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

The Times-Journal earned second place in General Excellence category of the Alabama Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. The Times-Journal competes in the community daily division with other newspapers with a circulation below 22,000.

The award was announced this past weekend during the Alabama Press Association’s Summer Convention in Sandestin, Florida.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Times-Journal received second place honors, finishing behind The Opelika-Auburn News each year.

The Times-Journal also won second place honors for Best Newspaper Website and First Amendment Award for Justin Averette’s and Sarah Robinson’s coverage of the Selma Police Department releasing video of fatal 2013 officer-involved shooting.

Additionally, the newspaper won third place in Best Public Service for its special edition, “Selma 50: Commemorating the Selma to Montgomery marches.”

“Being honored by our peers as one of the best community daily newspapers is certainly an honor for our staff, but it’s also something Selma and Dallas County should be proud of,” said 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.”

This year’s APA entries were judged by members of the Louisiana Press Association. In addition to the major awards, the Times-Journal staff earned additional honors:

*First place Best Local Economic Coverage.

*First place Best Use of Photographs/Editorial Content.

*First place Best Feature Story for a profile Justin Averette wrote on Congressman John Lewis, who led the Bloody Sunday march with the late Rev. Hosea Williams.

*First place Best Human Interest Column for commentary Justin Averette wrote reflecting on the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and President Barack Obama’s visit to Selma.

*First place Best News Photo for a photo Alaina Deshazo took of Obama with marchers.

*First place Best Sports Photo for a photo Alaina Deshazo took at the Auburn-Ole Miss football game.

*First place Best Photo Essay for images Alaina Deshazo and other staff members took during Obama’s visit.

*First place Best Special Section for “Selma 50.”

*First place Best One Time Special Section (advertising) for “Selma 50.”

*First place Online Break News Coverage for Blake Deshazo’s coverage of Oasis Tabernacle Church shooting.

*First place Best Signature Page for “Law Enforcement Officer Day.”

*First place Best Presentation of Online Advertising.

*Second place Best Layout and Design.

*Second place Best Spot News Story for Blake Deshazo’s coverage of Oasis Tabernacle Church shooting.

*Second place Best Business Story for Justin Averette’s coverage of St. James Hotel.

*Second place Best Sports News In-depth Coverage for Daniel Evans’ and Justin Fedich’s coverage of Concordia College Alabama ending its football program.

*Second place Best Use of Graphics of Illustrations for Justin Averette design of “Splitting Pennies,” which accompanied a story on the county’s half-cent sales tax for schools.

*Second place Best Special Section for “Horizons 2015: Selma in 24 Hours.”

*Second place Creative Use of Multimedia for online coverage of Selma Police Department releasing video from fatal 2013 officer-involved shooting.

*Second place Best Advertising Campaign for Children’s Dentistry of Central Alabama campaign.

*Third place Best Signature Page for “Veterans Day.”

On the same day the APA awards were announced in Sandestin, the Associated Press Managing Editors award were handed out during a banquet in Birmingham. The Times-Journal staff won nine awards, including five first places. This year’s APME awards were judged my member newspapers in Georgia. STJ awards were:

*First place Best Public Service for “Selma 50.”

*First place Best Business Story for Justin Averette’s coverage of St. James Hotel.

*First place Best Portrait for Alaina Deshazo’s image of John Lewis on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

*First place Best Photo Compilation for Bloody Sunday anniversary coverage.

*First place Best Non-Deadline Page Design for Justin Averette’s work on “Selma 50.”

*Second place Freedom of Information for Justin Averette’s and Sarah Robinson’s coverage of Selma Police Department releasing video from fatal 2013 officer-involved shooting.

*Second place Best Deadline Reporting for staff coverage of the President’s visit and 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

*Second place Best Headlines.

*Third place Best Spot News Photo for Alaina Deshazo photo from Oasis Tabernacle Church shooting.