FARGO, N.D. – Five Forum Communications Co. papers won more than 270 awards during the North Dakota Newspaper Association’s 2013 convention held recently in Rapid City, S.D. Papers received recognition in categories as varied as news, opinion, website design, advertising and photography, and all entrants were judged by the Oklahoma Press Association. This was the first-ever time that the NDNA held a joint convention with the South Dakota Newspaper Association. The conference was held at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center in Rapid City. Although all five of FCC’s North Dakota papers received many honors, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead carried the day, earning 94 awards and capturing a number of special honors including: – The Forum was named best large daily paper in the inaugural “Best of the Dakotas” category, which judged papers from both North Dakota and South Dakota. – The Forum won the Sweepstakes award, which recognizes the paper with the most news and advertising awards. – The Forum won General Excellence, which is based on news coverage, feature stories, news editing, photography and cutlines, headlines, editorial page, advertising, typography and design and the overall product. Also being lauded were the Grand Forks Herald, The Jamestown Sun, The Dickinson Press and the West Fargo Pioneer. Here is a list of the awards each paper received:
WEST FARGO (N.D.) PIONEER: (Note: The Pioneer competes in the 2,000 or more circulation category) – Special news section, Karen Huber, “A city on the grow,” first place. – Best website, Jamie Grant, www.westfargopioneer.com, first place. – Promotion of the Newspaper-Readership, Jamie Grant, “Past, Present, Future,” honorable mention. – Promotion of the Newspaper-Readership, Jamie Grant, “Packers Sports,” first place. – Special Advertising Section, Staff, “City on the Grow,” honorable mention. – Special Advertising Section, Staff, “2013 Calendar,” second place. THE
JAMESTOWN (N.D.) SUN: (Note: The Sun competes in the 12,000 or less circulation category) – Reporting, Kari Lucin, “County checking property records after director fired,” honorable mention. – Reporting series, Brian Willhide, “You’ve hit the big time,” first place. – Feature reporting series, Kari Lucin, “Chaplain series,” first place. – Government reporting, Ben Rodgers, “Deficit spending,” honorable mention. – Government reporting series, Keith Norman, Kari Lucin, Brian Willhide and Ben Rodgers, “Measure 2,” third place. – Spot News, Ben Rodgers, “To the rescue,” honorable mention. – Sports page/section, staff, third place. – Sports reporting, Michael Savaloja, “Raiders punch ticket for state tournament,” honorable mention. – Sports reporting series, Michael Savaloja, “Post-season at Jamestown Speedway,” third place. – Sports column, Chris Aarhus, second place. – Editorial, editorial staff, “Measure 2 not worth the trouble,” first place. – Editorial page, staff, second place. – Standing news fronts, Kathy Steiner, “Business,” third place. – Agricultural coverage, Keith Norman, “Woodworth a hill of beans,” first place. – Personal column – serious, Logan Adams, “Risk of carbon monoxide,” honorable mention. – Special news section, staff, “Progress: By the numbers,” first place. – Section/feature fronts design excellence, Stephanie Springer, “Best of the Best,” third place. – Front page design excellence, Logan Adams, second place. – Front page design excellence, Kathy Steiner, first place. – Informational graphics, Dustin Helm, “Jamestown residents’ ancestry by nation,” first place. – Best website, staff, www.jamestownsun.com, first place. – News photo, John Steiner, “Found guilty,” first place. – Spot news photo, John Steiner, “Crash kills six,” third place. – Spot news photo, John Steiner, “Spilled canola,” second place. – Feature photo, Keith Norman, “100 days of school,” third place. – Feature photo, Kari Lucin, “Booming tourism,” first place. – Picture story, John Steiner, “Memorial Day,” honorable mention. – Picture story, John Steiner, “Vining oil fire,” second place. – Picture story, John Steiner, “High stakes,” first place. – Pictorial photo, John Steiner, “Flying among the fall colors,” honorable mention. – Pictorial photo, John Steiner, “Feeding away: Mourning cloak butterfly,” third place. – Pictorial photo, John Steiner, “Hungry robins,” second place. – Pictorial photo, Keith Norman, “Killeer,” first place. – Portrait photo, John Steiner, “Reunited,” third place. – Agricultural photo, John Steiner, “Smoky scene,” honorable mention. – Agricultural photo, John Steiner, “Woodworth a hill of beans,” third place. – Agricultural photo, John Steiner, “Big tire art,” second place. – Agricultural photo, Linda Sailer, “Garden to table,” first place. – Outdoor recreational photo, John Steiner, “Hockey in the snow,” second place. – Outdoor recreational photo, John Steiner, “Calf roping,” first place. – Entertainment/Liquor ad, Rena Hoggarth, “Cork & Barrel Liquors,” second place. – Vehicle Ad, Lisa Barnick, “Civic Center Blowout,” second place. – Home/Gardening ad, Stephanie Springer & Austin Bauer, “Kitchen Solvers,” honorable mention. – Outdoor/Sports ad, Gavin Kutz, “Prowler Hockey,” first place. – Ad series, Stephanie Springer & Austin Bauer, “Bison Inn,” third place. – Small Space ad, Rena Hoggarth & Stephanie Springer, “Health to go,” second place. – Agricultural ad, Gavin Kutz, “Enzminger Steel,” first place. – Promotion of the Newspaper-Advertising, Melissa Johnson, “Brass in Blue,” first place. – Promotion of the Community, Lisa Barnick & Karla Patch-Anderson, “Shop local,” first place. -Special Advertising Section, Staff, “Progress Edition 2012,” third place. – Special Advertising Section, Karla Patch-Anderson & Lisa Barnick, “Basketball Preview 2012,” first place. – Signature Page, Karla Patch-Anderson & Lisa Barnick, “Honoring their service,” second place. – Signature Page, Stephanie Springer, “Good luck at State,” first place.
THE DICKINSON (N.D.) PRESS: (Note: The Press competes in the 12,000 or less circulation category) – Reporting, Bryan Horwath, “Local Troop 32 listed in Scout scandal,” first place. – Feature reporting, Bryan Horwath, “No place to camp,” first place. – Government reporting, Katherine Grandstrand, “Super PAC effect,” third place. – Government reporting series, Katherine Grandstand, “District 36 elections,” first place. – Spot news, Bryan Horwath, “Disgraced DSU president resurfaces,” third place. – Spot news, Bryan Horwath & Katherine Grandstrand, “Bucyrus burns,” second place. – Spot news, Jennifer McBride, “Residents watch intense chase,” first place. – Business news reporting, Katherine Grandstrand, “Nomadic restaurant finds a home,” second place. – Sports page/section, Dustin Monke & Royal McGregor, first place. – Sports reporting, Dustin Monke, “Momentous victory,” first place. – Sports reporting series, Dustin Monke, “Chance for gold,” first place. – Sports feature, Royal McGregor, “Mighty Mack,” third place. – Sports feature, Dustin Monke, “Battling Bulls again,” first place. – Sports column, Dustin Monke, first place. – Editorial, Jennifer McBride & Harvey Brock, “Illegal disposal despicable,” second place. – Standing news fronts, Linda Sailer, “Accent,” first place. – Personal column – serious, Jennifer McBride, “Equally not ashamed,” third place. – Personal column – serious, Klark Byrd, “Free speech up in smoke,” first place. – Personal column – humorous, Jennifer McBride, “Kaboom,” third place. – Personal column – humorous, Harvey Brock,” Living in a Boomtown,” first place. – Section/feature fronts design excellence, Jennifer McBride, “Accent,” first place. – Front page design excellence, Jennifer McBride, third place. – Headline, Logan Adams, “Woodworth a hill of beans,” second place. – Best website, Dickinson Press web team, www.thedickinsonpress.com, second place. – Overall design excellence, first place. – Spot news photo, Bryan Horwath, “Bucyrus Burns,” first place. – Sports photo, Royal McGregor, “Motocross,” third place. – Sports photo, Dustin Monke, “One last leap,” first place. – Apparel ad, Jenn Binstock, “Say yes to a dress,” second place. – Apparel ad, Jenn Binstock, “Fur sale,” first place. – Home/Gardening ad, David Hanson, “Clean Sweep,” third place. – Home/Gardening ad, Sonya Sacks, “Before & After,” first place. – Outdoor/Sports ad, Bonita Ellis, “Discover Beulah,” second place. – Single ad, Jenn Binstock, “Ribbon cutting,” honorable mention. – Single ad, David Hanson, “Happy B-Day,” third place. – Single ad, David Hanson, “ Stay well focused,” second place. – Single ad, Elizabeth Okerson, “Take a walk,” first place. – Ad series, Jenn Binstock, “Have you had it,” second place. – Small Space ad, Elizabeth Okerson, “Euphoria Spa,” third place. – Health Care ad, Jenn Binstock, “Irsfeld Pharmacy: Stevia,” honorable mention. – Health Care ad, Jenn Binstock, “Irsfeld Pharmacy: Seminar,” third place. – Health Care ad, David Hanson, “St. Joseph’s Hospital,” second place. – Health Care ad, David Hanson, “Ideal Weight Loss,” first place. – Political ad, Jenn Binstock, “District 36 Democrats,” honorable mention. – Use of color, David Hanson, “Clean Sweep Vacuum Center,” first place. – Promotion of the Newspaper-Readership, Sonya Sacks, “Carrier of Month,” third place. – Promotion of the Newspaper-Readership, Rob Eilts & Jeremy Kadrmas, “You can’t do this to a newspaper ad,” second place. – Promotion of the Community, Elizabeth Okerson, “For the love of a pet,” third place. – Promotion of the Community, Jenn Binstock, “Simple elegance,” second place. – Special Advertising Section, Jenn Binstock, “Real Estate Guide,” second place.
GRAND FORKS (N.D.) HERALD: (Note: The Herald competes in the 12,001 or more circulation category) – Reporting, Ryan Johnson, “The health gap,” third place. – Reporting series, Chuck Haga, “Protecting Spirit Lake kids,” honorable mention. – Feature reporting, Ryan Bakken, “All for coach,” third place. – Feature reporting, Chuck Haga, “Redressing a historic wrong,” first place. – Feature reporting series, Chuck Haga, “Fighting Sioux nickname,” second place. – Government reporting, Christopher Bjerke, “Matter of style,” third place. – Spot news, Amy Dalrymple & Stephen J. Lee, “Grandma, three grandchildren killed,” third place. – Sports page/section, staff, second place. – Sports reporting, Brad Elliot Schlossman, “Full house,” third place. – Sports reporting series, Wayne Nelson, “UND football in Big Sky,” third place. – Sports feature, Brad Elliot Schlossman, “No third string problems,” honorable mention. – Sports feature, Tom Miller, “No place to play,” third place. – Sports column, Ryan Bakken, “138 point game is just wrong,” third place. – Editorial, Tom Dennis, “Making the call,” third place. – Standing news fronts, Amy Martz, “City and State,” honorable mention. – Standing news fronts, Janell Vonasek, “Fish in the hole,” third place. – Standing news fronts, Melinda Lavine, “Elder Abuse,” first place. – Agricultural coverage, Ryan Bakken & Marino Eccher, “Friendships frayed,” second place. – Personal column – serious, Chuck Haga, “Anguish on the record,” third place. – Special news section, Bobbi DuChamp & Brad Elliot Schlossman, “Farewell, old friends,” third place. – Special news section, Kevin Bonham, Eric Hylden & Janelle Vonasek, “Forest River,” first place. – Section/feature front design excellence, Melinda Lavine & Bobbi DuChamp, “Zombie music fest,” first place. – Front page design excellence, Janelle Vonasek, second place. – Headline, Dale Stensgaard, “New phone app gives city pothole awareness a bump,” third place. – Headline, Brad Dokken, “From boredom to kaboom,” second place. – Headline, Amy Martz, “Dust buster” first place. – Information graphics, Bobbi DuChamp, “Housing list,” third place. – Best website, staff, www.grandforksherald.com, first place. – Overall design excellence, second place. – News photo, Eric Hylden, “In memory of Matthew,” honorable mention. – News photo, Eric Hylden, “A mosque of their own,” third place. – News photo, Eric Hylden, “Warsaw funeral,” first place. – Spot news photo, Dorothy Edwards, “Lightning strike burns home,” third place. – Spot news photo, Eric Hylden, “Karlstad fires,” first place. – Feature photo, Eric Hylden, “Eyes on the sky,” first place. – Sports photo, John Stennes, “Badger,” honorable mention. – Picture story, Eric Hylden, “Forest River,” second place. – Pictorial photo, Eric Hylden, “Frosty day,” second place. – Pictorial photo, Eric Hylden, “Flooded and frozen,” first place. – Portrait photo, Eric Hylden, “MAD the Impailer,” honorable mention. – Portrait photo, Eric Hylden, “Polka dots,” third place. – Portrait photo, Eric Hylden, “Blue ribbon day,” first place. – Agricultural photo, Eric Hylden, “Gambling on warm weather,” honorable mention. – Outdoor recreational photo, Eric Hylden, “BMX,” third place. – Food Ad, Mykal Ryba & Grand Forks Creative Team, “Eagles Crest Grill: Fathers Day,” honorable mention. – Food ad, Tina Coauette & Jen Ekberg, “Cas Clay: Fall in Love,” second place. – Food ad, Tina Coauette & Jen Ekberg, “Cass Clay: Chocolate,” first place. – Apparel ad, Paula Cox & Grand Forks Creative Team, “Lifetime Vision Center: Fall Trunk Sale,” second place. – Home/Gardening ad, Lindsey Enger & Grand Forks Creative Team, “Lumbermart: Dine out every night,” second place. – Outdoors/Sports ad, staff, “Gerrells: Summer Sportstacular,” second place. – Outdoors/Sports ad, Paula Cox & Fargo Creative Team, “Hockey World: Sale on now,” first place. – Small Space ad, Lindsey Enger & Fargo Creative Team, “Wild Hog: Free cup of beer cheese soup,” third place. – Small Space ad, Kelly Tofte & Grand Forks Creative Team, “Forks Frame Up,” second place. – Health Care ad, Paula Cox & Ron Olson, “Valley Transitions,” honorable mention. – Health Care ad, Lindsey Enger & Grand Forks Creative Team, “Do something cool for yourself,” second place. – Health Care ad, Paula Cox & Ron Olson, “Wheatland Terrace,” first place. – Promotion of the Newspaper -Advertising, Sue Lindlauf & Marsha Gunderson, “Stuffed,” honorable mention. -Promotion of the Newspaper-Readership, Sue Lindlauf & Marsha Gunderson, “Your News, Your Way,” third place. -Promotion of the Newspaper-Readership, Sue Lindlauf & Marsha Gunderson, “Heading South,” second place. – Promotion of the Community, Sue Lindlauf & Marsha Gunderson, “Hockey Classic,” honorable mention. – Promotion of the Community, Jen Braaten & Grand Forks Creative Team, “The best things in life,” second place.
THE FORUM OF FARGO-MOORHEAD: (Note: The Forum competes in the 12,001 or more circulation category) – Reporting, Mike Nowatzki, “Fargo murder suspect keeps skating by,” first place. – Reporting series, Anna Larson, “Keeping the faith,” third place. – Reporting series, Amy Dalrymple, “Housing in the oil patch,” second place. – Reporting series, Marino Eccher, “Deadly Decisions,” first place. – Feature reporting, Patrick Springer, “From mayor to naysayer,” third place. – Feature reporting, Tammy Swift, “A ‘Titanic’ life,” first place. – Feature reporting series, Meredith Holt, “Alcoholism series,” honorable mention. – Feature reporting series, Dave Olson & Shane Mercer, “A final goodbye,” third place. – Feature reporting series, Anna Larson, “Overcoming bullying,” first place. – Government reporting, Patrick Springer, “Billion dollar question,” honorable mention. – Government reporting, Kristin Daum, “Big oil,” first place. – Government reporting series, Ryan Johnson, “Audit: NDSU, UND,” third place. – Government reporting series, Terri Finneman, “Child care in the oil patch,” second place. – Spot news, Ryan Johnson & Erik Burgess, “Trio of tragedies,” honorable mention. – Spot news, Erik Burgess & Dave Roepke, “ND aviation pioneer killed in plane crash,” second place. – Business news reporting, J. Shane Mercer, “Less than professional: how to spot workplace bullying and resolve it,” third place. – Business news reporting, Ryan Bakken & Marino Eccher, “On anniversary of sugar lockout, workers have little to celebrate,” second place. – Business news reporting, Marino Eccher, “Crowded in the middle,” first place. – Sports page/section, staff, first place. – Sports reporting, Eric Peterson, “Dollars drive change,” honorable mention. – Sports reporting, Jeff Kolpack, “A dream come true,” first place. – Sports reporting series, Jeff Kolpack, Eric Peterson & Tom Mix, “Road to recovery,” first place. – Sports feature, Jeff Kolpack, “Family and football,” second place. – Sports column, Eric Peterson, “NCAA’s all-time wins leader a unique legend,” honorable mention. – Sports column, Jeff Kolpack, “Showing a softer side,” second place. – Editorial, Jack Zaleski, “Sharper focus on Spirit Lake,” first place. – Editorial page, Jack Zaleski, first place. – Standing news fronts, Bill Wambeke, “Autism,” second place. – Agricultural coverage, Ryan Johnson, “Orphaned calf,” honorable mention. – Agricultural coverage, Wendy Reuer, “Aiding farm families,” third place. – Agricultural coverage Marinno Eccher, “Bumper crop,” first place. – Personal column – serious, Ryan Johnson, “Finding happiness after mental illness,” honorable mention. – Personal column – humorous, Jack Zaleski, “Chickens: dumb, dirty and mean,” third place. – Personal column – humorous, Matt Von Pinnon, “Auto-flush tests a dad’s patience,” second place. – Special news section, staff, “Gold Rush,” second place. – Section/feature fronts design excellence, Hayden Goethe, “Texas two step,” honorable mention – Section/feature fronts design excellence, Mark Merck, “Artistic license,” third place. – Section/feature fronts design excellence, Bill Wambeke, “Wiz kid comes home,” second place. – Front page design excellence, Heidi Tetzman Roepke, third place. – Front page design excellence, Bill Wambeke, first place. – Headline, Erin Crommett, “Along came a cider,” honorable mention. – Informational graphics, Troy Becker, “Where does all that oil go,” second place. – Informational graphics, Bill Wambeke, “Guest check,” first place. – Best website, staff, www.inforum.com, first place. – Overall design excellence, first place. – News photo, David Samson, “Funeral flyover,” second place. – Spot news photo, Dave Wallis, “Cat Check,” honorable mention. – Spot news photo, Dave Wallis, “Heidi Heitkamp and her mom,” second place. – Feature photo, Dave Wallis, “Hot enough for ya?” honorable mention. – Feature photo, David Samson, “Dancer,” third place. – Feature photo, Dave Wallis, “Sliding by the light of the Christmas moon,” second place. – Sports photo, Michael Vosburg, “Texas two-step,” third place. – Sports photo, David Samson, “High jump,” first place. – Picture story, David Samson, “Maplewood State Park,” honorable mention. – Picture story, Carrie Snyder, “Women camps,” third place. – Picture story, Dave Wallis, “Tommy and his large head,” first place. – Pictorial photo, Dave Wallis, “Holy silhouette,” honorable mention. – Pictorial photo, David Samson, “Ice making,” third place. – Portrait photo, David Samson, “Head of the class,” second place. – Agricultural photo, David Samson, “Outtakes,” third place. – Agricultural photo, Dave Wallis, “Trial and error,” first place. – Outdoor recreational photo, Carrie Snyder, “Olympic competitor,” honorable mention. – Outdoor recreational photo, Michael Vosburg, “Park dance,” second place. – Outdoor recreational photo, David Samson, “Let’s go fly a kite,” first place. – Photo of the year, David Samson, “High jump.” – Entertainment/Liquor ad, Sara Slaby, “Deer Camp: One Great Weekend,” honorable mention. -Entertainment/Liquor ad, Jamie Odum, “WDAY AM: Merry Christmas,” third place. -Vehicle ad, Rebekah Ness, “Luther Family Ford: Customers,” honorable mention. -Vehicle ad, Mindy Wirtzfeld, “Luther Family Ford: We care about our customers,” third place. – Home/Gardening ad, Jamie Odum, “Do you love to dig in the dirt?,” first place. – Outdoors/Sports ad, Rebekah Ness, “Outlet Recreation: Bargain Hunter Sale,” honorable mention. – Ad series, Rebekah Ness & Mindy Wirtzfeld, “Luther Family Ford” Where we care about customers,” honorable mention. – Ad series, Jamie Odum, “The Great Indoors: For those who don’t wear blaze orange,” second place. – Agricultural ad, Adam Zavalney, “When your business is a steak,” third place. – Agricultural ad, Paula Pandey Chhetri, “A Helping Hand,” first place. – Use of color, Brenda Lawrence, “Simplicity Freedom,” honorable mention. – Use of color, Rebekah Ness, “5th Anniversary Celebration,” second place. – Use of color, Brenda Lawrence, “Give mom the perfect gift,” first place. – Promotion of the Newspaper-Advertising, Sara Slaby, “Want your message on front page?,” second place. – Promotion of the Newspaper-Advertising, Rebekah Ness, “Forum Advertising Works,” first place. -Promotion of the Community, Sara Slaby, “One Great Weekend,” third place. – Promotion of the Community, Paula Pandey Chhetri, “Big Boys Toys,” first place. – Special Advertising Section, Creative Staff, “Gold Rush,” honorable mention. – Special Advertising Section, Creative Staff, “Business Profiles,” third place. – Signature Page, Paula Pandey Chhetri, “A Pet Place,” honorable mention. – Signature Page, Paula Pandey Chhetri, “Freaky Festivities,” third place. – Signature Page, Paula Pandey Chhetri, “ Breast Cancer Awareness,” first place. – NorthSCAN Top Seller, Daily Division.