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The Tidewater News won 31 awards, including 12 first-place awards, and was honored with the Grand Sweepstakes and Advertising Sweepstakes awards in the Virginia Press Association’s 2021 News and Advertising Contest.

The awards were announced through a virtual ceremony Thursday morning, April 28.

This is the ninth time The Tidewater News has won the Advertising Sweepstakes and the eighth time it has won the Grand Sweepstakes.

The Tidewater News competes in the VPA’s Non-Daily 2 category against other papers throughout the state that publish from one-to-three times per week. 

The Advertising Sweepstakes award honors the newspaper that wins the most points across all categories in the advertising contest. First-place awards receive three points, followed by second-place awards receiving two points and third-place receiving one point.

The Grand Sweepstakes award combines points accrued by the newspaper in the news and advertising contests. 

The Tidewater News Publisher Betty Ramsey had this to say: “Once again this team has been recognized by our peers to be the best of the best in class, which is an incredible honor. Hard work, teamwork and going the extra mile is something this team knows how to do — and it shows.”

In the newsroom Titus Mohler received a first-place award for his feature writing portfolio. A judge’s comment included, “Writer lets subjects tell the story which I found very enjoyable. Felt like I was sitting in a room hearing the story firsthand.” Mohler was also part of the team that received a first-place award for the 2022 Photo Calendar. In addition, he received two third-place awards for business writing and picture story or essay photography. 

For design Loretta Lomax received a first-place award for sports pages and a third-place award for general make-up. The judges had this to say: “Nice layout. You were able to incorporate a lot of content while still keeping a clean, easy-to-follow design. Good variation on feature and community pages.” In addition, Lomax scored a first-place award as part of the team for the 2022 Photo Calendar. In advertising Lomax received second-place awards for Ivor Furniture, third-place awards for Holiday Shopping, The Tidewater News Hometown Choice Awards, Progress 2021, Southern Charm, Maplewood Matrimony and BCB Vacation Bible School. 

Advertising Director Mitzi Lusk received 19 individual awards, an incredible eight first-place awards, six second-place awards and five third-place awards. Lusk received first-place awards for a Breast Cancer Awareness page, Hubs Peanuts, 2022 Photo Calendar, Walters Outdoor, Parker Oil, Rose & Womble, Belmont Peanuts and Southampton Towing ads. She received second-place awards for Wydia’s Easter Menu, KB’s Car Wash, The Children’s Center, Ambani Barber Shop, Southampton Towing and the Hunterdale Fire Department ads. Third-place awards were for Holiday Shopping, The Tidewater News Hometown Choice Awards, Rose & Womble, Century 21 and V’s Goat Yoga ads.

Rounding out our team for 2021 is Office Manager Michelle Gray. Ask anyone on The Tidewater News staff and they’ll be quick to tell you — we couldn’t do it without Michelle. 

Below are the awards won by The Tidewater News staff: 

First place

Automotive Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Entertainment Advertising — Loretta Lomax

Fashion and Personal Care Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Feature Writing — Titus Mohler

Food and Drug Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Home and Garden Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Multiple Advertiser and Themed Pages — Mitzi Lusk

Pictorial Photo — Stephen H. Cowles

Real Estate Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Slick Publications — Staff

Small Space Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Sports Pages Design — Loretta Lomax

Second place 

Automotive Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Education, Churches and Organizations Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Digital Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Fashion and Personal Care Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Food and Drug Advertising — Loretta Lomax

Home and Garden Advertising — Loretta Lomax

Small Space Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Third place

Education, Churches and Organizations Advertising — Loretta Lomax

Entertainment Advertising — Loretta Lomax

Business and Financial Writing — Titus Mohler

Digital Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

General Make-up Design — Loretta Lomax

Home and Garden Advertising — Loretta Lomax

Multiple Advertisers and Themed Pages — Mitzi Lusk and Loretta Lomax

Picture Story or Essay Photography — Titus Mohler

Real Estate Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Slick Publications — Loretta Lomax

Small Space Advertising — Mitzi Lusk

Special Sections — Mitzi Lusk, Loretta Lomax and Lindsay Richardson