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The Suffolk News-Herald and Suffolk Living won 22 awards in the Virginia Press Association’s annual competitions in advertising, writing, photography, artwork, news presentation and multimedia.

The awards originally were set to be presented at its annual conference April 4, which would have been held this year in Roanoke. But after that event was canceled because of COVID-19, the association announced the winners online on April 30.

The Suffolk News-Herald competed this year in Daily Group 2, which included seven daily publications with circulation between 10,000 and 30,000. This was the News-Herald’s first year in the Daily Group 2 after moving up from Daily Group 1, smaller dailies, as the Virginia Press Association sought to realign competition groups with roughly equal numbers of publications.

“I am especially pleased we were able to perform so well in this annual competition with this year’s move to a higher circulation group,” Editor Tracy Agnew said. “It is an important boost for our staff members and demonstrates to our readers that they have an excellent local newspaper and magazine serving their community.”

Reporter Jimmy LaRoue and former reporter Alex Perry won first place in the video category for their video coverage of the Suffolk Public Library’s IconiCon event.

Editor Tracy Agnew won first place in the editorial writing category.

Designer Jen Jaqua won first place for her illustrations used to enhance the appearance of the Priceless Pets section.

The news staff also won the following awards:

• Second place — Jen Jaqua — illustrations
• Second place — Jen Jaqua — front pages
• Second place — Alex Perry — general news photo
• Second place — Alex Perry — breaking news writing
• Second place — Alex Perry — health, science and environmental writing
• Third place — Jen Jaqua — member self-promotion
• Third place — Jen Jaqua — informational graphics
• Third place — Alex Perry — breaking news photo
• Third place — Alex Perry — feature photo
• Third place — Alex Perry — public safety writing
• Third place — Jimmy LaRoue — general news photo
• Third place — Alex Perry and Jimmy LaRoue — video
• Third place — Alex Perry, Jimmy LaRoue and Jen Jaqua — picture story or essay

Advertising staff also won four awards, a first place and second place for special sections — the Isle of Wight Newcomers’ Guide and the Locals Choice Winners, respectively — and a first place and third place for the Veterans Day page and Memorial Day page, respectively.

For the magazine, freelance designer and photographer Troy Cooper won second place for front pages and third place in personality or portrait photo for a shot of local historian Kermit Hobbs showing off the Nansemond River Ghost Fleet.