Oyster Pointer once again captured judges’ attention in a national newspaper awards competition, bringing home 13 awards and lots of compliments from publishers of newspapers in neighboring states.
Now in its 39th year of covering business in and around Oyster Point, Oyster Pointer was recognized by the Association of Community Publishers (ACP) at its 2025 “Best of the Best” Annual Publication Awards presentation. ACP represents publishers of community papers throughout North America and Canada, reaching millions of homes on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis.
ACP presented Oyster Pointer with four first-place awards:
Best Original Writing to Educate and Inform by Becca Sidman, executive director of the Newport News Public Art Foundation
Best Events–Single Ad for the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank
Top Banner displaying Oyster Pointer’s name
Best Front Page featuring Boys & Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula
The paper also received awards in the following categories:
Best Original Writing to Entertain by Joseph Verser, partner in the law firm of Heath Verser
Self Promotion ad recognizing advantages of advertising with Oyster Pointer
Sales Materials displaying Oyster Pointer’s media kit
Feature Article Layout presenting creative use of layout and design featuring Oyster Point profile of Becca Sidman, executive director of the Newport News Public Art Foundation
Feature Article Layout presenting creative use of layout and design featuring Anna’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant
Medical, Health and Wellness ad for Riverside Regional Medical Center
Community Services Article featuring Boys & Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula
Best Original Writing of a News Article featuring Certified Origins
Best Original Writing of a Feature Article featuring Heather Hughes Photography
According to Cassie Recore, executive director of ACP, 715 entries were submitted in more than 45 categories. The graphics and editorial judging was performed by ACP members who included publishers, journalists, graphic designers and sales managers from across the country as well as ACP board members.
“We are very excited the work of Oyster Pointer has been recognized by such a well respected association,” says Sylvia Weinstein Craft, Oyster Pointer publisher. “We feel this is a great compliment to the paper.”
Craft acknowledges the ongoing support of the paper’s advertisers who make these awards possible, saying, “Oyster Pointer is only as strong as its advertisers who support it, and to them, we express our sincere thanks.”
She recognizes the success of the paper goes to her outstanding team which includes Kelli Caplan, associate editor; Brian DePrinzio, business manager; Sara and Stewart Sanders, of SHS Design, responsible for graphics, layout and design; and the many talented writers, columnists and photographers.
“We are overjoyed with the recognition of our paper,” Craft says. “We work hard to produce a quality publication. We are grateful that our paper is looked upon as a ‘good news’ source. We thrive on incorporating the many different businesses and subjects on our pages and we are proud to be recognized by our peers for our efforts.”
