Jamie Patterson made history over the weekend in Biloxi by winning a trifecta of top awards during the annual Better Newspaper Media Contest presented by the Mississippi Press Association.
Patterson, editor and publisher of The Yazoo Herald, won the Bill Minor Prize for General News Reporting, the Bill Minor Prize for Investigative Journalism, and the J. Oliver Emmerich Award for editorial writing, MPA's highest honor.
Patterson, who has previously won four Bill Minor Awards, has been publisher of the newspaper since 2021 and its editor since 2007.
"Jamie is simply one of the best journalists working in Mississippi," said MPA President Stephanie Patton of The Leland Progress. "We are thrilled that she has been honored with these three awards. It is a testament to her very hard work."
Patterson's general news prize was for reporting on violent crime in Yazoo City. Her investigative news prize was for coverage of the rapid resignation of the city's police chief after only 10 days.
"This is good journalism!" judges wrote about Patterson's work on the police story. "Patterson did an excellent job of reporting on all aspects of this issue. And kudos to her editorial columns on why the coverage was relevant and not a 'distraction.'"
Additionally, Patterson was presented the Emmerich Award for her editorials addressing topics such as the newspaper's role as a community watchdog, the problems with the city's garbage collection contract, and a crime wave crisis.
"There is no doubt the 'crisis' was being felt by everyone in the community and needed the newspaper to address it in its editorial section," judges said. "It was also able to inform the readers of the newspaper’s responsibility (providing balanced, objective coverage) while also showcasing its ability to cut through the political jargon and finger pointing and deal with ways to solve the crisis."
The Yazoo Herald also brought home other top honors.
Sports Writer Joffre Washington won a first place award for his coverage of Yazoo City High School winning the state championship in basketball. Washington and Jamie Patterson also earned a second-place award for a special section dedicated to the championship run.
Jason Patterson earned a first-place award for best pictorial series for his collection of photos of local youth baseball.
The Yazoo Herald’s total awards included:
First Place
Best General News Story – Jamie Patterson
Best Investigative Coverage – Jamie Patterson
Best Business New Story – Jamie Patterson
Best Game Story – Joffre Washington
Best General News Photograph – Jamie Patterson
Best Spot News Photograph – Jamie Patterson
Best Pictorial Series – Jason Patterson
Best Editorials – Jamie Patterson
Best Special Section – Jamie Patterson
Second Place
Best Spot News Story – Jamie Patterson
Best Investigative Coverage – Jamie Patterson
Best Sports Feature – Jamie Patterson
Best Commentary Column – Jamie Patterson
Best Sports Feature Photograph – Jason Patterson
Best Sports Action Photograph – Jamie Patterson
Best Feature Photograph – Jason Patterson
Best Special Section – Jamie Patterson and Joffre Washington
General Excellence – The Yazoo Herald
Third Place
Best Sports News Story – Jamie Patterson
Best Feature Story – Jamie Patterson
Best Sports Feature Photograph – Jason Patterson
