NCBA Media and the Law Awards Presented

September 19, 2025

The 2025 NCBA Media and the Law Awards were presented on Thursday, September 18, at the Embassy Suites in Cary in conjunction with the annual awards ceremony of the North Carolina Press Association.

NCBA President Rob Harrington presented the awards.

The Media and the Law awards program was established by the North Carolina Bar Association in 1989. Judging, which is conducted by the NCBA Communications Committee, is based on accurate, informative coverage of law-related issues which fosters greater public understanding of the legal system and the role of lawyers in society.

The awards are contested in four categories: best community newspaper article, best daily newspaper article, best online article, and best series (there was no recipient chosen in the best series category this year).

The Media and the Law Award for Best Community Newspaper Article was presented to the staff of the Alamance News for “Disbelief. Anger. Disappointment,” which describes the emotions Kimberly Dick experienced when state officials paroled her mother’s murderer without her a chance to speak at the parole hearing.

Accepting the Media and the Law Award for Best Community Newspaper Article on behalf of the Alamance News was the author of the article, Kristy Bailey.

Judging of the Media and the Law Award for Best Daily Newspaper Article resulted in a tie, so two awards were presented this year.

One winner was Ryan Oehrli of the Charlotte Observer for “Number of private lawyers willing to do court-appointed work in Mecklenburg plumets,” in which he analyzed the declining number of Mecklenburg County attorneys offering to represent indigent clients.

The other winner was Virginia Bridges of the News and Observer for “NC shooting victims land a different kind of justice: big settlements with landlords,” which describes how victims of criminal acts are seeking justice through civil lawsuits.

The Media and the Law Award for Best Online Publication Article was presented to Jennifer Allen of Coastal Review.org for “Coastal Commission Lawyer: CAMA a 50-Year ‘Balancing Act,” which a special news feature included in Coastal Review’s yearlong observance of the 50-year anniversary of the Coastal Area Management Act.

“Congratulations to all of this year’s Media and the Law Award winners, and to everyone who is being honored here tonight,” Harrington said.  “And thanks to all of you for your continued coverage of law-related issues.”