Charlottesville Tomorrow wins 11 first-place Virginia Press Association awards

The Virginia Press Association on April 30 announced the winners of its 2019 News & Advertising Contest. Charlottesville Tomorrow’s staff won 11 first-place awards.

Charlotte Rene Woods, MHJ Media and former staff writer Emily Hays shared a first-place award for their video interview of writer and historian Ibram X. Kendi and Jefferson School African American Heritage Center Executive Director Andrea Douglas. Jordy Yager came in first in the multimedia report category for The Reimagining of Friendship Court. Michael Holroyd placed first for his graphic accompanying Hays’ article on the Cherry Avenue Small Area Plan and what it means for the Fifeville neighborhood.

Hays won two first-place awards for data journalism and feature profile writing; Billy Jean Louis won two for education and feature story writing; Woods won two for breaking news and feature story writing; and freelance photographer Zack Wajsgras won two in the picture story or essay and slideshow and gallery categories.

Hays won five second-place awards, Woods won three and Wajsgras won one. Freelance photographer Mike Kropf won an third-place award, and Hays won one. Woods and News Editor Elliott Robinson shared a third-place award.

Charlottesville Tomorrow competed in the VPA’s online category and tied with the Virginia Mercury for first-place wins. Other internet-only outlets in the category include What’s Up Prince William and Fauquier Now. Other major awards — such as the Sweepstakes, Best in Show and Outstanding Young Journalist — are scheduled to be announced in the fall at an in-person or virtual awards gathering. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the awards were set to be announced April 4 in Roanoke.