Montrose Daily Press named top newspaper for news coverage...

Montrose Daily Press named top newspaper for news coverage, editorials, photojournalism and design by Colorado Press Association

STAFF REPORT

DENVER – The Montrose Daily Press won first place, the Editorial Sweepstakes Award and first place Photojournalism/Design Sweepstakes Award in its circulation class, it was announced Saturday at the 132nd annual convention of the Colorado Press Association at the Brown Palace Hotel. In all, the Montrose Daily Press and its staff members were honored with 30 awards that contributed to the winning of the two major sweepstakes awards. Judges were editors and publishers from the Oklahoma Press Association.

The Press was also the CPA award winner for first place, Public Service, for its investigative and enterprise reporting project/special section of the proposed Pinon Ridge Uranium Mill in the West End of Montrose County. It is the fifth first place CPA Public Service Award the Daily Press has received.

“While a good deal of our work is routine, if not rote, there are times when these dedicated professionals commit extraordinary journalism for the benefit of our readers and community,” said Daily Press publisher Stephen Woody. “This work isn’t easy and requires a deep sense of commitment to do it well. I’m honored to be in the same atmosphere with these associates on a daily basis. While we are challenged by economic resources and a small staff, the bond that we have with one another and our readership holds fast.”

What is noteworthy is how the Daily Press won first place awards in virtually all news and photojournalism categories in its circulation class: Public Service, Editorial Writing, News Coverage, Sports Coverage, Feature Writing, Deadline News Reporting, News Series, Sustained News Coverage, Photo Essay, News Photography.

The Colorado Press Association Awards for 2009:

• First place, Public Service, Montrose Daily Press. (This was the investigative reportage of the proposed Pinon Ridge Uranium Mill by Wick Communications Environmental Liaison Dick Kamp; edited by Stephen Woody, photos by William Woody and Joel Blocker, design by Ben Jones.)

• First place, Best Editorial Writing: Montrose Daily Press – Bill Swaim, Katharhynn Heidelberg, Stephen Woody. (One entry was the Vote!, editorial page that illustrated with local and AP photos, the voting rights struggle in the U.S. and the world.)

• First place, Best News Story, Katharhynn Heidelberg. ‘Officers Down!’, the story of Montrose police sergeant David Kinterknecht who was killed in the line of duty last summer, along with the wounding of two other officers and the assailant who took his own life during the incident.)

• First place, Best Feature Story, Bill Swaim. (This story was about Holocaust survivor Ed Wolaninsky, a local man who was fighting cancer and had memories of his days in a concentration camp.)

• First place, Best Sports Event Story, Mallory George. (This was coverage of the ‘Siege at San Juan,’ a local competitive shooting event.)

• First place, Best Agricultural Story, Katharhynn Heidelberg. (This story was about the Kinikin Corner Dairy and its raw milk products and how it’s supported by a devoted customer base.)

• First place, Best Picture Story, Elaine Hale Jones, Joel Blocker.

• First place, Best Deadline News Reporting, Katharhynn Heidelberg. (‘Officers Down.’)

• First place, Best News Series, Montrose Daily Press staff: Katharhynn Heidelberg, Kati O’Hare, Bruce Grigsby, William Woody, Joel Blocker, Bill Swaim, Matt Lindberg. (This eight-part series was featured on the front page of the Daily Press. It was the stories and photos of local Vietnam veterans which coincided with the Vietnam (Moving) Wall coming to Montrose May, 2009. The Daily Press also produced an award-winning special section of local Vietnam veterans as well and was one of the event’s co-sponsors.)

• First place, Best Sustained News Coverage, Katharhynn Heidelberg, Kati O’Hare. (‘Officers Down!’)

• First place, Best Sports Column Writing, Bill Swaim.

• First place, Best News Photograph, William Woody. (Kinterknecht funeral coverage).

• First place, Best Photo Essay, William Woody.

• First place, Best Headline Writing, Montrose Daily Press news staff members.

• First place, Best Classified Advertising Pages, Montrose Daily Press staff.

• Second place, Best Sports Story, Elaine Hale Jones.

• Second place, Best Agricultural Story, Kati O’Hare.

• Second place, Best Serious Column Writing, Stephen Woody.

• Second place, Best Humorous Column Writing, Bill Swaim.

• Second place, Best News Photo, Joel Blocker.

• Second place, Best Editorial/News Layout & Design, Montrose Daily Press staff. (William Woody, Bill Swaim.)

• Third place, Best Feature Story, Elaine Hale Jones.

• Third place, Best Sports Event Story, Joel Blocker.

• Third place, Best Story/Photo, Bill Swaim, Joel Blocker.

• Third place, Best Agriculture Story, Kati O’Hare.

• Third place, Best Special Section, Montrose Daily Press staff.

• Third place, Best Sports Photo, Joel Blocker.

• Third place, Best News Photo, Joel Blocker.

• Third place, Best Photo Essay, Bill Swaim. (‘Siege at San Juan.’)

• Third place, Best Advertising Special Section, Montrose Daily Press staff.

The Daily Press also received six awards from the Colorado Associated Press Editors and Reporters (CAPER) on Friday, Feb. 26, at a separate banquet. (See related story.)
 

William Woody and Bill Swaim have left the Daily Press.

• Woody is a photojournalist and multi media reporter at the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.

• Swaim is the executive editor of Oklahoma Neighbor Newspapers, a group of 12 non-daily newspapers surrounding Tulsa and based in Broken Arrow, Okla.

• Mallory George was the Daily Press’ 2009 summer intern and is a senior at Drake University and is from Grand Junction.