This photo of Heather Jackson reacting to her victory in July 2018’s Ironman Lake Placid triathlon won best sports photo by a small-circulation newspaper in the New York State Associated Press Association’s annual contest. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Adirondack Daily Enterprise has been honored as the Newspaper of Distinction among New York’s small newspapers for 2018 by the Associated Press.

That announcement came after the Enterprise had already won five other awards — four first place and one second — in various categories at the annual awards banquet for the New York State Associated Press Association, held Saturday at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs.

The other first place awards were for business reporting, arts and entertainment reporting, sports photo and page design. The second-place award was for a headline.

“The numerous awards are a result of our staff who are deeply committed to journalism with their compelling and engaging coverage of our communities,” Enterprise Publisher Catherine Moore said. “The most prestigious award that we are most proud of is the Newspaper of Distinction. We believe offering good journalism that our readers trust and support will make us resilient to the challenges of the future for our newspaper and the communities we serve.”

The state AP association gives the Newspaper of Distinction plaque to the best overall newspaper in each of four circulation classes; the Enterprise won among the smallest. Judges base their decisions on three 2018 newspapers each entrant submits. The Enterprise submitted issues from Jan. 17, leading with news of the governor’s budget offering big money to renovate Lake Placid’s Olympic venues; Feb. 3, leading with the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Coronation, the expansion of the High Peaks Wilderness and a manslaughter sentencing; and Oct. 26, leading with the Lake Placid Film Festival and Paul Smith’s College tick studies.

Two of the other first-place awards went to Griffin Kelly, a reporter who left the Enterprise in May. One, Business Writing, was for a news story called “Preparing for cryptominers.”

“What an excellent breakdown of a complicated and intimidating subject,” the judge wrote. “The clear, easy description of cryptomining and its energy consumption successfully and succinctly breaks down both. It allows readers to walk away with a better understanding of the impacts, both positive and negative, of allowing cryptomining in other communities.”

Kelly also won for Arts and Entertainment Reporting, for a feature on mp3 music playlists for residents of the Mercy Living Center nursing home in Tupper Lake.

“The detail included in this story makes me feel like I am at the nursing home, in the room with these patients,” the judge wrote. “These details build to create an incredibly thorough story about a simple measure that improves the quality of life for patients at the center. The explanation of the science behind these playlists and the impact that music can have on residents is astounding and creates a clear picture of how useful this program is. This story inspired me to create my own playlist for the future.”

Managing Editor Peter Crowley won first place for News Full Page Design, for the front page showing that Chris Mazdzer of Saranac Lake had won an Olympic silver medal in luge. The judge noted the page’s

“clean layout, good flow and two very strong photographs.”

Senior Sports Writer Lou Reuter won first place for Sports Photo for his picture of the female Ironman triathlon winner crossing the finish line, which led page A1 under the headline “Tri-umph.”

Staff Writer Aaron Cerbone won second place in Headline Writing for “Drivers keep crashing into same garage.”

“The headline is really direct, telling exactly what the story is about,” the judge wrote. “It’s eye-catching.”

Judges for these awards are journalists from other states.

This is one of three statewide awards contests the Enterprise enters each year. The Enterprise won seven awards in the 2018 New York Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, announced in April. Winners of the third contest, by the New York News Publishers Association, will be announced in July.