First place award for column writing

A few years back, a left-wing blogger referred to me as a "shameless self-promoter" because I posted something about a national award I won for my newspaper columns.

If that liberal blogger is still around, he's not going to like this post either.

The Mercury won three awards in its circulation category in the annual Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors contest.

This is from The Associated Press story listing the winners:

The Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors announced winners of the group's annual writing and photo contests.

Cash awards will be presented to the first-place winners at the annual PAPME awards dinner in Harrisburg on May 14.

The entries were judged by editors at AP member newspapers in Colorado and Utah.

Judges selected a "Best of Show" winner across all circulation divisions, and a photographer to receive the Paul Vathis Memorial Photography Portfolio Award, in honor of the late Pulitzer Prize-winning AP photographer from Pennsylvania. Winners for both prizes will be revealed at the award ceremony.

CIRCULATION 15,000-30,000

WRITING
Column
First: Tony Phyrillas, The Mercury, "Gov. Rendell is turning into a Republican"
Second: Nancy March, The Mercury, "Telling your stories is a privilege"

Public Service
First: Centre Daily Times Staff, Centre Daily Times, "Binge Drinking"
Second: Nancy March, Evan Brandt, The Mercury, "Borough on the brink"

You can read the full award-winning entry, "Gov. Rendell is turning into a Republican," at The Mercury's Web site.