BANGOR – The Bangor Daily News received four awards for its classified advertising, including first- and second-place honors, at an annual convention of advertising professionals last month. The awards ceremony was held Oct. 19-22 in Plymouth, Mass., at the Northeast Classified Advertising Managers Association’s 75th annual sales conference.

Competing with newspapers with circulation totals over 60,000 – including the Toronto Star, Boston Herald and Hartford (Conn.) Courant – the NEWS was awarded first place for its National Folk Festival insert, the official program for the three-day event published Aug. 9. Earning a second-place honor was the 2003 Guide to Summer Camps, published April 10. A June 12 insert titled Career Marketplace and a May 15 transportation supplement titled On the Move won third-place awards.

With approximately 30 papers competing, hailing from Windsor, Ontario, to Annapolis, Md., NEWS Classified Manager Tom Caron said the recognition reflects the paper’s national reputation.

“It’s sort of a measuring guide as to where we stand in the newspaper industry, to show that a paper from Bangor is competitive and informing our readers,” he said.

NCAMA President Kim Welty agrees.

“[The NEWS] had some very stiff competition. It’s quite an honor,” she said.

The publications competed in 16 categories, including best employment, real estate and special sections.

The NEWS’ involvement with the NCAMA dates to 1965, when former advertising manager Wyman Rice served as the organization’s first president. A 35-year employee of the newspaper, Rice retired in 1982.