Chronicle Media Editor-in-Chief Rick Hibbert (left) accepts an award on behalf of writer Paul Sassone for Best Original Column from Illinois Press Association board member Gary Sawyer. Photo / Illinois Press Association

The 151^st annual Illinois Press Association conference was successful for Chronicle Media, LLC as it earned six awards in the IPA Excellence in News Contest.

Cook County Chronicle brought home three awards as Paul Sassone earned a first place in the Original Column category, Jean Lotus placed third in the News Reporting – Series category and Kevin Beese placed third in the Government Beat Reporting category.

Chronicle Media placed second in the Best Website Category.

Suburban Chronicle and Winnebago Chronicle each received an honorable mention in the Headline Writing category.

Judges said of Sassone’s columns, “Brief, engaging. These are informative with just the right amount of personal perspective to keep them from drying out.”

Chronicle Media received high marks for its website as judges said, “Easy-to-read site that has a responsive design, which means it shrinks or grows based on screen size. Plenty of content.”

Judges were impressed with Beese’s government reporting, simply calling it “Succinct. Good coverage.”

Of Lotus’ news series on the Body-parts trade, Judges said that “This series was eye-opening and made a local connection to a widespread issue.”

More than 100 daily and non-daily newspapers competed in 37 editorial categories.

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association judged more than 3,000 editorial entries.

Read Jean Lotus’ four-part series:

Arizona couple pleads guilty in body parts ring

FBI investigates Schiller Park human body-parts lab

Unregulated cadaver parts industry helped build Rosemont’s reputation for surgical training

FBI indicts couple in body-parts investigation

— Chronicle Media, LLC wins 6 awards in annual IPA contest —