NorthCountryNow.com and North Country This Week have received statewide recognition for a seven-part series that analyzed what might happen if Village of Potsdam voters had decided to dissolve their government.

The website was also honored for high levels of viewer participation at the New York Press Association annual convention in Saratoga.

“Dissolution: The Debate,” which was published last fall in the weeks leading up to the dissolution vote, won second place in the “Best News or Feature Series” category of the NYPA “Better Newspaper Contest.”

The dissolution series featured 25 stories, graphs, charts and sidebars that dissected budgets, analyzed proposals and estimated the effects of abandoning a layer of local government. The paper also published at least 26 letters representing all sides of the issue.

“Wow. I don’t think you missed a single possible angle,” wrote one of the judges. “Well done.”

NorthCountryNow.com and North Country This Week competed against similarly sized papers from the Hamptons on Long Island to the suburbs of Buffalo, owned both by corporate groups and individuals. Hundreds of weekly newspapers, small dailies and specialty publications belong to the press association and competed in the “Better Newspaper Contest.”

Competing against newspapers of all sizes, NorthCountryNow.com also received a second place award for “Best Citizen Involvement.”

Viewers frequently submit photos, Sound Offs, links and lost-and-found items as well as press releases, letters and milestones announcements to NorthCountryNow.com.

That offers “multiple opportunities for citizens to become involved with their community newspaper and essentially become another arm of the newsroom and facet of the newspaper’s coverage of a variety of events,” the judges wrote. “Nice work.”

The website also was recognized with an honorable mention for “Best Online Revenue Producer.” The judges noted classified advertising on NorthCountryNow.com has increased in the past year, despite the presence of CraigsList.org. “Good to see papers combating against CraigsList to get those ads back,” the judges wrote.

North Country This Week earned a second place award for “Best Small Space Ad” for a Julian’s Restaurant ad promoting the Beaujolais Nouveau Party to benefit the Potsdam Holiday Fund. “The well balanced text and artwork in this ad convey the elegant dining experience one would expect at this restaurant,” the judges wrote. The ad was designed by Debbie Morgan.

A third place award was received for “Best Large Space Ad” for a TJ Toyota ad promoting “Sweetheart Deals.” It was designed by Morgan and John Basham.

And the paper received an Honorable Mention for “Best Color Ad Created by Newspaper.” “Headline catches you right off the bat,” said the judges. “Good picture choices. Simple and effective.”