The Oklahoma Press Association presented its Better Newspaper Contest Awards during the OPA Annual Convention, June 6-7, at the Grand Casino Hotel and Resort in Shawnee and the Durant Democrat received four awards.
Editor/photographer Matt Swearengin received first place for his photo of a Southeastern player catching a touchdown pass.
A judge wrote, “Nice action shot. Great sports coverage.”
Swearengin also received a secondplace award for a photo he took of Oklahoma Highway Patrol Honor Guard members who were serving as pallbearers. A judge wrote, “Overall, this shot was very good.”
Sports contributor Kevin Farr received third place for his story on the “First Lady of Wrestling.”
A judge wrote, “It’s a great concept and a compelling story.”
The newspaper also received second place for photography for photos taken by Swearengin from the many sporting, news and community events he photographs throughout Bryan County.
Swearengin began his newspaper career in 1996 with the Bryan County Star and he has been with the Democrat since 1997 for a total of 29 years in the newspaper industry.
Farr began writing sports stories for the Democrat in 1988 and has written for other places since then, with a large part of them being stories for the Democrat. He also writes for the Madill Record.
