Up & Coming Weekly received six North Carolina Press Association awards and two Association of Community Publisher awards in recent competitions.

“Having Up & Coming Weekly's writers, designers and editors recognized and honored for excellence by our peers in the newspaper and media industry speaks volumes to the talent, dedication, professionalism, passion and commitment they have to the mission of a community newspaper,” Publisher Bill Bowman said.

“Up & Coming Weekly continues to focus on the people, businesses, organizations and issues that define the purpose, value and effectiveness of a genuine ‘community’ newspaper,” Bowman said. “This kind of passion and pride cannot be taught or manufactured. It comes from the heart and pours into the community through relevant news stories, fantastic art and artistry, thought-provoking insights, and sometimes even funny and whimsical tales. Together it’s a near-perfect repertoire for an effective and successful community newspaper.”

North Carolina Press Association
NCPA’s advertising and editorial contest is one of the largest in the nation, with over 4,000 entries submitted by more than 125 newspapers and news organizations.

Up & Coming Weekly competes in Division B, which represents community newspapers with a circulation between 3,500 to 10,000. Entries are judged by newspaper professionals from another state to ensure impartiality and avoid conflicts of interest.

Intern Writer R. Elgin Zeiber took home first place for Arts and Entertainment Reporting for his article “Local duo makes impact through music, service to others locally and around the world.” The article details the start of Cabin Fever Studio, a professional recording studio that sits nestled inside a log cabin one block south of eastern Raeford Road.

The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/entertainment/9409-local-duo-makes-impact-through-music-service-to-others-locally-and-around-the-world.

Columnist Pitt Dickey took home second place for Lighter Columns for a series of his articles. Dickey's columns appear biweekly.“Going goblin mode, with a side of gaslighting” was one of the articles submitted for the award. It can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/local-news-briefs/9339-going-goblin-mode-with-a-side-of-gaslighting

Kathleen Ramsey took home third place for Business Writing for her article, “Curate Essentials: An herbal apothecary and boutique in the heart of Haymount Hill.” The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/entertainment/8882-curate-essentials-an-herbal-apothecary-and-boutique-in-the-heart-of-haymount-hill.

Contributing writer Rabbi Dov Goldberg received third place for Religion & Faith Reporting for his article, “Dreidel offers a new spin on Hanukkah, cultural sharing.” The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/9369-dreidel-offers-a-new-spin-on-hanukkah-cultural-sharing.

Graphics Designer Isaiah Jones received two awards in advertising. He received two first-place wins in Food Ads and Entertainment Ads. Those awards were the “Pates Farm Market” ad and the “New Years Eve Party 80s Style” ad.

Association of Community Publishers
The Association of Community Publishers represents community publications from coast to coast, reaching millions of homes on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis. These publications are united in providing the best advertising coverage to their clients and valuable advertising information to their strong and loyal readership base.

Columnist Margaret Dickson received first place for Best Opinion Article. “Ostriches put their heads in the sand out of fear,” was one of the articles submitted for the award. The story can be found online at https://www.upandcomingweekly.com/views/8969-ostriches-put-their-heads-in-the-sand-out-of-fear.

Up & Coming Weekly also received second place for best Front Page Cover for Newsprint. The cover with the honorable award was the July 19 issue featuring the 7th Annual Midsummer Magic event, designed by Arts Director Courtney Sapp-Scott. The cover can be seen at http://www.epageflip.net/i/1473705-july-19-2022/1.

“Recognition by our peers in the industry is encouraging,” said Managing Editor April Olsen. “It is a source of pride for our team and reminds us to continue our focus on providing articles that inspire, inform and help promote people and organizations in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.”