The prize is named for the late Benjamin Carmage Walls whose newspaper career spanned seven decades. Walls primarily owned community newspapers and advocated strong, courageous and positive editorial page leadership. His daughter — Lissa Walls Cribb — is CEO of Southern Newspapers.

Bridget Grumet, metro columnist with the Austin American-Statesman, was the recipient of the Carmage Walls Commentary Prize among large-circulation newspapers. Grumet also was awarded an Honorable Mention for a second entry. She was presented the award by Lissa Walls Cribb, CEO of Southern Newspapers. (Photo by Jeff Strout for America's Newspapers)

PJ Browning (right), publisher of The Post and Courier in Charleston, presented the Carmage Walls Commentary Prize (under 50,000 circulation) to Cindi Scoppe (left), editorial writer, on Tuesday, Oct. 25, during the paper's quarterly business meeting. (Photo by Grace Beahm Alford / The Post and Courier)

Kris Worrell, editor-in-chief of The Virginian-Pilot, presented the second-place Carmage Walls Commentary Prize in the over 50,000 circulation category to Brian Colligan, opinion editor of The Virginian-Pilot.

Dave Stafford, opinion page editor of The Republic in Columbus, Indiana, was the second-place recipient in the under 50,000 circulation bracket. (Photo by Mike Wolanin/The Republic)