JACKSON — The advertising and marketing staff of The Natchez Democrat won 23 awards, including first place in advertisement of the year and second place in overall advertising excellence, in the Mississippi Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, advertising division.

The awards were handed out Saturday at the annual mid-winter conference in Jackson.

The first place in advertisement of the year went to Ryan Richardson for her “Cathedral School” ad.

The Democrat competes with newspapers in its circulation size, 9,000 to 15,000.

First-place awards were:

• Institutional advertisement, color, “Cathedral School” — Ryan Richardson

• Small space advertisement, color, “Some things are better” — Heather Bass

• Editorial special section, newsprint, “Profile 2012” — staff

• Magazine periodical, Natchez the Magazine” — staff

• Niche product, “Profile 2012” — staff

• Magazine advertisement, “All in favor of a stress free holiday” — Rita Brooks

Second-place awards were:

• Advertising excellence award — staff

• Service advertisement, black and white, “Helping local business” — Bass

• Political advertisement, black and white, “Jerry Clark” — Bass

• Auto advertisement, black and white, “It’s spring savings time” — Brooks

• Service advertisement, color, “2 paws up” — Brooks

• Theme page, “Natchez, Mississippi” — staff

• Online advertisement, “You focus on living” — Brooks

• Best section or edition dedicated to retail sales promotion, glossy — staff

• Best section or edition dedicated to retail sales, newsprint — staff

• Service ad, spot or process color — Brooks

Third-place awards were:

• Institutional advertisement, color, “Open minds, open hearts” — Justin Clarkston

• Small space ad, black and white, “Come shop great deals” — Clarkston

• Advertising special section, newsprint — “Fall Pilgrimage” — staff

• Advertising special section, glossy, “Lift off 2011” — staff

• Silver dollar idea, “A gift for you” — staff

• Magazine advertisement, “RRUS & Co.” — Bass

• Best section or edition dedicated to retail sales, newsprint — staff