The Progress won one award at state contest and shared another when the 2012 Texas Better Newspaper Contest winners were announced in San Antonio on June 23.

Claiming fourth place in sports photos in its medium to large weeklies division, The Progress award was shared by photographers Mike Alexieff and Bruce Harper.

About “Football” by Alexieff, the judge said, “Love that the shot, includes the quarterback being socked, plus ball in the frame about to be caught. Interesting shot.” About “Softball” by Harper, the judge said, “Girl winding up was okay – could have used more expression.”

Beeville Publishing Company’s website, mySouTex.com, which also covers Live Oak and McMullen counties, was named the Texas Press Association’s best of the best in its semiweekly division this year.

The judges praised the site’s use of video to tell unique stories. They also liked that the site’s calendar had something for everyone with lots of events going on. For those out there wondering how to get something listed – it’s as simple clicking the “post a new event” link below the calendar.

Nearing 400,000 page views monthly, the site is continuing to grow.

Videos are still a highlight of the product as the judges noted. However, even since this contest, the newspaper has added another feature, “Tales of Old Bee County.”

This series highlights the county’s unique past through some of the old photos it has taken through the years and stored at the newspaper office.

Anyone who hasn’t seen this feature on the site’s homepage at mySouTex.com can also go directly to the series at mySouTex.com/tobc to see it.

This year, 169 newspapers submitted 1,703 entries in the Texas Better Newspaper Contest.

Judging was done by members of the Tennessee Press Association.

It took place over two days, one day in Nashville and one day in Knoxville, the home of their TPA. There were about 30 judges total.