The Greenville Advocate has been named Alabama’s best small weekly newspaper.

The Advocate took top honors in the Alabama Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, winning the General Excellence Award for Division D.

Seventy newspapers submitted 2,606 entries in this year’s contest. Members of the West Virginia Press Association judged the entries.

“Our staff is very excited to have received the General Excellence Award this year,” Greenville Advocate managing editor Andy Brown said. “We take great pride in covering the news in our community and putting a quality product in our newsstands. We certainly don’t do this job for awards, but it’s nice to be recognized by our peers for producing good work.”

In addition to General Excellence, the Advocate also won the APA’s annual advertising contest, claiming its second consecutive Sweepstakes Award.

Thirty-seven newspapers submitted 968 entries in this year’s contest. The entries were also judged by members of the West Virginia Press Association.

“We strive to produce publications that appeal to all of our readers, advertising partners and community,” Publisher Tracy Salter said. “I am proud of the staff of The Greenville Advocate for being recognized with a total of 28 awards for advertising and editorial excellence by the Alabama Press Association.  A lot of hard work and dedication goes into producing award-winning publications and it’s an honor to be named Alabama’s best small weekly newspaper by a panel of our peers.”

The awards were presented Saturday night at the APA’s 143rd summer convention, held at the Hilton Sandestin in Destin, Fla.

The Advocate won a total of 28 awards.

First-place awards included:

• General Excellence
• Advertising Sweepstakes
• Best sports photo for “Greenville edges Citronelle” by Andy Brown
• Best photo essay for “Putting on the Ritz” by Andy Brown
• Best headline for “Giving it arrest” by Andy Brown
• Online breaking news coverage for “Threat of violence forces change in BOE agenda” by Andy Brown
• Best local economic coverage
• Best single black and white ad half page and under for 13th on Fifth by Tracy Salter
• Best single color ad over half page for The City of Greenville by April Gregory
• Best in paper promotion of newspaper for “Extra, extra, read all about it” by Tracy Salter
• Best classified display ad for Conway Diesel Equipment by staff
• Best presentation of online advertising

Second place awards included:

• Best use of graphics or illustrations for “In a galaxy not so far away” by Andy Brown
• Best special section for “Profile” by staff
• Best layout and design
• Best public service for “Relay Roundup” by staff
• Best one-time special section for “The Playbook” by staff
• Best in paper promotion of newspaper for “Local News, Local Coverage” by Tracy Salter
• Best classified display ad for C4 Casey Feed by staff
• Best online revenue builder for Daily News Email

Third-place awards included:

• Best editorial for “ATRIP doesn’t solve real problem” by Andy Brown
• Best editorial column or commentary for “Where’s the outcry for others?” by Andy Brown
• Best sports single event story for “Golf trail celebrates milestone” by Andy Brown
• Best niche publication for “Camellia Magazine fall issue” by staff
• Online breaking news coverage for “Authorities searching for bank robbers” by Andy Brown
• Best Lifestyle page
• Best classified page or section
• Best use of humor for Old Mexico by April Gregory