The Selma Times-Journal has once again been named one of the top daily newspapers in Alabama.

The Times-Journal earned second place in the General Excellence Category of the community daily division of the Alabama Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

The award was announced recently during the Alabama Press Association’s Summer Convention in Sandestin, Fla.

For the third consecutive year, the Times-Journal received the second place award, finishing behind The Opelika-Auburn News.

The Times-Journal also earned the second place award in Advertising Sweepstakes, the top overall advertising award, and second place for Best Newspaper Website.

Additionally, the newspaper won third place in Freedom on Information/First Amendment Award for an editorial calling on the Selma Police Department to release video of an officer-involved shooting.

“Being honored by our peers as one of the best community daily newspapers in Alabama is certainly an honor for our staff, but it’s also something Selma and Dallas County should be proud of,” said Times-Journal Publisher Dennis Palmer. “Not only does our community have the oldest daily newspaper in the state, it also has one of the best, and folks should be pretty proud of that. The staff of the newspaper works extremely hard and is very committed to producing quality journalism and advertising content for our friends and neighbors, and I could not be more proud of each of them for being recognized for their hard work.”

In addition to the major awards, the Times-Journal staff earned additional honors:

*Most Improved among community daily newspapers

*First place in Best Economic Coverage category

*First place in Best News Photo category for an image Jay Sowers took of former Selma City Schools Superintendent Gerald Shirley’s reaction to the Alabama Department of Education’s decision to take over the school system.

*First place in Best Use of Social Media category for Gridiron magazine cover contest on Facebook.

*Second place in the Best Editorial Page or Section category

*Second place in the Best Layout and Design category

*Second place in the Best Presswork category

*Second place in the Best Use of Photos/Editorial Content category

*Second place in the Best Special Section category for “Horizons 2014.”

*Second place in the Best Photo Essay for photos Jay Sowers took at Leika’s preschool graduation.

*Second place in the Best Sports Photo for an image Jay Sowers took of a high jumper at the AISA State Track Meet at Memorial Stadium.

*Second place in the Best Headline category “Reunited: And it feels so good for classic car owner” by Justin Averette.

*Third place in Best Local Education Coverage.

*Third place in the Best Editorial Column/Commentary for the column “More Questions Should Have Been Asked” by Josh Bergeron.

*Third place in the Best Online Breaking-News Coverage for updates on the Alabama Department of Education’s decision to take of the Selma City Schools system.

*Third place in the Creative Use of Social Media for photo galleries from Central Alabama Fair pageants by Alaina Denean Deshazo.

In addition to the second place Advertising Sweepstakes award, the Times-Journal staff won the following awards for advertising produced for its clients:

*First place in the Best Niche Publication category for Selma The Magazine.

*First place in the Best Original/Creative Idea category for the Spring Spruce Up page.

*Second place in the Best Presentation of Online Advertising category.

*Second place in the Best Innovative Online Advertising category.

*Second place in the Best Online Revenue Building category for veterans’ subscription campaign.

*Third place in the Best Regularly Scheduled Special Section for Dallas County’s Women In Business.

*Third place in the Best Signature Page category for Mothers Day page.

*Third place in the Best Classified Display Ad category for Fuller Building Supply ad by Bill Tomey.

*Third place in the Best Online Revenue Building category for newspaper’s 187th anniversary subscription campaign.

The contest was judged by the Tennessee Press Association.