NYM named second place in category of General Excellence

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The New York Mills Dispatch and Citizen’s Advocate received a combined eight awards during the 2019-20 Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest. The annual awards ceremony was held virtually on Thursday, Jan. 28 due to COVID-19. 

There were more than 3,100 entries from newspapers of all sizes from across the state. The New York Mills Dispatch and Citizen’s Advocate compete in the category of weekly newspaper with a circulation up to 1,000.

The New York Mills Dispatch took first place in the category of Typography and Design, while second place went to the Pine Knot News of Cloquet, which was awarded the Mills Trophy as the best overall weekly newspaper in the state of Minnesota, and third place went to the Citizen’s Advocate. Of its first place finish judges wrote “Great use of Photoshop and color. It looks well-printed. Nice use of typography and overall design—very eye catching.”

The Dispatch also received second place in General Reporting, behind just the Pine Knot News of Cloquet in first place and just ahead of the Henderson Independent in third place. Of the Dispatch the judges wrote “This paper has a daily feel with an impressive number of bylines. Good vaping story, attention to layout set this one apart.”

The Dispatch also received second place in the category of Use of Photography as a Whole. Judges wrote “Some nice creative layers, interesting crops, and solid photo packages.” First place went to the Pine Knot News of Clouquet and third place went to the Citizen’s Advocate.

In the prestigious category of General Excellence, which looks at every aspect of a newspaper, the Dispatch received second place. First place went to the Pine Knot News of Cloquet, while third place went to the Citizen’s Advocate.

“Fantastic presentation, especially the April 29 “The Day Spring Sports Stood Still edition. Visuals and advertising quality are leaders of the pack. In terms of reporting…excellent profiles of local community members, which is one of the most valuable assets of a community newspaper. through the front page might benefit from more hard/in-depth news.”

In addition to Typography and Design, Best Use of Photos and General Excellence, New York Mills Dispatch Publisher Chad Koenen received a third place award for his story in the Citizen’s Advocate entitled “Henning repeats as section champs.” The story, which took third place in the category of Best Sports Feature, detailed the abrupt end to the section and state tournament due to COVID-19 in 2020.