The Greenville Advocate won seven statewide awards in the Alabama Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

The Alabama Press Association announced on Friday the winners in 26 of the contest’s 41 categories. Winners in the other 15 categories, including General Excellence and Best Newspaper Website, will be announced at the 2015 APA Summer Convention on June 20 in Destin, Fla.

The Greenville Advocate has already picked up two first-place awards, three second-place awards and two third-place awards. The Advocate’s seven awards are the second most awards won by any newspaper in its division.

First place awards included:

• Creative use of multimedia for Greenville Advocate website by staff
• Best use of social media for “Spotted photos” on Facebook by staff

Second place awards included:

• Best photo essay for “Snow Kidding” by Andy Brown
• Best use of graphics or illustrations for “Red, white and boom!” by Andy Brown
• Best headline for “Questions laid to rest” by Andy Brown

Third place awards included:

• Best spot news story for “Bodies found” by Andy Brown
• Best local sports column for “Sportsmanship isn’t dead” by Jonathan Bryant

Seventy newspapers submitted 2,888 entries in the annual contest. Members of the Tennessee Press Association judged the entries.

The Greenville Advocate also won 12 awards in the APA Advertising Contest.

The Advocate picked up four first-place awards, four second-place awards and four third-place awards. The Advocate’s 12 awards are the most by any newspaper in its division. The four first-place awards is also tied for the most first-place awards by any newspaper in its division.

First place awards include:

• Best regularly scheduled special section for “Playbook 2014” by staff
• Best in-paper promotion for “Extra, Extra!” by Tracy Salter
• Best single black and white ad half page and under for “In Memory of Carl Brandon Sellers, Jr.” by April Gregory
• Best classified display ad for Food Depot by Tracy Salter

Second place awards include:

• Best single color ad half page and under for “Greenville Pediatrics” by April Gregory
• Best advertising campaign for Pioneer Electric by Tracy Salter and April Gregory
• Best original/creative idea for “Smart is sexy” by Tracy Salter
• Best use of humor for “Dr. Martin’s Jack O Lantern” by April Gregory

Third place awards include:

• Best single black and white ad half page and under for “Built in Butler County” by Tracy Salter
• Best single color ad over half page for “Walmart’s More Easter for your money” by April Gregory
• Best use of humor for “Dr. Martin’s Dentures” by April Gregory
• Best presentation of online advertising for Greenville Advocate’s website

Forty-four newspapers submitted 1,032 entries in this year’s contest. The entries were judged by members of the Tennessee Press Association.