Banker & Tradesman took home four awards for journalistic excellence from the recent New England Newspaper & Press Association’s 2012 "New England Better Newspaper Competition."

The paper won awards for overall design, headline writing and infographics.

In the weekly newspaper design category, the production staff and staff writer James Cronin won first place for infographics with the "In the Zone" feature, which pinpointed six potential redevelopment sites on underutilized parcels in a more industrial section of Boston’s stylish South End neighborhood. The graphic complimented an in-depth article on those potential projects.

The paper’s production staff also won first place for overall design and presentation for weeklies, as well as an additional award for graphics.

"A clean look with a purposely traditional feel sets this paper apart from others in this category," wrote the judges in a statement.

In headline writing, the newspaper’s former Managing Editor Cory Hopkins took second place for weeklies.