BOSTON – The Sun Journal was named the Best in New England Newspaper of the Year award in the Sunday category by the New England Newspaper Association for a third year running.

The paper also received a merit award for general excellence in the daily category.

Awards were presented at a luncheon at the Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston on Friday.

The NENA contest is regarded as one of the most prestigious journalism competitions in New England. Papers are typically judged in 10 areas, including overall appearance, quality of writing and editing, content, photos, use of color, reproductions, advertising quality, editorial pages and sports.

According to judges, the Sun Journal is “one of the better looking newspapers you’ll find.” Its design was described as “elegant and sophisticated throughout.”

Judges also called the paper a “handsomely designed paper full of appealing local, national and syndicated stories.”

A judge praised the Sun Journal’s investigation of state vehicle inspections, calling it “great.” The stories were “well-executed and well-presented,” the judge wrote in an evaluation.

Executive Editor Rex Rhoades said, “Newspaper of the Year honor reflects a total team effort at the Sun Journal.”

Rhoades said he was proud of the Sun Journal and its employees and accepted the awards on behalf of the newspaper’s staff.

Judges included: Phill Casaus, editor at The Albuquerque Tribune; Doug Clancy, assistant managing editor at The Record in New Jersey; Pam Luecke, the Donald W. Reynolds professor of business journalism at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va.; Sharon Roberts, assistant managing editor of the Austin American-Statesman; and, Pat Walker, executive editor of the Bucks County Courier Times in Levittown, Pa.