Current earns top ranks at statewide journalism contest
Awards presented at Texas Press Association convention in Dallas
The Frio-Nueces Current has been presented with several top-rank places in a number of judged journalism categories at the annual Texas Press Association competition.
Awards were presented at the association’s annual convention in Dallas, June 18-20. Members of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association undertook judging of entries in the Better Newspaper Contest this year.
Overall, the Current took second place in Sweepstakes, earning 550 points. The award is earned through cumulative top scores in categories ranging from news writing to sports coverage and photography. Judging this year covered all publications during the 2025 calendar year.
First-place rankings for the Current included news writing by Chief Staff Writer Breyana Segura and sports photography and coverage by Managing and Sports Editor Manuel Azocar III.
Judges noted that Segura’s coverage of an alleged election fraud case in Frio County that led to the arrest of elected officials secured her the top news writing honor.
“Solid reporting with comprehensive details,” the judges wrote. “Both stories (related) stuck to the facts and evidentiary information.”
Azocar secured two first-place accolades in sports writing and photography.
“Very engaging and complete is how I see this entry,” the judges noted. “Makes you want to pick up the paper and read what is happening as well as seeing it in a picture form. Very impressive selection and good job of telling the story of the moment.”
Azocar’s photo of Cotulla Cowgirl softballer Randi Garcia caught judges’ attention, securing the sports editor the top accolade for sports photography.
“Photographer knows how to give the reader an impressive look at what is being covered,” the judges noted. “In the right place at the right time is one thing, but knowing what you want and obtaining it is another.”
Second-place rankings included column writing by Segura and Editor Marc Robertson, editorial writing by Robertson, and the annual special section published in August.
The Fall Sports Preview, a special section featuring all fall sports at area schools, is published each year highlighting local athletes.
“The design was outstanding as were the individual ads highlighting athletes,” the comments read.
Further awards to the Current included third place for headline writing and fourth places for news and feature photography.
Azocar joined the Current as sports editor in 1993 and has served as managing editor since 2016; Robertson joined the staff in 1995 and served as editor from 1998 to 2016 and since 2019; and Segura has been a staff writer since 2012.
