Observer staff earns top honors in news contest
Coastal Observer staff won 20 awards for writing, photography and design – including the President’s Cup for excellence among mid-sized weeklies – in the S.C. Press Associatioin’s annual news contest.
It was the 10th time the paper received the President’s Cup in its circulation category since the award was created in 2008. The contest was for work in 2024.
The Observer also won first place for General Excellence among newspapers in its circulation category for the second year in a row. The judges called it a “a strong newspaper with great photos and writing.”
Charles Swenson won four first place awards for design: Page One for July 4th (“Beautiful design with dominant art and package that draws readers in,” the judges said); Feature Page for a story about boiled peanuts (“I love everything about this”); Inside Page for an article about underwater archaeologists; and Photo Page for holiday ice skating in Georgetown that judges said “flowed well” with photos that “were very well conceived.”
Swenson won first place for Editorial Writing among all weekly papers. Judges cited the “well-written, well-reasoned editorials that take on some tough issues and some not always popular stances.”
Chris Sokoloski won first place for Profile Feature Writing for a story about Father Barry Stopfel, who was part of a heresy trial 30 years ago. Judges called it a “great look into the challenges and rewards of an individual life.”
Sokoloski also won first place for General News Photo for a picture of Bethany Giles surrounded by a cheering crowd after she was named Georgetown County school superintendent. Judges cited the photo for “catching the raw emotions of excitement in the audience and Ms. Giles’ smile makes this a winning photo.”
Sokoloski also won first place for Photo Series for coverage of the Buddy Ball baseball game for kids with disabilities. “Captures actions and emotions so well,” judges said of the images.
Swenson won second place in the category for a photo of the angry audience reaction to the county’s approval of the land use element of the comprehensive plan.
Sokoloski’s photo of a fan who ran from the stands to tackle a wrestler during a Waccamaw High match won second place for Spot News Photo.
Swenson won first place for Humorous Photo for a picture of a runner wearing bunny ears during the Race for the Inlet.
He won second place for Pictorial for an imge of mist rising around the Folds of Honor display of American flag.
Swenson also won second place awards for Enterprise Reporting for a story about turtle hatchlings that were drawn to their death by beachfront lights; for Beat Reporting for coverage of the environment; and for Short Story for coverage of Midway Fire Rescue’s 9/11 anniversary ceremony.
He won third place for Growth and Development coverage.
Sokoloski won second place for Lifestyle Feature Writing for an article about the mothers of children with disabilities who are living independently for the first time.
Beaches, the paper’s special summer section, won second place as best Feature Section or Magazine.
