The Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press, The Virginia Gazette, Inside Business and other Virginia Media papers won more than 70 awards Saturday from the annual Virginia Press Association news and advertising contest. The Pilot won the grand prize sweepstakes award for overall excellence in news and advertising among daily newspapers.
The papers won more than 30 first-place awards. Veteran reporter Peter Dujardin was awarded Journalist of the Year and military reporter Caitlyn Burchett earned Best of Show for daily writing.
Sports reporter Larry Rubama won first place for sports column writing, along with food writer Rekaya Gibson, who won first place for critical writing. Frank Shatz won first place for column writing for the Virginia Gazette.
Photographers Stephen Katz and Billy Schuerman each earned six awards, while fellow photographer Kendall Warner won five.
Reporter Eliza Noe won first…
