Taped to my computer every day as I write and edit is this from the writer Ursula Le Guin: "There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories."

I thought of that sitting at the awards lunch Friday at the Long Wharf Marriott in Boston peering across the table at Steve Winters who has been writing and editing at this newspaper since 1972. His editorials, a particularly tough form of storytelling, helped the Connecticut Post win the Newspaper of the Year Award from the New England Newspaper Association.

As the judges talked of elegant design, I looked across the table at our Design Editor Lee Steele. And as we heard about "compelling" photography, I noticed Photo Editor Cathy Zuraw, camera in hand, at our table. She was sitting next to Business Editor Pam Dawkins who listened intently as these tough judges criticized New England business coverage generally — but said our Money section was a "plus" for our newspaper.

Assistant Managing Editor Ted Tompkins went up to accept our second place "Distinguished Newspaper" award for our Sunday edition. "Well designed, well edited — a very strong newspaper," the judges said of our Sunday paper, planned by Mr. Tompkins with Weekend Editor Jim Shay.

Rounding out the lunch table were Marianne and Bob Laska, Connecticut Post publisher who fights hard in these tough economic times to make sure we have the resources we need to continue to put out Newspaper

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of the Year quality journalism.

This is a craft that generates a lot of different awards, some of them more coveted than others. I've got to say, New England Newspaper of the Year feels pretty good. I truly liked what the out-of-state judges had to say about us:

"A captivating blend of news, features, sports and business."

"The subjects on your pages reflect some of the diversity in the community."

"You are clearly providing a public service to your readers."

"You give voice to the people in your community, and that voice can be 'heard' in every section."

"Your feature sections are creative, and it is clear your writers are having fun. It is a good mix of writing styles that reflect the diversity of the topics you cover."

Managing Editor Michael J. Daly and I often say that good journalism is serious, hard work, but that newsrooms should also be a fun place to work.

These judges even remembered our most unsung workers, the copy editors, led by News Editor Linda Levinson, who write the headlines and check stories for grammar, spelling, accuracy and fairness. "The headlines do a great job of previewing the stories . . . They are fun when needed, somber when called for. At all times, they draw the reader in."

One judge, an editor and publisher from North Dakota, reminded the banquet room full of newspaper people that the quality of the printing "is part of the excellence" of any publication put out on newsprint. And so, let me thank Production Director Frank Oliva and his press crew for their exacting labors in the miracle of producing a daily newspaper.

And so credit also goes to the four image setters who work to tone and fine tune our photos to ensure they are presented as crisply as possible in print.

In our reporting, these judges talked of "in-depth local news coverage" and how "the breadth" of coverage is "to be commended."

And they say it is there in every section, so thank you Sports Editor Gary Rogo, Features Editor Sev Rinaldi, Arts Editor Patrick Quinn, Metro Editor John Schwing, and State Editor Anne Amato and your reporters who provide the "compelling and creative writing" these judges found.

A newsroom today puts out more than a newspaper and the judges didn't ignore how the printed Post complements our Web site, ConnPost.com, edited so capably by Assistant Managing Editor Todd Hollis and Online Editor Jeff Bustraan.

It takes a whole staff to earn Newspaper of the Year.

James H. Smith is the editor of the Connecticut Post. You can reach him at 203-330-6325 or by e-mail at jsmith@ctpost.com.