DN staff won 35 awards in newspaper contest
By Daily News StaffThe staff of the Daily News received 35 awards at the North Dakota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, with nine first-place awards in the small daily division.“We had a great year at the contest, pulling in more awards than we’ve had in a long time,” said Kathleen Leinen, managing editor of the Daily News. “I’m very proud of our efforts. We don’t write to win contests, but having our peers place us so high in these categories is hugely rewarding.”Carrie McDermott, assistant managing editor, had four first-place awards, in government reporting, standing news fronts, agriculture coverage and front page design excellence. She received third place honors in both feature reporting and feature reporting series. McDermott also had one honorable mention in outdoor recreation photo.Reporter Matthew Liedke received a second place award for reporting series, third in agricultural coverage and an honorable mention in spot news photo.Former reporter Robyn Rohde received a first-place award in picture story, second in agricultural photo and third place in news photo.Sports editor Eric Grover received five awards: third place in picture story and sports reporting, and honorable mention in sports page, sports photo and feature photo.Leinen received nine awards, with a first place in section/feature fronts design excellence, second place in agricultural coverage, third place in spot news photo, agricultural photo, editorial page, editorial and standing news fronts. She received honorable mention in editorial and standing news fronts.The Daily News staff took first place in overall design excellence, third place in special news section and honorable mention in special news section.The Daily News advertising department had two first place honors and more in the Better Newspaper Contest.Advertising representative Tara Klostreich took first place in ad series, third place in apparel ad and agriculture ad.Former advertising representative Shannon Privratsky took first place in apparel ad and second in political ad.Advertising representative Linda Skonseng took honorable mention in sig page.The News-Monitor, sister newspaper to the Daily News also had a number of awards in the weekly division.Val Sanders, office manager, received third place in sig page and honorable mention in personal column.Rohde received a first-place award in spot news, second place in sports page and sports reporting. She received third place in sports feature, feature reporting and agricultural coverage. She also received honorable mention in informational graphics and feature reporting.Leinen received honorable mention for editorial page in the weekly division.