CULLMAN, Ala. — At this year’s Alabama Press Association Summer Convention, The Cullman Tribune was honored with 41 awards.
The Alabama Press Association is the state trade association of daily and weekly newspapers in Alabama. Its active membership includes 24 daily newspapers and 99 non-daily newspapers. In addition, its membership includes over 100 associate members, which represent newspaper vendors, colleges and universities and other organizations allied with the newspaper industry.
Active members must have been published weekly under a Publications Class (Second Class) Postal Permit for a period of one year.
Founded in 1871 as the Editors and Publishers Association of Alabama, the name was changed to Alabama Press Association in 1891.
APA represents the interests of the newspaper industry by offering two annual conventions and a number of workshops and conferences. It also represents the newspaper industry before the state legislature, focusing on government access laws and on business-related laws that impact the newspaper industry. It also offers media law advice to active member newspapers through its APA Legal Hotline, media law guides and offers a number of other services.
Some of the notable wins earned by Tribune staff this year include first-place awards for Best Photo Essay, Best Headline, Best Local News Coverage, Best Podcast Series, Best Editorial, Best Single Ad half a page and under, Best Use of Video, Best Spot News Story and Best Feature Photo.
These wins — spanning editorial, photography, sports, feature writing, website design, podcasts, social media and more — reflect not just the work of a single reporter or department, but the entire Tribune team. This achievement would not be possible without the persistent efforts of our journalists, photographers, editors, graphic designers, marketing representatives and those behind the scenes who make sure each issue reaches our readers. It would especially not be possible without Dustin Isom, whose hands shape each edition from the ground up, every single issue.
From in-depth reporting that holds power to account, to photo essays that capture the heart of our community, and even headlines that bring a smile, every category we were honored in represents something bigger than a plaque or a certificate. It represents trust. Your trust.
But this isn’t just about awards, it’s about impact. It’s about the stories that mattered most to you. The businesses that opened their doors. The voices that needed to be heard. The nights spent putting the paper together when the rest of the world was asleep.
We’re proud of the recognition, yes, but we’re even prouder of the community that makes the work worth doing.
To our readers, thank you for continuing to believe in local journalism. To our staff, thank you for believing in the mission. And to every person who has contributed in any way to The Tribune, this moment is yours.
Here’s to 41 awards and the next 41 stories waiting to be told.
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