Register named best newspaper at KPA awards, Hutchinson wins Journalist of the Year
Jan. 30—The Richmond Register was named the best newspaper in its division Friday night by the Kentucky Press Association (KPA) for their coverage of Madison County in 2022.
The Richmond Register staff won a total of 36 awards Friday night from the Kentucky Press Association and earned first place in General Excellence — for the second year in a row — for multi-weekly newspapers of its size.
Staff members earned 34 individual awards, and sports editor Nathan Hutchinson was named the 2022 Journalist of the Year for his outstanding work in sports and news writing, column writing, videography, photography, and design.
Former Register reporter Taylor Six was given the Jon Fleischaker Freedom of Information Award for her investigative work regarding the Valley View Ferry.
Register staff members earned 14 first place awards and swept four categories in the contest, including Best Columnist, Best Ongoing Extended Coverage, Best Lede, Best Use of Social Media, and Best Video.
"Congratulations to the entire team, but especially to Editor Ricki Pryor for her talent and editorial leadership, and to Sports Editor Nathan Hutchinson for a well-deserved and overdue honor for Reporter of the Year," said Richmond Register Publisher Gary Tyler. "The number of awards the Register won is truly humbling, but not surprising. The editorial team, as well as the entire staff at the Richmond Register, are 100% dedicated to providing our readers with quality stories and news. This dedication is why more people read our stories today than ever before — whether they find them in print, online, through our videos, or social media."
Hutchinson won a total of 13 awards — the highest number among the staff — and earned top spots in four categories. He won first place for Best Sports Story for his article on the Madison Southern boys basketball team's historic win against Paul Laurence Dunbar in the 11th Region Tournament in 2022. Judges praised his "emphasis on the team's battle cry, which helped draw the reader into the story."
The sports editor took home first place honors for Best Sports Picture with a photo of a high school golfer that KPA judges deemed "impressive." He also won Best General News Picture for a shot taken at Dreaming Creek's first ever dog show. Hutchinson took the top spot for design and content in the Best Sports Page category.
The Register sports editor also earned nods in the Best Extended Coverage category for his articles on the abuse allegations in the Eastern Kentucky University softball program, as well as Best Columnist/Sports Columnist categories. Judges praised Hutchinson's humor and honesty in his column writing, noting "each column hit the target." Hutchinson earned a certificate of merit for Best Use of Social Media.
Editor Ricki Pryor received nine awards from the KPA, including five first place finishes. She won both first and second place for Best Feature Story for her Madison Magazine article on the Solidago restaurant in Paint Lick and a news story regarding a local cattle dog training retreat. The KPA judges noted the Solidago article was "well written... and explained well what a genuine commitment to community looks like" and praised her "great use of language" in the dog training feature.
Her coverage of the petition for countywide alcohol sales on the Pryority Report won first place for Best Video. Pryor also earned top marks for her design work. She won first place in the Best Special Section category for The Register's Madison Magazine, as well as Best Front Page. She was named the Best Columnist with the judges noting "This writer touches all the bases with her engaging, informative, humorous, and well-written columns." She also received awards for her editorial writing.
Six took home seven awards on Friday for her work at the Register in 2022. She won Best General News Story for coverage of a standoff and devastating fire in Richmond at a local apartment complex. Six earned the top spot in the Best Enterprise of Analytical Story category for her coverage of the opioid epidemic in Madison County and Best Investigative Story or Series for her articles on the Valley View Ferry. She also won Best Ongoing/Extended Coverage Story for articles on faulty fire hydrants and Best Lede. Judges praised Six's "jaw dropping" story on the faulty fire hydrants and "enticing ledes." She also took home honors for column writing.
Blake Vickers earned second and third place nods for Best Breaking News Photo and Best Breaking News Coverage for the arrest of murder suspect Shannon Gilday.
Former Register summer intern Debra Murray won second and third place for Best Analytical Story about the effects of climate change locally and Best Breaking News Photo for a shot of women's rights activists at a protest regarding the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Murray also won the Jon Fleischaker Freedom of Information Award in the collegiate division.
The Register competed in the multi-weekly category based on circulation. This division includes newspapers in cities such as Frankfort, Corbin and Bardstown. The awards were based on content published in 2022, and categories were judged by members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
"I'm so proud of my talented staff for their hard work and determination this past year to keep delivering the best in-depth coverage we can to Madison County. The awards they received on Friday night were well-earned, and I'm pleased the outstanding work of our local journalists is being recognized. The Register strives to be a leader in the state for its comprehensive coverage, investigative work, strong community columns and editorials, and innovative use of multimedia," Register Editor Ricki Pryor said. "To be named the best multi-weekly newspaper in the state by an impartial group of peers is very rewarding. I'm also grateful to the Register's many supporters, readers, subscribers, and advertisers who help make our work possible. Your support is meaningful, and I hope the community views these awards as a shared win for Madison County."
The full list of awards can be found below:
FIRST PLACE
Nathan Hutchinson, Best Sports Story
Nathan Hutchinson, Best General News Picture
Nathan Hutchinson, Best Sports Picture
Nathan Hutchinson, Best Sports Page
Ricki Pryor, Best Feature Story
Ricki Pryor, Best Columnist
Ricki Pryor, Best Video
Ricki Pryor, Best Special Section
Ricki Pryor, Best Front Page
Taylor Six, Best Lede
Taylor Six, Best Ongoing/Extended Coverage
Taylor Six, Best Investigative Series
Taylor Six, Best Enterprise/Analytical Story
Taylor Six, Best General News Story
SECOND PLACE
Blake Vickers, Best Breaking News Picture
Debra Murray, Best Enterprise/Analytical Story
Nathan Hutchinson, Best Sports Columnist
Nathan Hutchinson, Best Ongoing/Extended Coverage
Nathan Hutchinson, Best Video
Nathan Hutchinson, Best Sports Picture Essay
Josh Pryor, Best General News Picture
Ricki Pryor, Best Feature Story
Ricki Pryor, Best Lede
Taylor Six, Best Columnist
THIRD PLACE
Blake Vickers, Best Breaking News Coverage
Debra Murray, Best Breaking News Picture
Nathan Hutchinson, Best Columnist
Nathan Hutchinson, Best Sports Feature Story
Nathan Hutchinson, Best Sports Picture Essay
Richmond Register Staff, Best Ongoing/Extended Coverage
Ricki Pryor, Best Editorial Writer
Ricki Pryor, Best Video
