The Forward swept the 30th Simon Rockower awards Wednesday night, winning a record 13 awards, including nine first-place honors that recognized journalistic excellence in every section of the weekly newspaper and the overall quality of its website, forward.com.

The awards, honoring the best Jewish journalism published in 2010, were presented by the American Jewish Press Association at its annual conference, held this year in Dallas. Leaders of Jewish newspapers and magazines from around the country attended.

The awards were judged by an independent panel of journalists convened by the AJPA. The Forward competed against newspapers with more than 15,000 circulation.

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“These awards are especially gratifying because they affirm the exceptional breadth and depth of the Forward’s journalism and recognize the hard work of a dedicated and talented staff,” said Editor Jane Eisner.

The work by Art Director Kurt Hoffman and Deputy Art Director Richard Harrington won top honors in two categories — overall design and best front page. Forward.com, led by Gabrielle Birkner, director of digital media, won first place for outstanding website.

The other first-place awards honored for excellence in:

• Editorial Writing, “Faith at Ground Zero,” by Jane Eisner

• Photography, “The Last Shtetl Jews of Belarus,” by Diana Markosian

• Personality Profiles, “The World Cup Winner,” by Dan Friedman

• Special Sections, “Abraham Cahan,” edited by Lillian Swanson and Dan Friedman

• Single Commentary, “When the Slumlords are Us,” by Jill Jacobs

• Health Writing, “C-Sections: A Birthing Debate Divides New Moms,” by Sarah Wildman

Josh Nathan-Kazis won two second-place awards, one for comprehensive coverage for the series, “The Cost of Belonging,” and the other for a profile, “The Leading Jew in Labor Wears Pearls.” A.J. Goldmann won second-place in news reporting for his story, “At the Death Camps, Muslim Leaders Grapple With Jews’ Pain.” Joshua Furst’s review of “The Merchant of Venice” won a second-place award for his story, “Al Pacino’s Pain.”.

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