Advocate wins best newspaper

The Advocate has been named the best newspaper publication in its division by the S.C. Press Association.

With competition including S.C. Lawyers Weekly and the University of South Carolina Creative Services among many others, the press association tapped the Advocate as Best Newspaper Publication, first place, in the Associate/Individual Member Division.

Advocate Editor Jessica Connor accepted the award for the newspaper March 5 at the press association's annual meeting in Columbia.

Nice layout and excellent reproduction enhance exceptional content, wrote one judge about the Advocate. This publication was a clear winner in the class.

Connor also took home a third place award for Best Published News Story for her article Campus Funds Frozen, which appeared in the Advocate's October 2010 edition.

Attending the award ceremony, I was able to see how the Advocate surpassed many other quality products in writing, overall content and design to win the best newspaper award in its category, said Marilyn Murphy, chair of the Advocate's Board of Trustees.

Murphy praised Connor's deep passion for Christian reporting and showing how the individuals and the United Methodist churches of South Carolina are living and sharing their own beliefs through the example of Jesus Christ.

Connor said she appreciates the recognition of the Advocate's hard work and driving mission to produce high-quality journalism that furthers the Kingdom.

We are grateful and will do our best to continue producing an excellent product for the United Methodist Church in this state, Connor said.