The Dillon Herald has won three awards from the South Carolina Press Association.

The Dillon Herald won first place in the “Integration of Print and Web Coverage” category, which included all weekly newspapers, for the coverage of the Charles Curry termination.

The purpose of the “Integration of Print and Web Coverage” category is to feature the use of a newspaper’s website to drive readers to the print product, and vice versa. The contest is designed for newspapers that cross promote and that have a website that offers more than just a replica of the print product. Criteria include: print and web elements that encourage audience engagement and support/enhance the impact and presentation of storytelling; quality of content; reader experience, engagement and response; and creative use of harmonizing print and Web products.

Judges comments for The Herald’s winning entry included: “Kudos! Journalism as it is now meant to be… The complete package of media and news delivery. The readers are the winners!”

Betsy Finklea, editor of The Dillon Herald, won third place in the Beat Reporting category for Weekly 2/3 times newspapers, for her coverage of the Dillon County Council. Judging criteria was based on quality and thoroughness of coverage.

Finklea also won second place in the Feature Photo category for Weekly 2/3 times newspapers for a photo of Whittaker Head Start students (shown with this article). Judging criteria was based on strong human interest of the photo and impact of the photo.

The awards were announced at the South Carolina Press Association’s annual meeting in Columbia this past weekend.