World Journal named state’s best weekly newspaper – again

Mark Craddock wins an unprecedented 17 awards in annual statewide competition

OUR WORLD — For the third straight year, the World Journal has been named the best newspaper in its class in the 2023 Colorado Press Association Better News Media Competition. Once again, the World Journal bested the state’s largest weekly newspapers – including Denver’s Westword, Colorado Politics, the Villager (Greenwood Village), and The Weekly Register Call (Idaho Springs) – to take the top honors.

The World Journal also received the sweepstakes award for best use of photos and design.

Individually, World Journal staff members received 26 awards for work done in 2022, judged this year by the New York Press Association.

Mark Craddock led the way with an unprecedented 17 awards – the most ever won by an individual in a contest year, according to CPA archives — spanning eight reporting categories, three photo categories and two design categories.

Geri Ugolini-Craddock received five awards for photojournalism – more than half of the total photo honors awarded this year.

Collectively, the husband-and-wife duo of Mark and Geri won every photo award bestowed this year.

Eric Mullens won two editorial awards, including breaking-news reporting and opinion writing.

Columnist Ken Saydak won one award for serious column writing.

Publisher/Art Director Brian Orr won one award for best house ad and Publisher /Editor Gretchen Sporleder-Orr shared a page-design award with Craddock.

The honors were announced Saturday night, at the conclusion of the CPA’s annual convention in Denver.

Following is a comprehensive breakdown of this year’s awards:

Brian Orr – 1 award

* Best House Ad, 1^st place

Eric Mullens – 2 awards

* Breaking News Reporting, 2^nd place

* Opinion Writing, 2^nd place

Ken Saydak – 1 award

* Best Serious Column, 2^nd place

Geri Ugolini-Craddock – 5 awards

* Best Feature Photo, 1^st and 2^nd place

* Best Sports Photo, 2^nd place

* Photo Portfolio, 2^nd place

* Photoesay, 1^st place

Mark Craddock – 17 awards

Editorial:

* Business Reporting, 2^nd place

* Education Reporting, 2^nd place

* Environmental Reporting 2^nd place

* Headline Writing, 1^st place

* Health Reporting, 1^st place

* Best News Story, 1^st and 2^nd place

* Opinion Writing, 1^st place

* Best Series, 1^st place

Photo and design:

* Best Infographic, 1^st and 2^nd place

* Page Design, 1^st and 2^nd place (2^nd place shared with Gretchen Sporleder-Orr)

* Best News Photo, 1^st and 2^nd place

* Best Sports Photo, 1^st place

* Photo Portfolio, 1^st place

Overall Newspaper Awards

General Excellence – Class 7

Sweepstakes – Best photo and design – Class 7