PBN takes Business Story prize in R.I. Press contest

THE ANNUAL RIPA BANQUET celebrated work from 29 publications across the state, and also featured the awarding of two scholarships and three inductions into the Rhode Island Journalism Hall of Fame.

By PBN Staff

WARWICK – The Providence Business News took home three awards from the Rhode Island Press Association’s 2007 editorial contest, including first place in the “Business Story” category, for “Tenants feel abandoned in historic downcity mall,” the Jan. 15, 2007, story about the sparsely leased Arcade in Providence.

The annual awards banquet, held at the Crowne Plaza at the Crossings in Warwick, celebrated work from 29 publications across the state. Winning entries came from 10 different newspapers and magazines.

In addition to its first-place award, PBN also received two third-place awards, one for “Forgoing profits to save theaters,” an Aug. 13 piece on theaters turning nonprofit in order to stay financially viable; and the other for headline writing.

The Newport Daily News and The Providence Journal both collected six first-place awards apiece, while the Westerly Sun and Rhode Island Monthly each earned first-place honors in five categories.

Besides the RIPA awards, the Friday event also featured the official induction of the 2008 class of the Rhode Island Journalism Hall of Fame. Honored as the hall’s 64th, 65th and 66th members were Rudi Hempe of the North Kingstown Standard Times, for service to RIPA and to journalism; the late Luis Martins, who covered the Portuguese community for East Bay Publications; and Ken Weber, now a nature writer for The Providence Journal.

“There were several other good candidates, so we will have strong groups to pick from in the near future,” Hall of Fame committee spokesman Leonard Levin had said in a statement after the three were elected in February.

The association also awarded two $1,000 scholarships to two college journalism students: John Crisafulli of Bryant University and Rob Preliasco of the University of Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Press Association has been promoting the interests of newspapers and other publications, and advancing journalism standards and educational opportunities in the state, since 1886. For more information, go to www.ripress.org.