Boston — The Day's coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic was recognized by the New England Newspaper & Press Association at its annual convention held this past weekend.

The Day received first-place for Best Coverage of Coronavirus as well as the top prize in special section for "Life in the time of the pandemic."

"The Day's coronavirus coverage follows in the best traditions of community journalism," the judges wrote.

In addition, The Day's podcast "Looking for the Todt family" received a first-place plaque. The judges called the podcast, which was produced by Peter Huoppi and Carlos Virgen and written by Sten Spinella and Taylor Hartz, as "the clear winner."

Theday.com was recognized as the best website and best mobile site in its circulation class, with the judge's citing their clean design.

Huoppi placed first for a feature video on a dog that delivers the morning newspaper. Huoppi and Rick Koster were second for an entertainment video about hard it is to find parking in Mystic.

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Elizabeth Reagan was first in general news story for local coverage of the end of the war in Afghanistan with "Troops are coming home but not for these families." The judges wrote: "Americans talk a lot about honoring those who serve, but it's often lip service. This elegantly written tribute captures the anguish lived daily by Gold Star families."

Taylor Hartz placed first in protest coverage with "How a New London woman found her voice as an activist." The judges wrote: "Much protest reporting merely describes events without attempting to explore the personal motivations of the participants. This article is the exception."

The Day and the University of Connecticut received a first-place award for collaboration for "Spirit of the City," a series written by UConn journalism students about faith communities in New London.

The Day also was first in audience involvement for a contest where readers selected the best pizza in the region.

Other awards went to Joe Wojtas, second place, business reporting, for "Local seafood rushed to markets near andFish Tales" series; Karen Florin and Peter Huoppi, second, Combatting Misinformation and Restoring Trust; John Ruddy, third, environmental reporting, for "The Promise of Plum Island," second in headline writing, and second in history reporting for "Good times and bad at Lighthouse Inn"; Kristina Dorsey, third, racial issue coverage, for a law that prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle; and Maria Reagan and Tim Cotter, third, infographic, for "Language of the pandemic."

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