Virginia Business wins six VPA awards

Virginia Business received six awards Saturday night in the Virginia Press Association's annual journalism contest, including a best-in-show for an illustration. 

Richmond-based illustrator Matt Brown received a best-in-show award for art in specialty publications for his drawing of race horses. The two-page spread accompanied a story looking at a slowdown of Virginia's economic growth.

“Beautiful work,” the judge's comments said about Brown's piece. “Even if you don't care about economics you want to pick up the page and explore the contents. The concept was great and the use of color was very well done. Everything ties together nicely, and the text is played well.”

Brown also received a first-prize award in the illustrations category for the drawing.

Virginia Business competes in VPA's specialty publications division. 

Special Projects Editor Jessica Sabbath won a first-place award in the news writing portfolio category for stories that covered efforts to combat a worldwide cocoa shortage, the debate over Medicaid expansion and ethics reform, and a profile of Hilton Worldwide CEO Chris Nassetta.

Sabbath also received a second-place award in the business and financial writing category for her profile of Nassetta. 

Special Projects Assistant Editor Veronica Garabelli won a second-place award in the multimedia news report category, for a package that included a story and video on natural bridge's plans to join the state park system. 

Managing Editor Paula Squires and Art Director Adrienne R. Watson won third place for headline writing. 

The magazine's sister publication, Roanoke Business, won a first place in the feature photography category for a photo by Roanoke-based photographer Don Petersen.

Virginia Business staff attended the awards ceremony Saturday, which was held at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. The Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association judged this year's entries.