The Alabama Press Association announced winners of its annual advertising contest last week with The Selma Times-Journal winning eight awards, including four, 1st place awards. The Times-Journal competed in the daily newspaper division B category.

First place awards include best in-paper promotion of newspaper for “What did you do with my Times-Journal,” which was designed by editor Tim Reeves and detailed the newspaper’s recent redesign. Other first place awards were for best signature page for a page promoting the Central Alabama Animal Shelter; best use of humor for an ad for Carpet Plus by Marlene Craft; and best niche publication for Spanish Moss, a quarterly lifestyle magazine focused on the Black Belt area of Alabama.

“Our success in this annual contest is a testament to the professional editorial and advertising salespeople we have on staff who work hard to meet the needs of and get results for our advertisers and readers,” said Times-Journal Publisher Dennis Palmer. “Although I’m personally pleased with each award, the first place award in the niche category for Spanish Moss is especially pleasing. Our staff worked extremely hard in developing the concept for this magazine and they are to be congratulated for producing the best niche magazine in our division in the state.”

The newspaper received second place awards in the best single ad half-page and under black and white ad category for a Holley Farm & Garden ad by Bill Tomey; best single ad half-page and under color for a Pilcher – McBryde ad by Bill Tomey; and for best regularly scheduled special section for the newspaper’s annual Horizon’s section. The newspaper also received a third-place award in the best advertising campaign category for a series of Devoe Paint ads by Marlene Craft.

The press association will announce winners of its highest advertising award, the sweepstakes award, during its annual convention in Orange Beach in June. The Times-Journal won the award in daily division B last year after winning a total of seven awards.

Forty-three newspapers submitted 844 entries in this year’s contest, which was judged by the Mississippi Press Association.

The Alabama Press Association will announce the winners of its Better Newspaper editorial contest later this month.