writing and for Sports writing; Joan Brady for Feature Series on foster care alumni success stories; Jeanne Theismann for headline writing; Alexandra Greeley for food writing. Steven Mauren, editor-in-chief, won first place for Editorial Pages in Alexandria Gazette Packet, along with Mary Kimm, cartoonist Steve Artley, and designers Geovani Flores and Laurence Foong.

— Mary Kimm

mkimm@connectionnewspapers.com