The SNPA Foundation has announced a $25,000 grant to The Post and Courier in Charleston to help stem the growth of news deserts in South Carolina and to incubate a model that can be replicated in other states.

Instead of one contest in which editorials and columns are judged together, two separate contests are being held this year — one for excellence in editorial writing (representing the view of the newspaper) and one for excellence in column writing (columns written by one or more individuals).

In each of those contests, entries will be judged in two circulation brackets: over 35,000 circulation and under 35,000 circulation. And, three cash prizes will be included in each bracket — giving 12 individuals the opportunity to win cash prizes in 2023 (up from four cash prizes in 2022).

Cash prizes will be awarded in the following brackets:

Cash awards will be as follows in each of the four contest brackets: first-place, $2,250; second-place, $1,000; and third-place, $500. This puts total cash prizes at $15,000 — thanks to the generous support of Lissa Walls Cribb and Southern Newspapers, Inc.

In addition to the top three in each bracket, America's Newspapers also will be recognizing additional finalists.

This contest has always sought to recognize strong, courageous and positive editorial page leadership. Judges will be taking the courage it took to write the editorials or columns into highest consideration.

Many qualities can contribute to an excellent column or editorial, including eloquence, clarity, perceptiveness, humor, empathy and outrage, but the rarest and most compelling quality is courage.

Editorial courage isn’t about being reflexively contrarian or provoking readers with partisan views. It’s about taking a risk to tell the truth. It’s saying what many readers won’t want to hear or taking aim at powerful local institutions. That’s a hard thing to do and the reaction can be hard to endure. But it’s essential to the value and integrity of journalism.

The Carmage Walls Commentary Prize seeks to recognize, reward and foster editorial courage.

USA TODAY Editor-in-Chief Nicole Carroll will step down on May 1 after leading the news organization for more than five years.

The Family and Independent Owners Meeting is designed for the senior executives, owners and family members who are directly involved in their company’s operations.  The meeting provides these executives the opportunity to network and share successful strategies to move their business forward.  From issues related to basic operations, business structures or familial transitions, the Family and Independent Owners Meeting fosters a spirit of partnership and innovation.

The 2023 Summer Meeting will be held at the PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — home of the Pittsburgh Pirates! Sessions will begin Tuesday, July 18, at 2 p.m. EDT, followed by a reception and Pirates baseball game that evening. On Wednesday, July 19, sessions will run from 9 a.m to 12:30 p.m., followed by an optional Pirates game that afternoon.