Courier honored for outstanding education reporting

April 13– The Courier has been selected to receive a Tennessee Education Association School Bell Award for outstanding coverage by a weekly and semi-weekly newspaper.

The award honors media representatives for their coverage of education news and issues, and the role they play in shaping public opinion.

Specifically, the award program seeks to recognize outstanding contributions to the interpretation of issues facing public schools and to help local education associations become more aware of the importance of contributions of the communications media.

"Education is key to our community’s continued growth and success. Over the years we have worked hard to report fairly and accurately both the successes of Hardin County schools and the challenges and hurdles to be overcome," said Courier General Manager Jim Thompson.

The Courier’s winning entry for 2009 included hard news stories and an editorial by News Editor Ron Schaming concerning school consolidation in Hardin County, and feature stories by Staff Writer Linda Folkerts.

All School Bell Award recipients are invited to attend the annual awards luncheon at the TEA headquarters in Nashville in May. Award recipients are presented an inscribed brass school bell.

The Courier has now received seven School Bell Awards since 1979.