The Smithfield Times’ coverage of the end of Smithfield Foods’ iconic Genuine Smithfield Ham brand, same-day coverage of an FBI raid two miles outside of town and the retelling of lawyer Dante Wright’s inspiring climb from poverty to law school were among the winning entries in the Virginia Press Association’s 2024 news contest.

The Times won 34 for news coverage, photography and page design at the April 12 VPA awards banquet, an annual statewide gathering of journalists that this year was held at the Omni Richmond Hotel in Richmond.

The Times competes in the VPA’s Non-Daily 2 category against other newspapers throughout the state with paid print circulation between 1,600 and 3,999 copies.

The awards were judged by journalists, photographers and layout professionals from Oregon.

Reporter Stephen Faleski won 20 awards, including five first-place honors.

Publisher Steve Stewart won five awards, taking first and third place in both column writing and editorial writing, as well as second place in breaking news writing.

Creative Director Jen Jaqua won nine awards, including three first-place honors.

Below is a list of the categories in which the Times won for entries published between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024:

First place:

• Business writing – Stephen Faleski
• Feature profile – Stephen Faleski
• Public notice story – Stephen Faleski
• Public safety writing – Stephen Faleski
• Column writing – Steve Stewart
• Editorial writing – Steve Stewart
• Illustrations – Jen Jaqua
• Informational graphics – Jen Jaqua
• Photo illustration – Jen Jaqua

Second place:

• Feature photo – Stephen Faleski
• Feature profile – Stephen Faleski
• Feature portfolio – Stephen Faleski
• Government writing – Stephen Faleski
• Picture story or essay – Stephen Faleski
• Breaking news writing – Steve Stewart
• Front page design – Jen Jaqua
• General makeup – Jen Jaqua (joint award with Stephen Faleski and Steve Stewart)
• Illustration – Jen Jaqua
• Informational graphics – Jen Jaqua
• Page design – Jen Jaqua

Third place:

• Public notice story – Stephen Faleski
• Picture story or essay – Stephen Faleski
• Business writing – Stephen Faleski
• Feature photo – Stephen Faleski
• Feature profile – Stephen Faleski
• General news photo – Stephen Faleski
• General news writing – Stephen Faleski
• Health, science and environmental writing – Stephen Faleski
• In-depth or investigative writing – Stephen Faleski
• Pictorial photo – Stephen Faleski
• Editorial writing – Steve Stewart
• Column writing – Steve Stewart
• Page design – Jen Jaqua

Among The Smithfield Times’ 44 Virginia Press Association awards for 2024 were 10 related to the sales and advertising side of journalism.

The VPA advertising contest, held concurrently with the news awards banquet at The Omni Richmond Hotel in Richmond, was judged by advertising professionals from Oregon.

Advertising Director Lindsay Richardson won four awards, including a first-place honor for education, churches and organization advertising.

Former Advertising Account Executive Taylor McMickle won six awards, including a first-place honor in home and garden advertising.

Below is a complete list of the 10 awards for advertisements published in the Times from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024:

First place:

• Education, churches and organizations – Lindsay Richardson
• Home and garden – Taylor McMickle

Second place:

• Small space ads – Taylor McMickle
• Food and drug – Taylor McMickle

Third place: 

• Lifestyles – Lindsay Richardson
• Automotive – Lindsay Richardson
• Education, churches and organizations – Taylor McMickle
• Small space ads – Taylor McMickle
• Food and drug – Taylor McMickle