For the second year in a row, the Concord Monitor won first place for General Excellence, the top award for large news organizations in the state from the New Hampshire Press Association.

In addition, the Monitor and its staff won three other first-place awards in government reporting for its Counting Cops series, business reporting for its Two New Hampshires profile of the tourist economy of Meredith, while reporter Michaela Towfighi was named the Rookie of the Year. Sports reporter Eric Rynston-Lobel finished in second place for Rookie of the Year.

The Monitor received three second-place awards for environmental reporting for its Landfill Landscape series, investigative reporting for Counting Cops, and the Community Service Award category for its annual Impact Report. Reporter Paul Cuno-Booth took third place in investigative reporting writing for the Monitor and the Granite State New Collaborative for his series of stories on the State Police Mobile Enforcement Team called ”Why Did I Get Stopped.”

“The New Hampshire Press Association awards are a testament to the excellent journalism published across the state, in news organizations large and small, every day,” said Monitor Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Van Fleet. “We are honored to be recognized.”

From the judgesCounting Cops, first place for government reporting, written by Cassidy Jensen, who now works for the Baltimore Sun:

“One might scratch their head at a series focused solely on counting cops — isn’t having more cops a good thing? Are communities actually upset if their elected leaders are spending more than they realize on public safety? But over the course of five days, Cassidy Jensen shared with us exactly why this should matter to readers, and makes it matter. Not as a judgment to policing, but in simply ensuring that precious taxpayer dollars are being used appropriately. The stories talk to experts, government officials — even some of the new hires themselves, telling their stories — in the kind of coverage other journalists should take note.”

Two New Hampshires: Meredith, first place for business reporting, written by Towfighi:

“A wonderful series that pulls back the curtain on the challenges facing New Hampshire’s boom-to-bust tourist towns, using Meredith as Exhibit A. Excellent concept and execution made all the more memorable by reporter Michaela Towfighi’s engaging writing. Best in a strong category.”

Rookie of the year, first place for Towfighi:

“Solid, thoughtful work on topics of community concern. Good, well-sourced reports that include enough data to underscore issues but not so much that readers’ eyes glaze over.”

Rookie of the year, second place for Rynston-Lobel:

“A good sportswriter is a valuable thing, and the Monitor is lucky to have one in Eric Rynston-Lobel. Good job extending the sports beat past play-by-play and into the human stories that readers stay for.”
Landfill Landscape, second place for environmental reporting, written by reporter Sruthi Gopalakrishnan:

“In this well-written story, Sruthi Gopalakrishnan gives readers an enlightening look at the status of the state’s landfills. The article reveals the limited oversight of the trash being brought to the state’s landfills, much of it from out-of-state. The reporter’s overview of landfill regulations in NH’s neighboring states supplies context. Also kudos to the Concord Monitor for surveying communities to find out what sort of stories they want to read in the new “Environmental Reporting Lab.” Solid waste was a top concern and Gopalakrishnan’s story launched the series.”

Impact Report, second place for Community Service Award, Monitor staff:

“More than ever, the public needs to understand the importance of what we do. This special supplement does just that. It’s well-designed, concise, and informative, providing a record of the Monitor’s impact and sharing it with the community.”

Monitor daily reporting, first place general excellence:

“The Giant pumpkin piece was pretty awesome. Impact report to readers is a great idea and wonderfully executed. Readers should be proud of this paper.”

Other finalists for General Excellence in the large news category were the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News and the Conway Daily Sun.

The Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, owned by Newspapers of New England, the parent company of the Concord Monitor, won General Excellence for small news organizations.