PORTLAND — The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram’s Features sections have collectively been named one of the best in the nation by the Society of Features Journalism.

Rod Harmon, deputy managing editor for features, said the newspapers’ Food & Dining, GO and Audience sections placed in the top three for the newspapers’ circulation division – under 90,000.

The 24th annual Society of Features Journalism contest does not name first, second or third place winners, just the top three for each division.

Features writer Bob Keyes also won a second place award in the Arts and Entertainment Commentary category. Keyes was cited for three stories that appeared in Sunday Telegram Audience columns.

Keyes wrote about the controversy surrounding Gov. Paul LePage’s decision to remove a labor mural from a state office building, the impact retiring Wiscasset art teacher Thomas Block had on his students, and a profile of poet Wesley McNair – one of Maine’s best known poets.

“It’s always gratifying to be recognized for your work, but winning the best features section award from the Society of Features Journalism is especially significant due to the fact that we are competing with newspapers from across the nation,” Harmon said, in a prepared statement.

“I am very proud of Bob and everyone on the features staff whose hard work and dedication made this possible,” Harmon added.