REGIONAL- The Timberjay continued its award-winning tradition in the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, winning 12 awards across a wide range of categories. The awards were presented during the MNA’s 159th annual convention held in Brooklyn Park late last week. The MNA received over 4,000 entries for this year’s competition.
The staff as a whole was awarded first place honors for general reporting.
“Nice enterprise work and good with the basics,” commented the judges. “Nice reporting on events with multiple people and varied participants quoted. Localizing the impact of federal action is often missed.”
Awards for the entire staff also included a second-place award for photography as a whole, as well as second place for use of photography in the Timberjay’s Go Lake Country visitors guide (judges commented on the beautiful photography and terrific layout) The paper was also recognized its editorial page as a whole.
Reporters also recognized
David Colburn’s writing was recognized in four categories. He took first place for a business feature story about Cook’s Northwoods Bait Store. “The story checked the boxes biz profiles need to check while also letting the owners’ personalities shine through,” commented the judges. Colburn also took second place for his social issues story about Bois Forte tribal identity, third place for a story about Northwood’s archer Bailey Brunner, and third place for hard news/coverage of crime for his article about how a warrantless search led to charges being dropped in a theft in Greaney.
Jodi Summit took two third place awards, one for a breaking news story about an explosion and house fire in Tower where the quick thinking of neighbors saved the life of the occupant. “Powerful storytelling and vivid eyewitness detail,” said the judges. “Dramatic scene, heroic rescue of an elderly neighbor, and extensive fire response. Not as wide in impact as political violence or homicide, but extremely strong local breaking reporting.”
Summit was also recognized for her reporting on ambulance supervisor’s Dena Suihkonen’s life-changing accident and her life after being paralyzed. “Great work on what can be a sensitive topic. Especially nice that you could get that interview so soon after the accident.”
Marshall Helmberger was recognized for a series of columns on political topics. “Helmberger takes a no holds barred approach to tackling the ugly side of the current administration’s approach to governing,” said the judges.