Park Cities People and Preston Hollow People have won a combined 13 awards in the National Newspaper Association Foundation’s 2026 Better Newspaper Contest.
The papers earned two first-place awards, four second-place awards, four third-place awards, and three honorable mentions.
Park Cities People won second place for General Excellence, an award based on the quality of the paper’s writing, use of photos and artwork, page design, and advertising. Judges called Park Cities People “(a) pleasure to read and look at.”
Park Cities People also received a second-place award for Best Family Life Living Section Pages. The judges wrote that “this has everything a ‘family life and living’ section should have. It reflects the readership, and you see members of the community its pages.” The paper was awarded an Honorable Mention for its 20 Under 40 special section.
The People Newspapers ad team brought home two top awards in the Best Multiple Advertiser Section category — a first-place win for the Park Cities People STEAM special edition, and a second-place win for the Preston Hollow People football preview.
Contributor Marissa Mullens won an Honorable Mention in the Best Serious Column category for “Acquainted With Grief: A Mother’s Perspective on Facing Loss.” The judges praised Mullens’ column as “well approached and well-written.”
People Newspapers photographer Chris McGathey won second place in the Best Sports Photo category for his image of an athlete celebrating at the Buddy Bowl. The judges commented that, “You can almost hear his scream of joy!”
Former sports editor Todd Jorgenson won third place in the Best Sports Story category for “Discipline Fuels Underdog Triumph for Elahmadi,” an article about Highland Park wrestler Amin Elahmadi’s journey to a gold medal win in the 5A state tournament.
Editor Sarah Hodges placed first in the Best Business Story category for “Jellycat Hijinks,” an article about thefts from neighborhood favorite Toys Unique. The judges called “Jellycat Hijinks” “an informative article about a global market, the power of social media, and creative approaches to both pilfering and theft deterrent,” and praised it as “a tightly-woven piece that reads smoothly from start to finish.”
Hodges won third-place awards in the Best Reporting on Local Government category for “Stop Making Such a Racket,” the Best Humorous Column category for “Best Baked Goods in Town Are in Your Teen’s Cafreteria,” and the Best Education/Literacy Story category for “Mom Sought Better Campus for Twice-Exceptional Son.” She won an Honorable Mention in the Best Non-Profile Feature Story category for “Don’t Squish That Squash!”
