away with seven awards in a prestigious North American publishing competition recently.

In all Crown received three first place awards three third place awards and one second place at the annual Inland Press Foundation Newspaper Special Sections contest.

This is the third time that the magazine has won awards in this competition but it is the first time that it has won more than three awards.

The entries were judged on their use of new ideas and new revenue sources and included entries from 147 newspapers in the United States and Canada entered the competition.

Crown won awards in the following categories for newspapers with a circulation of under 25,0000: Fashion -- first place for its May 1999 "Skin Deep'' and February 1999 "White Wedding'' editions; Vendor Support -- third place for the Samuel L. Jackson Golf Classic Official Programme; Shelter -- third place for RG Magazine 's March 1999 Designer Showcase issue.

In the category for newspapers with a circulation of under 25,000 and up to 100,000, RG Magazine won first place in the Transportation section for its April 1999 Car and bike issue, "Hit the Road''.

In the Family category RG Magazine took second place for its September 1998 Family Focus issue, "Child Support''.

Meanwhile in the Business/Industry category The Bottom Line placed first in the under 25,000 category for its RIMS Spring 1999 issue and in the Arts and entertainment category RG Magazine 's place third for the June 1998 Living History edition and the July 1998 Connoisseur's edition.

The awards were given out at a banquet dinner at the Hotel Intercontinental in Chicago on August 19.

The special sections division of The Royal Gazette , Hamilton, Bermuda, claimed seven awards in the under 25,000 circulation category to lead all winners in the Inland Press Association/Newspaper Special Section Network Special Sections Contest.

The Gazette earned three first place nods in the "Business/Industry,'' "Transportation'' and "Fashion'' categories. In addition, the newspaper received a second in the "Family'' category and a third in the "Arts/Entertainment,'' "Vendor Support'' and "Shelter'' categories.

The Tulsa (Okla.) World nabbed three awards in the over 100,000 division including two seconds in the "Transportation'' and "Fashion'' categories.

The paper also received a third place in the "Shelter'' category.

The 1999 special section contest marked a change in the competition with the revamping of the circulation divisions within each category.

Each of the 11 special section categories is divided into three circulation divisions: under 25,000; 25,000-100-000; and over 100,000.

The total number of entries was 848. Four judges reviewed the entries on July 16 at the Inland/NSSN offices in Des Plaines, III.

The judges for the contest were Jerry Mayeroff, independent consultant based in Chicago and former promotions manager for the Chicago Tribute; Kenn Hustel, independent advertising agency, Arlington Heights, III.; Bill Rosegen, newspaper consultant based in Racine, Wis., and former publisher, Journal-Star, Lincoln, Neb.; and Randy Craig, publications editor, Inland Press Association, Des Plaines, III.

MAGAZINE NJ