The Marshall County Journal earned several top awards this past weekend at the South Dakota NewsMedia Association’s (SDNA) annual Better Newspapers Contest. Competing in Division 1, for newspapers in cities with populations under 3,000, the Journal was recognized for outstanding work in both news/editorial and advertising categories. The awards were presented during the SDNA Convention held in Aberdeen.
Head designer Amanda Greenmyer won a first-place award for Best Business Directory Page/Signature Page for her entry titled “Celebrating Agriculture.” Saying of her first ever state newspaper award, Greenmyer noted, “We’ve been working hard and trying to deliver the best newspaper we can. Winning these awards feels like a testimonial to that and proves that we’re on the right track.”
Writer Calee Hagen also earned first place for Best Local Column with her piece “The CattleMan’s Wife.” Judges called Hagen’s story — which shared the emotional tale of her husband’s grandfather attempting to save a fellow soldier during a World War II battle and only discovering the friend’s fate 40 years later — a “powerful” column that was likely “the talk of the town” after its publication.
“I feel so blessed to have a job that I truly love, that is different every week, and get to work with a great team,” stressed Hagen. “Being chosen for these awards was heartwarming. I look forward to many more years of putting out great content.”
The Journal also captured several second-place honors. Editor Bridget Shileny won second place for Best Feature Photo for her image of a rodeo clown and pony taken at the Veblen Summer Bash Rodeo. Publisher and owner Doug Card received second place for Best Sports Column, with judges praising the profound closing of his entry: “You can’t buy the love of family, you can’t purchase a love for the outdoors and all that God has created, and there is no substitute for creating memories that will last for a lifetime.”
In addition, the Journal staff earned second place for Best Typography & Design for their July 3, 2024, issue, and also took second place for Best Special Section – Issue for their Winter Sports Supplement.
Entries for the 2024 SDNA Better Newspapers Contest were judged by members of the Louisiana Press Association. A complete list of contest results can be found at www.sdna.com.
Temperature: 65°F Town: Britton, SD
Pressure: 1006 hPa
Wind: 14 mph
