Packet ad reps, artist receive state awards

Newspaper wins top state retail advertising prize for weeklies.

   If you think the display ads in the Princeton Packet are something special, you are not alone. The New Jersey Press Association awarded The Packet with its General Excellence Award, the top retail advertising prize granted to weekly newspapers.
   The results of the 2002 Better Newspaper Contest were announced last week. There are more than 160 weekly newspapers in the state association.
   The General Excellence Award is based on the total number of awards granted in individual retail advertising contests that range from best small black-and-white ad to best special section.
   The Packet won four first-place awards in individual contests.
   Sales manager Marc Mucelli and artist Anna Kinal won a first place for their ad "Salon Vis A Vis" in the category best ad campaign or series, black and white, in the smaller-size segment.
   The advertising staff and sales representative as well as artist Michelle Riganati won a first in the best free-standing insert for one advertiser category for a Bijan Fine Oriental Rug Gallery insert. The same employees won a first in the best newspaper promotion ad or series category for "Tis the Season." That same ad also won a first place in the best new product development category.
   The Packet also won two first places in the classified advertising contest.
   The staff, sales representatives and artist Rich Harvey won a first place in the best classified and/or telemarketing directory category. And classified sales manager Dawn Apisa and Ms. Riganati won a first in the best real estate display ad, multi-color category for the entry, "Quality, Luxury, Location."
   Other Packet Publications newspapers also won awards in the retail advertising contest.
   Sales representatives Thomas Fritts and Claudia Catelli as well as artist Gail Olencki won second place in the best single large color ad category for an advertisement in the Hopewell Valley News. Sales representative Debra Richford and Ms. Riganati won a second place in the best single color ad category for an ad that appeared in The Cranbury Press. Sales representative Laurie Smith and Ms. Riganati won a second place in the best free-standing insert for one advertiser category for an insert that appeared in the Windsor-Hights Herald.