The Virginia Mercury earns eight Virginia Press Association awards

In the Virginia Press Association’s annual News and Advertising Contest, the Virginia Mercury’s 2023 reporting and columns earned eight awards, including three first place honors. The Mercury’s columnists also swept the online column writing category, winning first, second and third place awards. 

Hundreds of journalists, editors and advertising staff from newsroom across Virginia gathered at the Omni Hotel in Charlottesville on Saturday, May 5 for the awards banquet. Jason Roop, owner of PR firm Springstory and former editor of Style Weekly, co-hosted the event with Courteney Stuart, host of Charlottesville Right Now. Roop said there were over 2,600 pieces of work entered in the competition, which was judged by members of the Missouri Press Association. Here’s a breakdown of the Mercury’s wins.

First place awards

Senior Reporter Graham Moomaw earned a first place award in the Business and Financial writing (online) category. His winning portfolio of stories included:

• With court case stalled, skill-game industry keeps cash flowing to Virginia politicians
• Can Virginia lawmakers find a way to fix the state’s ‘weird’ weed laws?
• Virginia lawmakers consider restoring part of tax deduction for sports betting apps

Reporter Nathaniel Cline took home a first place award in the Education Writing (online) category. His winning stories:

• Virginia student homelessness numbers near pre-pandemic levels
• In Virginia, school board will be the primary deciders on AP African American studies
• Uncertain timetable on budget puts Virginia schools in tight spot on hiring

The Mercury’s Editor-in-Chief Samantha Willis earned a first place award in the Column Writing (online) category. The stories that clinched the prize for Willis:

• Given a chance to apologize for the theft of a Black man’s heart, House Republicans declined.
• Studies, class-action suit link hair relaxers to cancer; Black women in Virginia are at risk
• Hanover school board referendum is an opportunity to see democracy in action

Second place awards

Reporter Charlie Paullin received the second place award in the Business and Financial Writing (online) category. His silver medal stories:

• After Siemens turbine plant cancellation, can Hampton Roads still be a hub for offshore wind?
• Four takeaways from Southwest Virginia’s critical mineral investigation
• Republicans say a Virginia blue catfish industry could help protect the Bay

The Mercury’s former Editor-in-Chief Sarah Vogelsong, along with Moomaw, jointly won a second place honor in the General News Writing (online) category. Some of their winning stories:

• Republicans and Democrats both want to make life cheaper for Virginians. They disagree on how.
• As Virginia budget negotiations drag on, here’s what hangs in the balance
• Norment says political primaries are factor in Virginia’s unresolved budget impasse
• After six-month delay, Virginia General Assembly passes budget bill 

Columnist Bob Lewis was named second-place winner in the Column Writing (online) category. His standout commentary:

• Again, Virginia looks to land major pro sports, but at what cost?
• In Virginia, people suffering mental health crisis too often become felons when police intervene
• The quiet resolve of election eve: A remembrance 

Third place awards

Moomaw scored again in the In Depth or Investigative Reporting (online) category, earning a third place award for a portfolio that included these stories:

• Buckingham registrar charges $200 ‘convenience fee’ in FOIA feud with county official
• Buckingham electoral board fires Republican registrar after less than a month in the job
• After Buckingham, more Virginia registrars find themselves on the chopping block

Last but certainly not least, columnist Roger Chesley completed the Mercury’s trifecta of column writing wins with a third place honor for a body of work that included these pieces:

• Eminent domain’s long-ago racism still hinders African Americans today
• At the very least, Loudoun school official deserves apology from Miyares, Youngkin
• Helping panhandlers involves more than just easing bans on begging

As Mercury staffers celebrate our wins, we also reflect on the readers who make our hard work necessary and worthwhile. Thank you for your continued support of the Virginia Mercury and please consider donating towards our efforts. Congratulations to our colleagues in newsrooms statewide for the awards they earned in this year’s VPA contest!