City Paper is finalist for three national awards

The Charleston City Paper is a finalist for three national newspaper awards from the AAN, a trade association of more than 100 independent U.S. news organizations which is meeting Wednesday through Friday for the first time in Charleston.

More than 150 journalists from around the country are attending the annual meeting, which is being held at the Francis Marion Hotel. In addition to workshops and information sessions to help independent newspapers improve what they do, participants will learn about the Charleston area during a boat tour and visits to the International African American Museum (IAAM) and Bowen’s Island.

“We’re thrilled to be the host newspaper for reporters, editors, advertising salespeople and artists who serve more than 12 million readers across the country,” said City Paper editor and publisher Andy Brack. “The City Paper is proud to be a member of AAN whose members are an alternative to corporate and hedge-fund-owned conglomerates. AAN members like the City Paper often are a newspaper of record on critical issues.”

Brack said the City Paper is a finalist in three areas:

Special print section: This category recognizes the best one-time section produced by AAN newspapers during 2023. The City Paper’s entry was for its June 2023 special 48-page publication on the opening of the IAAM called “Journeys: Welcoming the International African American Museum.”

Special print publication: This slightly different category recognizes a more frequent print section by a newspaper. The City Paper is a finalist for its Fall 2023 edition of Dish, its quarterly magazine about food and drink. The next issue is scheduled for publication on July 26.

Political column: AAN also named Brack as a finalist in this category for which he won first place last year. This year, the entry was for columns on racism, gun violence and political dysfunction.

In March, the S.C. Press Association named the Charleston City Paper to be the state’s top large weekly newspaper.