For the fourth time in six years, The Seattle Medium has been recognized as having one of the “Best Sports Sections” in the county by the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). The Seattle Medium took home first place for “Best Sports Section” beating out The New Pittsburgh Courier and the Houston Defender for top honors at the NNPA Annual Messenger Awards held last week in Nashville, TN.
Competing against over 200 member publications, The Seattle Medium emerged victorious, securing first place in the Best Sports Section category. The esteemed award recognizes the newspaper’s exceptional layout, captivating imagery, and compelling news content across consecutive editions.
The Merit Awards serve as a platform to celebrate the remarkable talent within the Black Press and acknowledge the best of the best in journalism from over 200 publications across the country. According to Chris B. Bennett, Publisher and CEO of the Seattle Medium, the award underscores the publication’s commitment to delivering top-notch sports coverage that resonates with readers and the dedication of the sports staff.
“These awards are very hard to come by,” says Bennett. “There are a lot of organizations that are doing great work in this sector and to be recognized once again as the best sports section in the country is truly and honor.”
The award-winning sports team at The Seattle Medium consists of Aaron Allen (photographer/writer/layout), Adam Myers (photographer), John Saunders (photographer), RayJaun Stelly (writer), Josiah Scott (digital and social media), and Chris B. Bennett. Bennett emphasized that this achievement was not only a reflection of the newspaper’s efforts but also community-wide recognition.
The Seattle Medium’s dedication to showcasing Seattle’s youth sports programs and professional sports has played a vital role in securing this esteemed recognition. The newspaper’s focus on comprehensive coverage, engaging stories, and visually appealing presentation resonated with both the readers and the judging panel. The team’s commitment to going above and beyond, enduring adverse weather conditions and investing long hours, has ultimately paid off.
With the upcoming fall sports season on the horizon, The Seattle Medium’s sports staff is already strategizing ways to elevate their coverage further. Their unwavering pursuit of excellence and determination to be recognized among the best in the industry fuels their continuous efforts to deliver a unique and engaging sports experience to the readers.
“We look at things from a global perspective. We’re not just trying to best at what we do here in Seattle, we’re trying to be the best at what we do period,” says Bennett. “We set a very high bar for ourselves because we always want to be considered among the best of the best in the country and the world. That’s why we continue to evolve and improve our product every which way that we can, so our readers have a great experience but also have something that they can proudly share with people from other parts of the country.”
As The Seattle Medium basks in the glory of its Best Sports Section victory, publisher Chris B. Bennett reiterates the team’s relentless pursuit of excellence. Their aspiration is not merely to be the best in Seattle or Washington state but to be recognized among the finest, regardless of the competition.
