The Day Publishing Co. was presented with more than 30 awards, including six-first place awards in advertising, at the New England Better Newspaper Conference this weekend in Boston.

Mystic Country magazine was first in the Niche Publication category. Judges touted it as clean, attractive and user friendly.

Other firsts in advertising were in Business Innovation for Deal of the Day; Advertising Campaign for New London Harbor Towers; Automotive Display for Valenti Presidents Day; Local Color Ad for Marvel Home; and Real Estate Display Ad for Whiting Farm.

Grace magazine placed third in Advertising General Excellence. Second-place awards were received in the Real Estate Display Ad and Themed Ad categories and a third place in Local Color Ad.

The Day’s editorial page received a first-place award, with the judges noting a “hard-hitting package” by Ann Baldelli on a lack of diversity in the New London Fire Department. Editorial Page Editor Paul Choiniere was third in editorial writing. The business page placed second with the judges being impressed with its local content and bright writing.

Staff Writer Julianne Hanckel placed first in personality profile writing for a feature on Adam Coats and Brock and Mike, his two oxen that he was training for competition. “The writer crafts virtually every word of this profile,” the judges said.

The Day’s staff received a third-place award in crime and courts reporting for its coverage of the murder of Matthew Chew. A collaboration between The Day and the journalism department at UConn was recognized with a third-place award in government reporting for an exhaustive look at the performance of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. The Day’s local election coverage placed second in that category.

Kenton Robinson was first in human interest feature story and Claire Bessette third in social issues feature story. Judy Benson received honorable mention in environmental reporting and Jenna Cho in education reporting. Jeffrey A. Johnson was third in personality profile writing for a story in The Montville Times. Amy J. Barry placed second for a column in The Source weekly newspaper.

Tim Martin was second in general news photo and sports photo

The Day’s overall design and headline writing both placed second.

Theday.com received six awards. Photographer Abigail Pheiffer was first in slide show, Peter Huoppi and Jenna Cho second and Huoppi and Rick Koster third in video. Second-place honors went for overall web site, digital/print convergence and digital news presentation.

The awards are presented annually by the New England Newspaper & Press Association.