The Williston Herald Won 36 Awards!

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"]BISMARCK — Williston Herald staffers earned the newspaper second place in General Excellence last week at the North Dakota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest.Overall, the Herald won 36 awards — 22 for editorial content and 14 for advertisements — with 10 first place awards for the editorial department.Awards were for work from the 2014 calendar year.Managing Editor Jerry Burnes earned a grand prize and was awarded the NDNA Photo of the Year in the daily division for his shot “Selfie with the Obamas” from President Barack Obama’s visit to Cannonball in June 2014. The photo placed first in the 12,000 or less division in the news photo category.“Start with the colorful, traditional garb of Native Americans, add the modern touch of the Iphone and the emotion of the president and first lady, and the result is a once-in-a-lifetime photo that is well-composed and technically adroit,” judges said of the photo.He was also awarded first place in informational graphic and editorial, third place in headline and second place in pictorial photo.Burnes and Herald reporter Eric Killelea were awarded first place for government reporting series for their work on the suspension of Darin Krueger, executive director of the Williston Parks and Recreation District in May 2014.Their work led to the resignation of one park board member and the turnover of another position during the ensuing June election.“Eric worked tirelessly on these articles for several weeks, and the result was real, measurable change in the community,” Burnes said. “This series of articles is the standard for how we should be holding our elected and public officials accountable as a newspaper.”Killelea also earned a third place in reporting for his work on Watford City’s soaring budget.Sports Editor Mark Jones also had a big weekend, winning two first place awards for sports column and sports reporting series, which covered Williston State College’s quest for a second national championship.Jones also won third place for sports photo and honorable mention for sports page design.“Mark is one of our key cogs in the newsroom,” Burnes added. “Like all of us, he has a lot on his plate, and this shows he continues to deliver solid local sports coverage.”Former Herald intern Emily Lierle was awarded first place in agriculture coverage for her story on local farms feeling the pressure of slower rail shipments. Reporter Zach Nelson placed second in business reporting for his story on the aftermath of the Red River Supply fire.Former Herald reporter Tyler Bell was awarded first place for picture story, portrait and spot news photo. He also took second in government reporting and third for spot news reporting.His feature series, “Out of the Shadows,” on the growing human trafficking trade in the state’s oil patch was awarded with honorable mention.“Tyler’s reporting on this issue was more important to the area than its placement suggests,” Burnes said. “He led the local charge to expose trafficking and inform the Williston and Bakken region about its signs and what can be done. He was the forefront reporter of human trafficking, which became an increasingly important and reported topic afterward.”[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]