ANE American Community Newspapers

Company Wins an Impressive 27 Suburban Newspapers of America Honors DALLAS, March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Community Newspapers Inc. (AMEX:ANE) ("ACN") today announced that dozens of its newspapers and employees have been recognized with a total of 46 awards for their outstanding contributions to journalism, including a total of 27 honors from the Suburban Newspapers of America ("SNA") 2007 Editorial Contest. Several of the company's regional newspapers were also recently honored by their respective regional associations for editorial and photography in their local markets, including Minnesota, Ohio and Northern Virginia. Gene Carr, Chairman and CEO of ACN, commented, "On behalf of the honorees, I would like to thank the SNA and the regional associations for their support and recognition. The awards given to our publications were hard-earned and are deeply appreciated. ACN employees strive to maintain our outstanding reputation and ongoing dedication to their local communities. I want to thank them for their continued effort and commitment, and congratulate them on their well-deserved honors." The SNA contest was judged by the American Press Institute, and saw more than 3,000 entries. Winners were recognized at the SNA Spring Publishers' Conference held February 20-22, 2008 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. A full listing of ACN awards from the SNA 2007 Editorial Contest includes: Newspaper Cluster Recipient Award Place Edina Sun- Minnesota Poverty - Community 3rd Place Current, Eden Sun The Poor Service - Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Editorial Eden Prairie Minnesota Poverty - Community 3rd Place Sun-Current, Sun The Poor Service - Eden Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Editorial Bloomington Sun- Minnesota Poverty - Community 3rd Place Current, Eden Sun The Poor Service - Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Editorial Richfield Sun- Minnesota Poverty - Community 3rd Place Current, Eden Sun The Poor Service - Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Editorial Sun Gazette - Sun Gazette Racial Best Editorial Honorable Arlington Publications Divide in Writing Mention Alexandria, VA Arlington New Albany News, Suburban Tix Issue Best Editorial 1st Place Columbus, OH News Tether Cartoon Publications Bill Pickerington Suburban Superinten- Best Editorial 1st Place Times-Sun, News dent Hunt Cartoon Columbus, OH Publications Reynoldsburg Suburban Cherry Best Editorial 2nd Place News, Columbus, News Tomato Cartoon OH Publications Fest Olentangy Valley Suburban Coyote Best Editorial 2nd Place News, Columbus, News Problem Cartoon OH Publications Columbus, OH Suburban School Best Editorial 3rd Place Publications News Funding Cartoon Publications Little Elm Star Roller Best Sports 2nd Place Journal, Plano, Community Girls Writing TX Newspapers The Times, Suburban Chris Best Sports 1st Place Columbus, OH News Miles - Writing Publications Sports Writing Frisco Star Homefield Best Sports 2nd Place Enterprise, Community Advantage Writing Plano, TX Newspapers Bexley News, Suburban A Best News Honorable Columbus, OH News Statement Photo Mention Publications of Protest by Cassandra Bergman McKinney Courier Star Crash Best News 2nd Place Gazette, Plano, Community Scene Photo TX Newspapers The Booster, Suburban Feature Best Feature 1st Place Columbus, OH News Photo - Photo Publications Dan Trittschus The Booster, Suburban Feature Best Feature 3rd Place Columbus, OH News Photo - Photo Publications Dan Trittschus Gahanna News, Suburban Feature Best Feature Honorable Columbus, OH News Photo - Photo Mention Publications Jeffry Worthington Suburban Cheerleader Best Honorable News, Columbus, News Shooting Continuing Mention OH Publications Coverage Coverage Hilliard Suburban Old Best Breaking 3rd Place Northwest News, News Hilliard News Story Columbus, OH Publications Held Hostage Sun-Current Minnesota Autism Best In-Depth 1st Place South Group Sun Series Reporting Newspapers Eagan Sun Minnesota Autism Best In-Depth 1st Place Current, Eden Sun Series Reporting Prairie, MN Newspapers Burnsville Sun Minnesota Celebrating Best Feature 3rd Place Current, Eden Sun Life in Prairie, MN Newspapers the Face of Death Reynoldsburg Suburban Reynolds- Best Local 3rd Place News, Columbus, News burg Election OH Publications Primary Coverage Columbus, OH Suburban Craig Best Non-Page 3rd Place Publications News Rusnak One Layout Publications Layouts Mesquite News, Star Chris Best Non-Page Honorable Plano, TX Community McGathey One Layout Mention Newspapers Lewisville Star Friends Best Young Honorable Leader, Plano, Community and Family People's Mention TX Newspapers Celebrates Coverage 9-Year- Old's Life Alexandria, VA Sun Gazette Arlington Best Coverage 3rd Place Publications Publications Schools of Local and Education/ Students School District Issues Westerville News Suburban Project Best Arts & 1st Place & Public News with Entertainment Opinion, Publications Passion by Writing - Columbus, OH Lisa Feature Aurand Alexandria, VA Sun Gazette Review of Best Arts & 2nd Place Publications Publications Nude Entertainment "Macbeth" Criticism/ Play by Commentary Brian Trompeter Eden Prairie Minnesota Poverty - Best Coverage 1st Place Sun-Current, Sun The Poor of Eden Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Investigative Reporting Edina Sun- Minnesota Poverty - Best Coverage 1st Place Current, Eden Sun The Poor of Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Investigative Reporting Bloomington Sun- Minnesota Poverty - Best Coverage 1st Place Current, Eden Sun The Poor of Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Investigative Reporting Richfield Sun- Minnesota Poverty - Best Coverage 1st Place Current, Eden Sun The Poor of Prairie, MN Newspapers Next Door Investigative Reporting Recognition by the SNA follows ACN's recent award wins at the Minnesota Newspaper Association's ("MNA") "Better Newspaper Contest Awards Presentation," where the Company was honored with more than ten awards given to fifteen ACN employees and nine of its publications. The awards included the event's top prize, the Lynn Smith Community Service Award, presented to The Melrose Beacon for its efforts in leading the community in last year's Sesquicentennial Celebration. The Waconia Patriot took second place in the category for its leadership role in a community-wide effort last summer to honor Waconia's World War II veterans. ACN's Ohio Cluster of properties, Suburban News Publications, was honored with the following awards at the 57th annual Ohio News Photographers Association conference at Kent State University held February 15-16, 2008: -- First Place Photo Staff - A cumulative award recognizing the entire body of work submitted by Tim Johnson and staff. -- Award of Excellence for Assigned Feature - Jeffry Konczal -- Award of Excellence Assigned Feature - Cassandra Bergman -- Award of Excellence Sports Action - Jeffry Konczal -- Award of Excellence Feature Picture Story - Tim Johnson -- 3rd Place General News Photo - Ben French In its Northern Virginia properties, writer Dusty Smith and The Leesburg Today took home third place in General News Writing in the Virginia Press Association's 2007 News, Editorial and Photo Contest. Leesburg Today's 80-page The Guide to Loudoun won second place in the VPA's 2007 Advertising Contest in the category of Guides, Anniversary & Progress Editions. Additionally, Margaret Morton from Leesburg Today received the 2008 Excellence in Veterinary Reporting from the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association for her reporting on the outbreak of a contagious equine ailment. About American Community Newspapers Inc. ACN is a community newspaper publisher in the United States, operating within four major U.S. markets: Minneapolis - St. Paul, Dallas, Northern Virginia (suburban Washington, D.C.) and Columbus, Ohio. These markets are some of the most affluent, high growth markets in the United States, with ACN strategically positioned in many of the wealthiest counties within each market. ACN's goal is to be the preeminent provider of local content and advertising in any market its serves. In these markets, ACN publishes three daily and 83 weekly newspapers, each serving a specific community, and 14 niche publications, with a combined circulation of approximately 1.4 million households. In addition, ACN's locally focused Web sites have average monthly page views and visitors of approximately 5.1 million and 1.3 million, respectively, extending the reach and frequency of its products beyond their geographic print distribution area. DATASOURCE: American Community Newspapers Inc. CONTACT: Nancy Zakhary of Brainerd Communicators for American Community Newspapers Inc., +1-212-986-6667,

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