Barnes is a writer, editor and Web developer and works part-time for the Cary News and the other News & Observer local community papers.

His Web site, www.cb3media.com, was one of four new sites honored and the only one based in North Carolina. In fact, of the nearly 100 sites honored throughout North America in various categories, CB3media was one of only two NC-based sites.

John De Lellis of Communications Concepts says with nearly 5,000 entries in various categories, the competition was intense. He says the award was based on excellence in design, editorial content and the success of the entry in achieving overall communications effectiveness and excellence.

One judge wrote: "CB3media is a warm, inviting Web site, which makes visitors feel at home -- a very handy quality for a Web site. It offers a clean, simple layout with fast, easy navigation, tightly written pages discussing available services, and a helpful selection of useful feature articles. Worth a visit!"

A new feature of the Web site - www.cb3media.com/heelprints - analyzes UNC basketball games.

Barnes, a 1982 UNC-Chapel Hill grad, also picked up an APEX award of excellence in the profile writing category for an article he wrote titled "A day in the life of a feline veterinarian." One judge wrote: "What a charmingly written piece… You don't have to be a cat lover to enjoy the read."

The article was originally published in Cat Fancy Magazine and is now featured, with permission, on the CB3media Web site.

Barnes, who has won nearly 60 national and state journalism awards, served as director of communications for the Cary-based N.C. Bar Association from 1987 to 2002 and, before that, was a newspaper writer and editor. Along with his wife Andrea, he raises their son William Griffin.