Standard staff recognized with TPA, TSWA awards

The Tennessee Press Association presented Southern Standard’s publisher Pat Zechman with the first-place plaque for sports writing during an awards ceremony in Nashville.

Sports editor Rob Nunley was honored on Friday with a second-place finish in Best News Event Writer in Division III by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association. Nunley also took home two third-place finishes, in Division II’s Best Columnist category and the Division III competition for Writer of the Year.

In the TSWA’s annual writing contests, the Standard is considered a Division III member, as a non-daily publication. However, Division III writers are allowed to ‘play up,’ competing against Division II in some categories, including Best Columnist.

Dale Stubblefield finished third in Best News Event Writer, while the sports department also received a third-place trophy for Best Special Section for its 2006 ‘Fall Sports’ preview.

‘Any time you’re recognized for doing your job well, it’s quite an honor,’ Nunley said. ‘And to be recognized by your peers in the TSWA and the TPA is even more special.’