Two national newswriting awards have been won by Gazette health reporter Eric Eyre, both for his series "State of Decay: West Virginia's Oral Health Crisis."

The Association of Health Care Journalists judged his disclosures to be 2007's best medical writing in any U.S. newspaper under 90,000 circulation. The honor, which carries a $500 cash prize, is to be awarded March 29 at a Washington luncheon.

This is the second consecutive year the Gazette has won the first-place award.

Eyre's other first-place award is from the National Headliners Club, a longtime journalist organization. Judges rated his work to be the best series in any American paper under 75,000 circulation. The honor is to be presented during a May 17 banquet at the Atlantic City convention center.

Last year, Eyre spotlighted the abysmal state of dental health in West Virginia. A Kaiser Media Fellowship supported his research.

Since joining the Gazette in 1998, Eyre, 42, has won 20 national journalism awards, including the Investigative Reporters and Editors Medal, Gerald Loeb Business Journalism Award, Casey Medal for reporting on children and families, Associated Press Managing Editors Public Service Award, and the Education Writers Association grand prize.

A native of Broad Axe, Pa., Eyre is married and has a 12-year-old son.

Two national newswriting awards have been won by Gazette health reporter Eric Eyre, both for his series "State of Decay: West Virginia's Oral Health Crisis."

The Association of Health Care Journalists judged his disclosures to be 2007's best medical writing in any U.S. newspaper under 90,000 circulation. The honor, which carries a $500 cash prize, is to be awarded March 29 at a Washington luncheon.

This is the second consecutive year the Gazette has won the first-place award.

Eyre's other first-place award is from the National Headliners Club, a longtime journalist organization. Judges rated his work to be the best series in any American paper under 75,000 circulation. The honor is to be presented during a May 17 banquet at the Atlantic City convention center.

Last year, Eyre spotlighted the abysmal state of dental health in West Virginia. A Kaiser Media Fellowship supported his research.

Since joining the Gazette in 1998, Eyre, 42, has won 20 national journalism awards, including the Investigative Reporters and Editors Medal, Gerald Loeb Business Journalism Award, Casey Medal for reporting on children and families, Associated Press Managing Editors Public Service Award, and the Education Writers Association grand prize.

A native of Broad Axe, Pa., Eyre is married and has a 12-year-old son.