In 2007, 2009, and again in 2013, The Hook won the Virginia Press Association Award for Journalistic Integrity and Community Service, the VPA's highest honor.

[1] The Hook features included the "HotSeat" (in which Charlottesville notables answered questions about everything from what is in their refrigerator to their most embarrassing moments), "4BetterOrWorse" (an often humorous summary of local and national news items), and the "Culture Calendar".

The Hook's webcam showed the streetscape of Charlottesville's Downtown Mall, a pedestrian promenade that includes the local Ice Park and Jefferson and Paramount theaters.

The Washington Post subsequently reported speculation that the deletion of the archives may have been a catch and kill operation.

[2] Following journalism about the removal of the articles, a "mysterious benefactor named F" presented an archive and committed to keep the content available.