Newspaper & Mailroom

American Community Newspapers Wins 46 Editorial and Photo Journalism Awards

Monday 03. March 2008 - Company Wins an Impressive 27 Suburban Newspapers of America Honors Minnesota, Ohio and Northern Virginia Clusters Win Numerous Regional Awards

American Community Newspapers Inc. (AMEX:ANE) (“ACN”) today announced that dozens of its newspapers and employees have been recognized with a total of 46 awards for their outstanding contributions to journalism, including a total of 27 honors from the Suburban Newspapers of America (“SNA”) 2007 Editorial Contest. Several of the company’s regional newspapers were also recently honored by their respective regional associations for editorial and photography in their local markets, including Minnesota, Ohio and Northern Virginia.

Gene Carr, Chairman and CEO of ACN, commented, “On behalf of the honorees, I would like to thank the SNA and the regional associations for their support and recognition. The awards given to our publications were hard-earned and are deeply appreciated. ACN employees strive to maintain our outstanding reputation and ongoing dedication to their local communities. I want to thank them for their continued effort and commitment, and congratulate them on their well-deserved honors.”

The SNA contest was judged by the American Press Institute, and saw more than 3,000 entries. Winners were recognized at the SNA Spring Publishers’ Conference held February 20-22, 2008 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. A full listing of ACN awards from the SNA 2007 Editorial Contest includes:

Newspaper Cluster Recipient Award Place

Edina Sun- Minnesota Poverty – Community 3rd Place
Current, Eden Sun The Poor Service –
Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Editorial

Eden Prairie Minnesota Poverty – Community 3rd Place
Sun-Current, Sun The Poor Service –
Eden Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Editorial

Bloomington Sun- Minnesota Poverty – Community 3rd Place
Current, Eden Sun The Poor Service –
Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Editorial

Richfield Sun- Minnesota Poverty – Community 3rd Place
Current, Eden Sun The Poor Service –
Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Editorial

Sun Gazette – Sun Gazette Racial Best Editorial Honorable
Arlington Publications Divide in Writing Mention
Alexandria, VA Arlington

New Albany News, Suburban Tix Issue Best Editorial 1st Place
Columbus, OH News Tether Cartoon
Publications Bill

Pickerington Suburban Superinten- Best Editorial 1st Place
Times-Sun, News dent Hunt Cartoon
Columbus, OH Publications

Reynoldsburg Suburban Cherry Best Editorial 2nd Place
News, Columbus, News Tomato Cartoon
OH Publications Fest

Olentangy Valley Suburban Coyote Best Editorial 2nd Place
News, Columbus, News Problem Cartoon
OH Publications

Columbus, OH Suburban School Best Editorial 3rd Place
Publications News Funding Cartoon
Publications

Little Elm Star Roller Best Sports 2nd Place
Journal, Plano, Community Girls Writing
TX Newspapers

The Times, Suburban Chris Best Sports 1st Place
Columbus, OH News Miles – Writing
Publications Sports
Writing

Frisco Star Homefield Best Sports 2nd Place
Enterprise, Community Advantage Writing
Plano, TX Newspapers

Bexley News, Suburban A Best News Honorable
Columbus, OH News Statement Photo Mention
Publications of Protest
by
Cassandra
Bergman

McKinney Courier Star Crash Best News 2nd Place
Gazette, Plano, Community Scene Photo
TX Newspapers

The Booster, Suburban Feature Best Feature 1st Place
Columbus, OH News Photo – Photo
Publications Dan
Trittschus

The Booster, Suburban Feature Best Feature 3rd Place
Columbus, OH News Photo – Photo
Publications Dan
Trittschus

Gahanna News, Suburban Feature Best Feature Honorable
Columbus, OH News Photo – Photo Mention
Publications Jeffry

Worthington Suburban Cheerleader Best Honorable
News, Columbus, News Shooting Continuing Mention
OH Publications Coverage Coverage

Hilliard Suburban Old Best Breaking 3rd Place
Northwest News, News Hilliard News Story
Columbus, OH Publications Held
Hostage

Sun-Current Minnesota Autism Best In-Depth 1st Place
South Group Sun Series Reporting
Newspapers

Eagan Sun Minnesota Autism Best In-Depth 1st Place
Current, Eden Sun Series Reporting
Prairie, MN Newspapers

Burnsville Sun Minnesota Celebrating Best Feature 3rd Place
Current, Eden Sun Life in
Prairie, MN Newspapers the Face
of Death

Reynoldsburg Suburban Reynolds- Best Local 3rd Place
News, Columbus, News burg Election
OH Publications Primary Coverage

Columbus, OH Suburban Craig Best Non-Page 3rd Place
Publications News Rusnak One Layout
Publications Layouts

Mesquite News, Star Chris Best Non-Page Honorable
Plano, TX Community McGathey One Layout Mention
Newspapers

Lewisville Star Friends Best Young Honorable
Leader, Plano, Community and Family People’s Mention
TX Newspapers Celebrates Coverage
9-Year-
Old’s Life

Alexandria, VA Sun Gazette Arlington Best Coverage 3rd Place
Publications Publications Schools of Local
and Education/
Students School
District
Issues

Westerville News Suburban Project Best Arts & 1st Place
& Public News with Entertainment
Opinion, Publications Passion by Writing –
Columbus, OH Lisa Feature
Aurand

Alexandria, VA Sun Gazette Review of Best Arts & 2nd Place
Publications Publications Nude Entertainment
“Macbeth” Criticism/
Play by Commentary
Brian
Trompeter

Eden Prairie Minnesota Poverty – Best Coverage 1st Place
Sun-Current, Sun The Poor of
Eden Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Investigative
Reporting

Edina Sun- Minnesota Poverty – Best Coverage 1st Place
Current, Eden Sun The Poor of
Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Investigative
Reporting

Bloomington Sun- Minnesota Poverty – Best Coverage 1st Place
Current, Eden Sun The Poor of
Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Investigative
Reporting

Richfield Sun- Minnesota Poverty – Best Coverage 1st Place
Current, Eden Sun The Poor of
Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Investigative
Reporting




Recognition by the SNA follows ACN’s recent award wins at the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s (“MNA”) “Better Newspaper Contest Awards Presentation,” where the Company was honored with more than ten awards given to fifteen ACN employees and nine of its publications. The awards included the event’s top prize, the Lynn Smith Community Service Award, presented to The Melrose Beacon for its efforts in leading the community in last year’s Sesquicentennial Celebration. The Waconia Patriot took second place in the category for its leadership role in a community-wide effort last summer to honor Waconia’s World War II veterans.

ACN’s Ohio Cluster of properties, Suburban News Publications, was honored with the following awards at the 57th annual Ohio News Photographers Association conference at Kent State University held February 15-16, 2008:

— First Place Photo Staff – A cumulative award recognizing the entire
body of work submitted by Tim Johnson and staff.
— Award of Excellence for Assigned Feature – Jeffry Konczal
— Award of Excellence Assigned Feature – Cassandra Bergman
— Award of Excellence Sports Action – Jeffry Konczal
— Award of Excellence Feature Picture Story – Tim Johnson
— 3rd Place General News Photo – Ben French



In its Northern Virginia properties, writer Dusty Smith and The Leesburg Today took home third place in General News Writing in the Virginia Press Association’s 2007 News, Editorial and Photo Contest. Leesburg Today’s 80-page The Guide to Loudoun won second place in the VPA’s 2007 Advertising Contest in the category of Guides, Anniversary & Progress Editions. Additionally, Margaret Morton from Leesburg Today received the 2008 Excellence in Veterinary Reporting from the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association for her reporting on the outbreak of a contagious equine ailment.