AUGUSTA, Ga. - A Morris Communications
employee today received a prestigious individual award and Morris
online newspapers received four Digital Edge Awards, or "Edgies,"
from the Newspaper Association of America (NAA) during its annual
Connections conference for electronic media taking place July
19-22 in Washington, D.C.
In
granting the distinguished New Media Pioneer award, the New
Media Federation of NAA honored Rob Curley as "a visionary
whose dedication to innovative ideas and willingness to mentor
young leaders have propelled the industry forward." Curley
is manager of the Midwest Content Group for Morris Digital
Works, the online services division of Morris Communications,
as well as director of new media for the Morris-owned Topeka
(Kan.) Capital-Journal.
SavannahNOW.com
(www.savannahnow.com),
the online news site of the Savannah Morning News,
was named Best News Site in its circulation category of less
than 75,000. Judges noted Savannah's "innovative multimedia
features," its local information guides and "very useful events
calendar."
Other Morris
awards went to:
- The Augusta
(Ga.)Chronicle: Best Vertical Site; 75,000-250,000
circulation category; Golfing News and Scores (http://golfnews.augustachronicle.com)
- CJ Online/The
Topeka Capital-Journal: Best Sales Campaign; less than
75,000 circulation category; CatZone - UMB Bank Sponsorship.
(www.cjonline.com/catzone)
- CJ Online/The
Topeka Capital-Journal: Best Classified Use of New Media;
less than 75,000 circulation category; Topeka Homefinder.com.
(www.cjonline.com/homefinder)
"I am very, very pleased that
we continue to show leadership in the digital publishing arena,"
said President Will Morris, "and I'm extremely proud of Rob
Curley. Our entire online services group is blessed with incredible
talent."
Michael
Romaner, director of Morris Digital Works and current
president of the New Media Federation, said that innovation
and creativity in digital media are "helping to lead newspapering
into the next generation."
Romaner
added, "Nothing energizes you more than a vote of confidence
from your peers. Our collection of Edgies over the past few
years gives us a lot to live up to!"
Morris
Communications is a privately held media company with diversified
holdings that include newspaper and magazine publishing, outdoor
advertising, radio broadcasting, book publishing and distribution,
and computer services. For more information see the company's
Web site at www.morris.co