March 19, 2024

Newton Daily News wins numerous state awards

Jasper County Tribune, Prairie City News make statement in weeklies class

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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