BILOXI — The Sun-Sentinel has won 20 awards for news coverage, including first place in the top “General Excellence” category, in the annual Mississippi Press Association’s Better News Media Contest.
The awards, for work published in 2025, were presented Saturday at the Golden Nugget Biloxi.
The Sun-Sentinel won top honors for overall excellence in its audience class, Weekly Division D. The Wayne County News and the Clarke County Tribune placed second and third, respectively.
“We are always honored to be recognized by our peers in the newspaper industry,” said Sun-Sentinel Editor and Publisher Clay McFerrin. “However, it is our subscribers, other readers and our advertisers who provide the support that makes our work possible. Our contributing writers, photographers and everyone else who has a part in making The Sun-Sentinel what it is each week share in this award. We are grateful to them all.”
MPA contest entries were judged this spring by newspaper professionals from other press associations nationwide.
The Sun-Sentinel competed in MPA Class D, which is an audience class of weekly newspapers located in markets of 5,000 residents or less.
News Media Contest
» Clay McFerrin and Sun-Sentinel Office Manager Krista McFerrin jointly won a first-place plaque in the category of Design, for a series of print newspaper edition designs.
» Clay captured first place for Breaking News Story, for coverage of the aftermath of a tornado that destroyed a home near Philipp.
» Clay won a first-place award for In-Depth or Investigative Reporting, for a series of articles about escaped criminal Ewel Scott.
» Clay won first-place plaques for Sports Action Photo; Sports News Story, for a piece about LaDon Taylor giving up the head coaching reins of the Charleston High football program; and Story Lede.
Clay also won these other Media Contest news awards:
» Second place in the category of Best Front Page, for a series of front page designs
» Second place for Business News Story, about the federal government shutdown impacting local residents
» Second place for Photo Series, along with contributing photographer Kelly Paris, for a Gateway to the Delta photo spread
» Second place for Sports Action Photo
» Second place for Spot News Photo, for images of tornado damage near Philipp
» Third place for Commentary Column, for a selection of Opinion page pieces
» Third place for Editorials
» Third place, Game Story
» Third place for Spot News Photo, for scenes from a Glendora train derailment
» Honorable mention, for Breaking News Story, about the Glendora train derailment
» Honorable mention for General Interest Column: personal Opinion page writings
Clay and Krista also won these other joint awards:
» Second place in the category of Use of Social Media in a special competition with all weeklies in Mississippi
» Third place for Special Section, the 2025 Back to School supplement
Advertising Contest
Earlier this year, the Sun-Sentinel won 12 awards in MPA’s 2025 Better Advertising Contest. Eight of them were for second-place honors.
» Clay and Krista McFerrin won second place in the category of Advertising Special Section, for the Back to School 2024 supplement
Krista McFerrin
Krista McFerrin also won the following other Advertising Contest awards:
» Second place, for Small Space Ad, for a Charleston First Baptist Church ad for Samaritan’s Purse
» Second place, for Entertainment, an ad designed for CARE’s Cookies With Santa
» Second place for a Rowland Insurance ad in the Service category
» Second place for Holiday-themed ad, for a Thanksgiving piece designed for Square Drugs
» Second place for Institutional ad, for the city-wide VBS at Charleston First Baptist Church
» Second place for Theme Page, for a “Shop Local, Shop Charleston” spread
» Second place in a category promoting newspaper subscriptions
» Third place for General Retail Ad, for an ad designed for Flower Basket
» Third place for Institutional Ad, for the City-Wide Revival at First Baptist
» Third place for Small Space Ad, for an ad designed for Bloodworth’s 4-Way
» Honorable mention for a Holiday Ad, for a design for Bumpers Drive-In
