Lincoln Parish Journal co-publisher Malcolm Butler won a pair of writing awards and also finished as the runner-up in the Prep Writer of the Year and the Columnist of the Year for Class II in this year’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association contest.
The Lincoln Parish Journal team won a total of nine awards as Butler, co-publisher Kyle Roberts, writer T. Scott Boatright and columnist Teddy Allen all took home hardware.
“We are proud of the showing from our staff in this year’s contest,” said Butler. “I think it is an illustration of the quality of journalism that we are able to provide to our readers. We are fortunate to have a great team of writers and we are very fortunate to live in a parish that has such a rich history of both high school and collegiate athletics.
“It is simply our job to take great subject matter and paint a verbal picture for our readers. I think this shows the versatility of our staff with awards won on feature stories, columns, game stories, and in the radio broadcasting industry.”
Butler won first place in the Class II General Sports Feature category on his story on Ruston High coach Jerrod Baugh’s Road To Redemption.
The judges’ comments on the story were: “A really detailed look at a nuanced topic. Did a great job of getting the subject to open up about very personal matters. Well-sourced with clean copy. A great read all around.“
Butler also took home first place in the Class II Prep Event category on his story on Bearcats QB Josh Brantley and the win over Alexandria Senior High.
The judges’ comments on the story were: “The lead and the next few paragraphs do a good job setting up the game story. The story as a whole shows how important Brantley’s progression as a quarterback has been to helping the team win that game specifically, but how it also helped jump start the season. The story also talks about the job he did by running the ball, and how it is helping him become a better quarterback, and the team play better offense.“
In the Class II Prep Writer of the Year category, Butler was second behind the Ouachita Citizen’s Jake Martin who took home the award.
“In a category stacked with talented writers, this judge’s winning entry came down to overall strength and consistency,” said the judges in their comments on Martin’s honor.
Butler also finished second in the Class II Columnist of the Year, narrowly being edged by Natchitoches Parish Journal writer Doug Ireland.
“Close call between the top two here,” said the judges. “The ultimate winner drew me in immediately via the first column, though, with a history piece appealing to readers no matter what generation they claim.”
Boatright garnered a third place finish in the Class II Pro-College Event category on his game story on the Grambling State-Southern Bayou Classic in the Super Dome.
Journal Services columnist Teddy Allen took home a pair of honors, finishing second in the Class I College Column on his story on downside of the NCAA Transfer Portal. He took home a third place award in the Open Class Amateur Sports category on the evolution of local youth baseball tournaments.
Roberts and Butler also took home awards in radio categories. Roberts finished second in the Best Live Radio Event with his and Nick Brown’s call of the Ruston High state championship win over Zachary in December. Of those who placed in the category, only Roberts and Brown are located in North Louisiana.
The Ruston High broadcast crew won first place the previous season for the call of the Bearcats’ win over West Monroe — the first in 30 years.
Butler tied for third (with Dave Nitz) in the College Radio Play by Play category for his call of the Bulldog basketball team’s road win over WKU in Bowling Green. It marks the seventh time in the last decade he has placed in the contest, including winning the award in 2017 and finishing as the runner-up in 2013 and 2016.
