The winning submissions included articles that highlighted feature writing, community coverage and feature photography.
By Katie Mangee
WALTER Magazine was among the North Carolina publications recognized in the 2026 North Carolina Press Association awards, with honors for profile features, photo pages, special sections, community coverage, covers and illustrations.
WALTER is a member of the North Carolina Press Association, which has supported North Carolina journalism since 1873. This nonprofit organization promotes local journalism, protects First Amendment rights and advocates for public access to government information.
Each year, the NCPA recognizes outstanding work from its member publications. WALTER’s entries are considered against those from other local and regional magazines across the state. This year’s guest judges were members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. The 2026 contest honored work published between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. Awards were presented Sept. 10 at the NCPA’s annual banquet in Cary.
We’re excited to share the WALTER stories and photography recognized in this year’s competition:
1st Place, Profile Feature
“Through Canvas and Camera,” July 2025
Written by Colony Little | Photographed by Autumn Harrison
2nd Place, Photo Page or Essay
“Brewing Friendship,” November 2025
Written by Katherine Snow Smith | Photographed by Jillian Clark
2nd Place, Special Section or Publication
“Parade Preview,” October 2025
Produced by Cristina Baker, Rachel Simon and Laura Wall
3rd Place, Community Coverage
February 2026 issue
Produced by Ayn-Monique Klahre, Addie Ladner and Laura Wall
Contributors: Anna Routh Barzin, Lidia Churakova, Finn Cohen, Liz Condo, Catherine Currin, Jim Dodson, Ian F.G. Dunn, Mike Dunn, Jaki Shelton Green, Kelli Fletcher, Fred L. Joiner, Susanna Klingenberg, Colony Little, Forrest Mason, David Menconi, Gerry O’Neill, Kate Shepherd, Joshua Steadman, Helen Yoest, Michael Zimmerman
3rd Place, Cover of the Year
March 2026 issue
Produced by Laura Wall | Art by Matt Wilson
3rd Place, Illustration/Photo Illustration/Print or Interactive Graphics
“A Song,” May 2025
Poem by Paul Jones | Illustration by Jenn Hales
All content can be found on waltermagazine.com and back issues can be seen on ISSUU.
WALTER thanks its staffers and the many contributors — writers, photographers, illustrators, editors and interns — who work to celebrate “the art and soul of Raleigh.”
This article was originally published on Sept. 17, 2026.
