The Clanton Advertiser was one of the “Most Improved” newspapers in Alabama during the past year, according to judges of the Alabama Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Awards Contest.

The Most Improved award was one of five “surprise awards” received by the Advertiser for work published in 2013.

APA’s surprise awards are the most significant honors given each year and aren’t announced until the Awards Banquet, which was held Saturday at the Hilton Sandestin Beach resort in Destin, Fla.

Only five newspapers in the state, one in each of the divisions separated by circulation and publication frequency, were recognized with the Most Improved award.

Other awards received by the Advertiser at the banquet included:

•Advertising Sweepstakes (overall advertising award), second place.

•Best Newspaper Website, third place.

•Best Use of Photographs/Editorial Content, third place.

•Best Local Economic Coverage, third place.

“We’re proud of the many APA awards we received,” Managing Editor Stephen Dawkins said. “We constantly strive to improve our products for our readers. Knowing that we’re on the right track helps make our work worthwhile.”

Seventy newspapers submitted 2,606 entries in the Better Newspaper Contest, which was judged by the West Virginia Press Association.

The Advertiser competes in Division B, against other daily community newspapers.

Anonymous judges left comments about award-winning submissions. On the Most Improved recognition, the judge said: “This was a good paper before, but I can see they are serving their reader even better with strong local news. Love the front-page layout, and the presswork is outstanding.”

Thirty-seven newspapers submitted 968 entries in this year’s Advertising Contest, which was also judged by the West Virginia Press Association.

Also, two newspapers that are printed by the Advertiser’s press crew were recognized. The Shelby County Reporter won second place for best presswork in Division C, and the Madison County Record won third place for best presswork in Division D.