JANESVILLE
For the fourth consecutive year, ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ on Thursday was named overall Newspaper of the Year by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.
It is the top award among all daily newspapers in the state and comes despite ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ competing in a category with larger newspapers.
ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ previously won seven consecutive Newspaper of the Year awards in its circulation category. ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ won that award again Thursday, too.
The Newspaper of the Year prize was based on 37 news awards and 42 advertising awards received by the newspaper and its staff.
Awards in the 2018 Better Newspaper Contest were presented during the association’s 165th annual convention Thursday at the Concourse Hotel in Madison.
“This year’s recognition by our industry peers as Wisconsin’s best daily newspaper for the fourth year in a row is a remarkable, unequaled achievement by a dedicated group of professional journalists, account representatives, circulation/distribution agents and production staff,†said Sidney H. Bliss, president of Bliss Communications, the parent company of ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½.
“It represents an unparalleled daily commitment to comprehensive local news coverage by our entire team,†Bliss said.
ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ this year competed in Division A, which includes publications with 20,000 or more print and electronic subscriptions.
The 2018 Better Newspaper Contest included 2,799 entries from 121 newspapers.
Eligible entries were published between Sept. 1, 2017, and Aug. 31, 2018, and were judged by members of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association.
Awards won by ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ news and advertising departments are:
News
- First Place, Best Front Page, Tim Seeman, Shawn Sensiba, Greg Little.
- First Place, Feature/Lifestyle Section, Shari Rampenthal.
- First Place, General News Story, Ashley McCallum.
- First Place, Feature (Profile), Jonah Beleckis.
- First Place, Reporting on Local Education, Catherine W. Idzerda.
- First Place, Environmental Reporting Award, Jim Dayton.
- First Place, All-Around Newspaper Photography, Angela Major, Anthony Wahl.
- First Place, General News Photo, Angela Major.
- First Place, Feature Photo, Angela Major.
- First Place, Photo Essay, Angela Major.
- First Place, Graphics, Anthony Wahl.
- First Place, Best Website, Dave von Falkenstein, Staff.
- Second Place, Best Special Section, Shari Rampenthal, Staff.
- Second Place, Sports Section, Eric Schmoldt, Tom Miller, John Barry, Bryan Wegter.
- Second Place, Feature/Lifestyle Section, Shari Rampenthal.
- Second Place, Best Headlines, Tim Seeman.
- Second Place, “Rookie†Reporter of the Year, Ashley McCallum.
- Second Place, General News Story, Jonah Beleckis.
- Second Place, Reporting on Local Government, Jim Dayton.
- Second Place, Local Column, Anna Marie Lux.
- Second Place, Sports News Story, Eric Schmoldt, John Barry.
- Second Place, Sports Feature, Bryan Wegter.
- Second Place, Local Sports Column, Eric Schmoldt.
- Second Place, Best Localized National Story, Ashley McCallum.
- Second Place, Page Design—Sports, Bryan Wegter.
- Second Place, Graphics, Bryan Wegter.
- Second Place, General Excellence.
- Third Place, Editorial Section, Andrew Broman.
- Third Place, Local Outdoor Column, Anna Marie Lux.
- Third Place, Graphics, Anthony Wahl.
- Honorable Mention, General News Story, Frank Schultz.
- Honorable Mention, Feature (Profile), Jim Dayton.
- Honorable Mention, Ongoing/Extended Coverage, Nate Jackson.
- Honorable Mention, Sports Feature, Eric Schmoldt, John Barry.
- Honorable Mention, Best Localized National Story, Jim Dayton.
- Honorable Mention, General News Photo, Anthony Wahl.
- Honorable Mention, Photo Essay, Angela Major.
Advertising
- First Place, Bill Payne Award, Mary Hamlin.
- First Place, Best Grocery Ad, Sara Van Galder.
- First Place, Best Restaurant Ad, Trish Edwards.
- First Place, Best Real Estate Ad, Nina Perona.
- First Place, Best Large Ad, Mary Hamlin.
- First Place, Best Small Ad, Nina Perona.
- First Place, Best Ad Idea (Series), Sara Van Galder, Anthony Wahl.
- First Place, Best Special Section, Staff.
- First Place, Best Use of Color, Mary Hamlin.
- First Place, Best Use of Art Service, Mary Hamlin.
- First Place, Best Use of Local Photography, Sara Van Galder, Anthony Wahl.
- First Place, Best Use of Humor, Trish Edwards.
- First Place, Best Newspaper Promotion, Sara Van Galder, Anthony Wahl.
- First Place, Best Niche Product, Pam Schmoldt, Donna Felland, Emily Rezin, Staff.
- First Place, Innovative Online Advertising, Justin Winkofsky.
- First Place, Best Digital Ad, Justin Winkofsky.
- Second Place, Bill Payne Award, Sara Van Galder, Anthony Wahl.
- Second Place, Best Grocery Ad, Mary Hamlin.
- Second Place, Best Real Estate Ad, Nina Perona.
- Second Place, Best Large Ad, Mary Hamlin.
- Second Place, Best Ad Idea (Series), Nina Perona.
- Second Place, Best Special Section, Staff.
- Second Place, Best Use of Color, Mary Hamlin.
- Second Place, Best Multiple Advertiser Spread, Rachel Vogt.
- Second Place, Best Use of Art Service, Justin Winkofsky.
- Second Place, Innovative Online Advertising, Sybil Winchel.
- Second Place, Best Digital Ad, Mary Hamlin.
- Third Place, Best Restaurant Ad, Nina Perona, Anthony Wahl.
- Third Place, Best Real Estate Ad, Trish Edwards.
- Third Place, Best Large Ad, Cindy Micha.
- Third Place, Best Small Ad, Mary Hamlin.
- Third Place, Best Ad Idea (Series), Trish Edwards.
- Third Place, Best Special Section, Staff.
- Third Place, Best Use of Color, Sara Van Galder.
- Third Place, Best Multiple Advertiser Spread, Rachel Vogt.
- Third Place, Best Use of Art Service, Sybil Winchel.
- Third Place, Best Ongoing Niche Publication, Staff.
- Third Place, Innovative Online Advertising, Nina Perona.
- Third Place, Best Digital Ad, Mary Hamlin.
- Honorable Mention, Best Grocery Ad, Mary Hamlin.
- Honorable Mention, Best Use of Local Photography, Nina Perona, Anthony Wahl.
- Honorable Mention, Best Ongoing Niche Publication, Staff.
