In-depth coverage of local stories that grabbed national headlines helped earn two community newspapers top honors in this year's Best of CNHI contest.

The Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Mass., was named Newspaper of the Year among CNHI dailies with circulations of 12,000 and higher. The Gloucester, Mass., Daily Times won Newspaper of the Year for papers with daily circulations of less than 12,000. Those awards and other winners in the annual editorial contest were announced today.

Judges cited The Eagle-Tribune for its extensive coverage of a January 2008 inferno that swallowed an entire block of the city of Lawrence. The fire destroyed 14 buildings and left 180 people homeless. The next day the newspaper gave readers a compelling narrative account of the fire with extensive information about the homes destroyed and the people who lived in them.

"Even with such a major story, that day's edition included a significant helping of local news coverage from surrounding communities," the judges noted.

The Gloucester Daily Times impressed judges with coverage of a rash of teenage pregnancies in the city, a story that also captured national attention. In addition, judges cited the newspaper's series probing the impact of government rules on the local fishing community. This was the second consecutive year the Gloucester Daily Time was recognized as Newspaper of the Year.

The Stanly News and Press of Albemarle, N.C., was named Newspaper of the Year for non-dailies. Judges lauded its extensive local news report, especially enterprising stories that look past routine coverage to focus on issues that touch readers' lives.

Judges named two Web Sites of the Year - www.salemnews.com and www.gloucestertimes.com. Both received high marks for online presentations that organize stories, photos, video, audio and interactive elements.

The Daily News of Newburyport, Mass., and The Herald-Banner of Greenville, Texas, won Public Service Awards. They were cited for in-depth reporting on stories about the erosion of a barrier beach community and a woman wrongly accused of crashing a police cruiser while driving under the influence.

The Andovers, a glossy magazine focusing on life in the North of Boston suburbs, was named Magazine of the Year.

A dozen CNHI editors judged more than 600 entries in the contest. The panel met last week to select finalists and winners. In addition to newsroom awards, the contest recognized the individual achievements of more than 30 CNHI journalists.

A complete list of winners and finalists follows. In the coming days, judges’ comments and links to winners' work will be posted on the CNHI News Service Web site (www.cnhinews.com).

Based in Birmingham, Ala., Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. owns newspapers, Web sites, magazines and specialty publications serving more than 150 communities in the United States.

Division I

(Newspapers with daily circulation of 12,000 or more)

Newspaper of the Year
Winner - The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass.
Finalist - The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.

Web Site of the Year
Winner - The Salem News, Beverly, Mass. (www.salemnews.com)
Finalist - Enid, Okla., News and Eagle (www.enidnews.com)

Public Service Award
Winner - The Daily News, Newburyport, Mass.
Finalist - The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.

Reporter of the Year
Winner - Brian McGillivary, Traverse City, Mich., Record-Eagle
Finalist - Steve Landwehr. The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.

Features Writer of the Year
Winner - Mark Bennett, The Tribune Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
Finalist - M. Scott Carter, The Norman, Okla., Transcript

Opinion Writer of the Year
Winner - Ken Johnson, The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass.
Finalist - Mike Tyree, Traverse City, Mich., Record-Eagle

Sports Writer of the Year
Winner - Kayleen Cubbal, New Castle, Pa., News
Finalist - Mike Burke, Cumberland, Md. Times-News

Photographer of the Year
Winner - Deborah Parker, The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.
Finalist - Jim Avelis, The Tribune Star, Terre Haute, Ind.

Designer of the Year
Winner - Zach Taylor, The Tribune Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
Finalist - Julie VanNoy - The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.

Division II

(Newspapers with daily circulation less than 12,000)

Div. II - Newspaper of the Year
Winner - Gloucester, Mass., Daily Times
Finalist - The Tribune, New Albany, Ind.

Web Site of the Year
Winner - Gloucester, Mass., Daily Times (www.gloucestertimes.com)
Finalist - The Cullman, Ala., Times (www.cullmantimes.com)

Public Service Award
Winner - The Herald-Banner, Greenville, Texas (with significant contributions by Janelle Stecklein, Leslie Gibson and Daniel Walker)
Finalist - The Daily Times, Pryor, Okla. (with significant contributions by Sommer Woodward)

Reporter of the Year
Winner - Neale Gulley, Tonawanda News, North Tonawanda, N.Y.
Finalist - Patrick Anderson, Gloucester, Mass., Daily Times

Features Writer of the Year
Winner - Richard Gaines, Gloucester, Mass., Daily Times
Finalist - Jeff Walker, San Marcos, Texas, Daily Record

Opinion Writer of the Year
Winner - Eric DuVall, Tonawanda News, North Tonawanda, N.Y.
Finalist - Kelly Kazek, The News Courier, Athens, Ala.

Sports Writer of the Year
Winner - Nathan Hutchinson, Richmond, Ky., Register
Finalist - Chris Whitaker, Americus, Ga., Times-Recorder

Photographer of the Year
Winner - Ashley Landis, San Marcos, Texas, Daily Record
Finalist - Doug Benz, Tonawanda News, North Tonawanda, N.Y.

Designer of the Year
Winner - Elizabeth Goodman, The Evening News, Jeffersonville, Ind.
Finalist - Roni Montgomery, The Tribune, New Albany, Ind.

Division III

(Newspapers with non-daily circulations)

Newspaper of the Year
Winner - The Stanly News and Press, Albemarle, N.C.
Finalist - The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.

Web Site of the Year
No award given

Public Service Award
No award given

Reporter of the Year
Winner - Larry Penkava, The Randolph Guide, Asheboro, N.C.
Finalist - Tara Kaprowy, The Sentinel Echo, London, Ky.

Features Writer of the Year
Winner - Tara Kaprowy, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.
Finalist - Vanessa Fultz, Suwannee Democrat, Live Oak, Fla.

Opinion Writer of the Year
Winner - Willie Sawyers, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.

Sports Writer of the Year
Winner - Scott Wanish, Midwest City, Okla., Sun

Photographer of the Year
Winner - Denis House, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.
Finalist - Bryan Helvie, The Herald-Tribune, Batesville, Ind.

Designer of the Year
Winner - Derek Armstrong, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.

Magazine of the Year

Winner - The Andovers
Finalist - Cape Ann magazine