DES MOINES — The Newton Daily News, Jasper County Tribune and Prairie City News were honored Friday with numerous awards from the Iowa Newspaper Association.
The awards were announced at the association’s awards banquet during the INA 2016 Convention and Trade Show held in Des Moines.
Presentations were made to winners of the 2016 Iowa Better Newspaper Contests, which were judged by the New York Press Association. About 4,000 entries in dozens of categories were judged by class, based on circulation.
Daily Class 1 is for newspapers published daily with 9,999 circulation and less. Daily Class 2 is for newspapers published daily with 10,000 circulation and more. Weekly Class 1 is for newspapers published weekly with 1,135 circulation and less. Weekly Class 2, 1,136 to 1,850 circulation. Weekly Class 3, 1,851 and above circulation.
Mike Mendenhall, news editor of the Jasper County Tribune and Prairie City News, earned the prestigious Outstanding Young Iowa Journalist Award. The Jasper County Tribune was recognized with the elite first place award for General Excellence.
“It’s great to have our work recognized by our peers in the newspaper industry,” said Dan Goetz, publisher of all three newspapers. “I am proud of our staff and appreciate all of their hard work and dedication. We are blessed with a team of talented, bright and professional journalists, ad designers and other staff who are well-deserving of these honors.”
Here is the full list of awards earned by each newspaper:
Newton Daily News, Daily Class 1
Coverage of Agriculture, Second Place
Coverage of Court and Crime, Third Place
Best Special Section-Editorial, Third Place
Best Newspaper Website, Second Place
Best Use of Social Media, First Place
Best Breaking News Photo, Third Place: Jason W. Brooks
Best Sports Photo, Third Place: Jocelyn Sheets
Best Feature Photo, First Place: Mike Mendenhall
Best Feature Photo, Third Place: Mike Mendenhall
Best Newspaper Marketing, First Place
Best Ad Featuring Furniture, Furnishings, Appliances or Hardware, First Place: Samantha Jackson
Best Web Advertisement, Third Place
Jasper County Tribune, Weekly Class 1
General Excellence, First Place
Best Front Page, First Place
Coverage of Education, First Place
Coverage of Agriculture, Second Place
Coverage of Business, First Place
Total Newspaper Design, Second Place
Best Use of Social Media, First Place
Best News Story, First Place: Mike Mendenhall
Best Breaking News Story, Second Place: Jason W. Brooks
Best News Feature Story, Third Place: Mike Mendenhall
Best Sports Feature Story, Second Place: Troy Hyde
Master Columnist, First Place: Mike Mendenhall
Best Breaking News Photo, Third Place: Mike Mendenhall
Prairie City News, Weekly Class 1
General Excellence, Second Place
Best Front Page, Second Place
Coverage of Education, Second Place
Coverage of Agriculture, First Place
Coverage of Business, Third Place
Coverage of Court and Crime, First Place
Best Use of Social Media, Second Place
Best News Feature Story, Second Place: Mike Mendenhall
Best Personality Feature Story, First Place: Alex Olp
Best Sports Story, Second Place: Troy Hyde
Best News Photo, Second Place: Mike Mendenhall
Outstanding Young Iowa Journalist: Mike Mendenhall