The anticipation was palpable. Would it be first place or second place? When the decision was announced, the reaction was unbridled joy.

It was first place for the Washington Daily News in the general-excellence category, Division D, in the North Carolina Press Association’s 2016 editorial/photography contest. Division D is for daily newspapers with a circulation of less than 12,500 subscribers.

“It’s an honor to be recognized as one of North Carolina’s best newspapers. The NCPA awards are a testament to the hard work of our team, which works tirelessly to serve its community with quality journalism and the information important to the citizens of Washington, Beaufort County and surrounding areas,” said Ashley Vansant, publisher of the Daily News.

Vansant added: “We are thrilled to accept these awards from the NCPA, but our greatest honor is the opportunity to serve our community and readers through our print and digital products.”

The general-excellence award came after a drought of at least 20 years in that category for the Daily News.

“Great page one graphic. Clean layout throughout. Writing is clear and solid. Local editorial on new charter school,” wrote the judge for the general-excellence category.

The Daily News picked up several other awards, including two first-place awards and four third-place awards. Jason Scott, a page designer who left the Daily News on Feb. 4, was honored with two first-place awards, one in the illustration/photo illustration category for his work on Profile 2016 and the May-June 2016 issue of Washington the Magazine, and the other in the feature section-design category for two consecutive Pamlico Life sections. The first Pamlico Life section was published the weekend of Aug. 20-21, and its front page told the story of “Feeling Crabby?” Kevin Scott Cutler wrote that story. The second Pamlico Life section, published the next weekend, and its front page dealt with “Sunflower Memories,” also written by Cutler.

News Editor Vail Stewart Rumley collected a third-place award in the photo page or photo essay category for her “Week of the Young Child” photos on the front page of the April 16-17 Pamlico Life section.

“Very cute … great to get that many people on one page … always a plus!” wrote the judge for the photo-page category.

The Daily News staff took third-place awards in the categories of special section and best niche publication. The special-section award was for the Election Guide 2015, Gridiron Guide 2016 and Profile 2016.

“The Election and Gridiron Guides were well-organized and easy to follow. Good reader service on both,” wrote the judge for the special-section category.

The May-June 2016 edition of Washington the Magazine garnered third place in the category of best niche publication. “This one stood apart with great use of art and white space, creative headlines and an eye toward useful information for readers,” wrote the judge for category of best niche publication.

In the headline-writing category, Mike Voss took third place. The “Whew!” headline was at the top of a story about a heat wave in the summer of 2016. The “It’s a calling” headline topped a story about waterfowl callers. The “Switching hour” headline sat atop an article about setting clocks back an hour to end daylight saving time during Halloween weekend in 2015.

“Good use of tight specs,” wrote the judge for the headline category.

The awards were presented Thursday night in Raleigh at the NCPA’s annual Winter Institute.