SHAMOKIN - The News-Item won three awards in the 2011 Newspaper of the Year contest, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) Foundation.
Competing in Division IV (newspapers with a circulation of 20,000 or less), The News-Item won first place for diversity, second place for editorial/opinion page excellence and honorable mention for advertising excellence.
The diversity category gauges a newspaper's coverage in terms of community elements that include age, ancestry, disability or handicap, race, religion and veteran and economic status.
For most categories, newspapers are instructed to submit two editions, one from a specific week and one from a specific month, as identified by PNA.
The News-Item won four awards in the 2010 contest, and between the last two years has won in six of seven mandatory contest categories.
The 2011 contest covered editions from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011.
Awards will be presented at a brunch on Nov. 11 that is part of PNA's annual three-day convention, held this year at Omni Bedford Springs Resort.