The 2023 National Newspaper Association (NNA) Better Newspaper Contest recently recognized the Hyattsville Life & Times with three awards. The NNA Better Newspaper Contest recognizes the best in community journalism across the country.

The Life & Times won second place for Best Local News Coverage, competing with daily and nondaily newspapers with circulations of 6,000 or more. (The Life & Times circulation is 9,300.)  About a dozen volunteer writers contributed stories to the two editions that earned this award. “This paper offers [a] complete package of locally produced news,” the judge commented. “Best headlines of the entries!” 

The Life & Times took third place in the same division for Best Environmental Story for “How mussels are cleaning the Anacostia” by Hunter Savery and Johnathan Donville. 

Finally, the Life & Times won honorable mention for Best Reporting on Local Government for its coverage of school building endeavors with “Middle school muddle, bus route bungle” by Josie Jack and Kit Slack and “Hyattsville Elementary in proposed school builds list” by Sophie Gorman Oriani. For this award, the Life & Times was competing with nondaily newspapers with circulations between 6,000 and 14,000. “Nice job of tying together the concerns over school building projects,” noted the judge. 

This year, there were 1,507 entries in the contest. A total of 602 awards were won by 92 member newspapers in 33 states. This year’s winners will be recognized during the NNA’s 137th Convention and Trade Show on Sept. 30 in Washington, D.C.