The Daily News was recognized in several news and advertising competition categories during the 134th Annual Louisiana Press Association Convention, held Saturday in Biloxi, Miss. The newspaper even took home a first-place award in the General Excellence category, which is based on the quality of the newspaper as a whole.

During the event, awards were given in individual contests for first, second and third places, based on points earned in the Better Newspaper Editorial Competition and the Better Newspaper Advertising Competition for 2013.

The editorial contests range from news story writing to graphic design, while the advertising entries were judged based on design, creativity and effectiveness. The Mississippi Press Association judged both competitions this year.

Seventy-two newspapers, publications and college/university student newspapers submitted 3,289 entries.

In the editorial competition, besides the General Excellence award, the paper also took first place in for Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event, for reporting by Lucy Parker and Richard Meek.

The paper received a second-place award in the Best Breaking News Story category for a story by Marcelle Hanemann, who was also recognized with third place in the Best News Story category.

Other third place awards included, Best Editorial Page, Best Lifestyle Coverage, Best Special Section and Best Photo Package, for photos taken by Cordero Mark and Jessica Hoelzel during last year’s Fourth of July festivities.

The Daily News advertising staff took home a first-place award in the category Best Self-Promotion Outside Of Print.

Kim Gerald was also recognized for her ad work, bringing home second-place awards in the categories of Multiple Advertiser Page, Best Success of an Ad and Best Non-Traditional use of Space Ad, as well as third place in Best Ad Campaign, Best Services Ad, Non-Retail, Best Success of an Ad and Best Non-Traditional Use of Space Ad.

Other advertising awards received by The Daily News were Best Self-Promotion Outside Of Print, second place; Best Classified Section or Page, third place; Best Special Section, Advertising, second place; and Best Special Section, Advertising, third place.

Additionally, The Daily News was recognized in the 2013 Better Web Competition with a first-place award for Best Online Advertising Campaign and first-, second- and third-place awards for Best Online Advertising Single Ad, Animated.