Tag Archives: Alexandria (Minn.) Echo Press

2012 Forum Forward class graduates during ceremony in Fargo

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The 2012 Forum Forward graduating class and mentors, from left to right: Dickinson Press Publisher Harvey Brock, JobsHQ Employment Specialist/Sales Team Leader Lisa Tillotson, Forum Regional Operations Manager Curt Christensen, Forum Communications Printing-Fargo Customer Service Representative Kari Saylor, FCC Director of Multimedia Sales Operations Amy Fredrickson, Forum Features Editor Heidi Shaffer, Duluth News Tribune Ad Director Roz Randorf, FCC Digital Accounts Manager Chad Jacobsen, RiverTowns Newspaper Group Multimedia Producer Roger Sievers, Echo Press Variety Editor Tara Bitzan, Grand Forks Herald Editor Steve Wagner, WDAY-TV Regional Sales Manager Joshua Rohrer, FCC CEO Lloyd Case, Forum General Manager Aaron Beecher, Forum Reporter Ryan Johnson, FCC Executive Vice President and COO Bill Marcil Jr. and Daily Republic Publisher Korrie Wenzel.

FARGO, N.D. – Eight Forum Communications Co.employees were feted this week as the 2012 Forum Forward class graduated and became alumni of the company’s leadership training program started several years ago. Graduation was held Tuesday at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Fargo. Members of FCC’s senior management team were on hand to celebrate, as were each of the graduates company mentors, who are an integral component to the program. “This is a culmination of a year spent visiting various divisions within our company, including Broadcast, Commercial Printing, Digital and Newspaper,” said program facilitator Sonjia Anderson. “This has provided them insights into leadership skills, professional growth, and the opportunity to share best practices.” The graduating class also participated in brainstorming session on company innovation to generate ideas relating to reducing expenses and increasing revenue. Projects coming out of the past innovation sessions include the Forum News Service, the Green Team, and the “We Are Forum Communications” branding video. The 2013 Forum Forward participants and mentors also gathered in Fargo this week to begin their year of training.

Forum Communications Co. CEO Lloyd Case presents Forum Forward graduate Tara Bitzen with her certificate. Her mentor, Grand Forks Editor Steve Wagner stands at right.

Forum Communications Co. CEO Lloyd Case presents Forum Forward graduate Ryan Johnson with his certificate. His mentor, Daily Republic Publisher Korrie Wenzel stands at right.

Forum Communications Co. CEO Lloyd Case presents Forum Forward graduate Joshua Rohrer with his certificate. His mentor, FCC Executive Vice President and COO Bill Marcil Jr. stands at right.

Forum Communications Co. CEO Lloyd Case gives Forum Forward graduate Heidi Shaffer and her mentor Amy Fredrickson a hug.

Forum Communications Co. CEO Lloyd Case presents Forum Forward graduate Lisa Tillotson with her certificate. Her mentor, Dickinson Press Publisher Harvey Brock stands at right.

Forum Communications Co. CEO Lloyd Case presents Forum Forward graduate Kari Saylor with her certificate. Her mentor, Curt Christensen stands at right.

The 2012 Forum Forward graduating class included: – GRADUATE: Tara Bitzan, life/variety/special projects editor, Echo Press, Alexandria, Minn. MENTOR: Steve Wagner, editor, Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks, N.D. – GRADUATE: Chad Jacobsen, digital accounts manager, Forum Communications Co., Fargo, N.D. MENTOR: Roz Randorf , ad director, Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, Minn. – GRADUATE: Ryan Johnson, reporter, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Fargo, N.D. MENTOR: Korrie Wenzel, publisher, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D. – GRADUATE: Joshua Rohrer, regional sales manager, WDAY-TV, Fargo, N.D. MENTOR: Bill Marcil Jr., executive vice president and chief operating officer Forum Communications Co., and publisher, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, N.D. – GRADUATE: Kari Saylor, customer service representative, Forum Communications Printing-Fargo, Fargo, N.D. MENTOR: Curt Christensen, regional operations manager, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Fargo, N.D. – GRADUATE: Heidi Shaffer, features editor, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Fargo, N.D. MENTOR: Amy Fredrickson, director of multimedia sales operations, Forum Communications Co., Fargo, N.D. – GRADUATE: Roger Sievers, multimedia producer, RiverTown Newspaper Group, Red Wing, Minn. MENTOR: Aaron Becher, general manager, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Fargo, N.D. – GRADUATE: Lisa Tillotson, employment specialist/sales team leader, Jobs HQ, Fargo, N.D. MENTOR: Harvey Brock, publisher, The Dickinson Press, Dickinson, N.D.

Forum Communications Co. newspapers score big in annual Minnesota Newspaper Association contest

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FARGO, N.D. - Forum Communications Co. newspapers received more than 140 awards, ranging in categories from “Best Local Breaking News Story” to “Best Website” during the 2011-2012 Better Newspaper Contest sponsored by the Minnesota Newspaper Association. The awards were bestowed during the organization’s annual awards banquet held Jan. 24 in Bloomington, Minn.

The Better Newspaper Contest is held annually to recognize the state’s newspapers’ efforts to improve their print and digital products.

Forum Communications Co. received 145 of the more than 600 awards that were bestowed, and topped its accomplishments with the Detroit Lakes (Minn.) Tribune claiming The Mills Trophy, awarded yearly to the state’s best weekly newspaper. The  Tribune received a total of 20 awards, earning 86 points in the contest to take first place. Their winning entries included first place in the “General Excellence” category for weeklies 2,501-5,000; seven additional first place awards; two-second place awards; and 10 third place awards.

The Echo Press of Alexandria, Minn., another Forum Communications Co. newspaper, took second place with 23 awards, earning 82 points. Their winning entries included first place in the Herman Roe Editorial Writing Award competition by editor Al Edenloff, six additional first place awards, six second place awards and 10 third place awards.

Also, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead finished second in the competition for The Vance Trophy, awarded to the state’s best daily newspaper each year. And The Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune, finished third. Both are Forum Communications newspapers.

In addition to numerous honors received by the newspapers, many Forum Communications employees were recognized for their own accomplishments. Reporters, photographers, editors, designers and sales representatives received some of the contest’s top awards.

Following is a list of the awards received by FCC newspapers:

Detroit Lakes (Minn.) Tribune:
- Press Photographer’s Portfolio; all weeklies; Brian Basham; first place.
- Website; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; second place.
- Institutional Advertisement; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; first place.
- Self-Promotion or House Ad; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; third place.
- Use of Color in Advertising; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Nick Omberg; first place.
- Use of Color in Advertising; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Mary Brenk, Pam Albert; third place.
- Best Advertisement; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Mary Brenk; first place.
- Best Advertisement; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Stacey Gravelle, Rachel Poser; third place.
- Arts and Entertainment Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Wierima; third place.
- Photo Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Basham; first place.
- Photo Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Basham; third place.
- Portrait and Personality Photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Basham; first place.
- Portrait and Personality Photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Basham; third place.
- Best Magazine; all weeklies; second place.
- Best Use of Video; all weeklies; third place.
- Best Use of Multimedia; all weeklies; first place.
- Best Use of Multimedia; all weeklies; third place.
- Best Use of Social Media; all weeklies; third place.
- General Excellence; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; first place.
- Herman Roe Editorial Writing Award; all individuals; Nate Bowe; third place.

Rosemount (Minn.) Town Pages:
- Typography & Design; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; second place.
- Editorial Page as a Whole; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; third place.
- General Reporting; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; second place.
- Social Issues Story; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; Emily Zimmer; first place.

Red Wing (Minn.) Republican Eagle:
- Typography & Design; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; second place.
- Sports Reporting; weeklies over 5,000; third place.
- Sports Story; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Chris Harrell; first place.
- Local Breaking News Coverage; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Sarah Gorvin, Anne Jacobson, Danielle Nordine, Don Davis, Regan Carstensen; first place.
- Best Use of Video; all weeklies; second place.

Alexandria (Minn.) Echo Press staff

Alexandria (Minn.) Echo Press:
- Editorial Page as a Whole; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; third place.
- Sports Reporting; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; second place.
- Use of Photography as a Whole; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; second place.
- Headline Writing; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; third place.
- Classified Ad Section; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; third place.
- Website; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; third place.
- Self-Promotion or House Ad; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; first place.
- Use of Color in Advertising; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Nichole Roell, Greg Eigen; first place.
- Best Advertisement; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Mary Green, Jody Hanson; first place.
- Best Advertisement; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Kelsey Langager, Greg Eigen; second place.
- Innovative Online Advertising; all weeklies; Nichole Roell, Greg Eigen; first place.
- Innovative Online Advertising; all weeklies; Nichole Roell, Shelly Beaulieu; second place.
- Innovative Online Advertising; all weeklies; Nichole Roell, Jody Hanson; third place.
- Human Interest Story; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Amy Chaffins; first place.
- Sports Story; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Eric Morken; third place.
- Local Breaking News Coverage; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Al Edenloff, Lowell Anderson; third place.
- Columnist; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Lowell Anderson; second place.
- News Photo; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Lowell Anderson; third place.
- Feature Photo; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Al Edenloff; third place.
- Best Magazine; all weeklies; first place.
- Best Magazine; all weeklies; third place.
- Best Use of Multimedia; all weeklies; second place.
- Herman Roe Editorial Writing Award; all individuals; Al Edenloff; first place.

Troy Becker

Marino Eccher

The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead:
- Typography & Design; dailies over 10,000 circulation; first place.
- General Reporting; dailies over 10,000 circulation; first place.
- Sports Reporting; dailies over 10,000 circulation; first place.

David Samson

Patrick Springer

- Use of Photography as a Whole; dailies over 10,000 circulation; third place.
- Advertising Excellence; dailies over 10,000 circulation; first place.
- Classified Ad Section; all dailies; second place.
- Website; dailies over 10,000 circulation; second place.

Bill Wambeke

- Best Advertisement; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Jamie Odum; third place.
- Human Interest Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Marino Eccher; first place.
- Business Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Dave Olson; second place.
- Local Breaking News Coverage; dailies 10,000 circulation; Mike Nowatzki; third place.
- Columnist; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Marino Eccher; third place.
- News Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Carrie Snyder; third place.
- Sports Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; David Samson; first place.
- Sports Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Dave Wallis; third place.
- Use of Information Graphics & Graphic Illustrations; all dailies; Troy Becker; first place.
- Design Portfolio; all dailies; Bill Wambeke; first place.
- Design Portfolio; all dailies; Heidi Tetzman-Roepke; second place.
- Government/Public Affairs Reporting; all dailies; Kristen M. Daum; third place.
- Category X (excellence in utilizing public records); all dailies; third place.
- General Excellence; dailies over 10,000 circulation; first place.
- Lynn Smith Community Leadership; all newspapers; first place.
- Press Photographer’s Portfolio; all dailies; David Samson; second place.

Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune:
- Typography & Design; dailies over 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Editorial Page as a Whole; dailies over 10,000 circulation; second place.
- General Reporting; dailies over 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Sports Reporting; dailies over 10,000; second place.
- Use of Photography as a Whole; dailies over 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Headline Writing; all dailies; first place.
- Website; dailies over 10,000 circulation; first place.
- Institutional Advertisement; dailies over 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Institutional Advertisement; dailies over 10,000 circulation; third place.
- Innovative Online Advertising; all dailies; Chad Curry, Mike Mazzio, Roz Randorf, Jon Godrey, Kim Quinones; third place.
- Human Interest Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Sam Cook; second place.
- Human Interest Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; John Lundy; third place.
- Sports Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Rick Weegman; second place.
- Business Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Peter Passi; third place.
- Local Breaking News Coverage; dailies over 10,000 circulation; staff; first place.
- Columnist; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Chuck Frederick; first place.
- News Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Bob King; first place.
- News Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Bob King; second place.
- Feature Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Clint Austin; third place.
- Portrait and Personality Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Clint Austin; second place.
- Best Use of Multimedia; all dailies; third place.
- Best Use of Social Media; all dailies; first place.
- Government/Public Affairs Reporting; all dailies; Peter Passi; second place.
- Freedom of Information Awards; all newspapers; third place.
- Explanation of News Operations/Newspaper Ethics; all newspapers; third place.
- Category X (excellence in utilizing public records); all dailies; first place.
- Press Photographer’s Portfolio; all dailies; Clint Austin; third place.

Farmington (Minn.) Independent:
- Editorial Page as a Whole; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; first place.
- General Reporting; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; third place.
- Sports Reporting; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; third place.
- Use of Photography as a Whole; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; first place.
- Headline Writing; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; first place.
- General Excellence; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; second place.

Pine Journal (Cloquet, Minn.):
- Use of Photography as a Whole: weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; first place.
- Social Issues Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Jana Peterson; first place.
- Local Breaking News Coverage; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Jana Peterson; first place.
- Columnist; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Wendy Johnson; third place.

Park Rapids (Minn.) Enterprise:
- Use of Photography as a Whole; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; second place.
- Advertising Excellence; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; third place.

Hastings (Minn.) Star Gazette:
- General Reporting; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; second place.
- Use of Photography as a Whole; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; third place.
- Sports Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Chad Richardson; second place.
- News Photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Chad Richardson; second place.
- Photo Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Chad Richardson; second place.

South Washington County Bulletin (Cottage Grove, Minn.):
- Sports Reporting; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; first place.
- Category X (excellence in utilizing public records); all weeklies; first place.

From left, Daily Globe Publisher Joni Harms, reporter Julie Buntjer, Advertising Manager Donna Ellerbroek and Community Content Coordinator Aaron Hagen, display the Globe’s 2011-2012 MNA Better Newspaper Contest awards.

The Daily Globe (Worthington, Minn.):
- Sports Reporting; dailies under 10,000 circulation; third place.
- Advertising Excellence; dailies under 10,000 circulation; third place.
- Website; dailies under 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Use of Color in Advertising; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Jennifer Spengler, Cindy Ramert; first place.
- Sports Story; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Chris Murphy; third place.
- Investigative Reporting; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Julie A. Buntjer; third place.
- Feature Photo; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Brian Korthals; third place.
- Portrait and Personality Photo; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Brian Korthals; second place.
- Special Section; all dailies; third place.

The Morris Sun Tribune received two awards in the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s 2011-2012 Better Newspaper Contest. Publisher Sue Dieter, left, accepted an award for third place in “Best Website” and Editor Kim Ukura, right, took third place in “Government and Public Affairs Reporting” for a three-part series on school assessments.

Morris (Minn.) Sun Tribune:
- Website; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; third place.
- Government/Public Affairs Reporting; weeklies up to 2,500 circulation; Kim Ukura; third place.

The Osakis (Minn.) Review:
- Human Interest Story; weeklies up to 1,500 circulation; Amy Chaffins; second place.

Becker County Record (Detroit Lakes, Minn.):
- Human Interest Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Paula Quam; third place.

Bethany Wesley, a reporter for The Pioneer of Bemidji, Minn., holds her two awards for best “Human Interest Story” and best “Business Story” for dailies under 10,000 circulation.

The Pioneer (Bemidji, Minn.):
- Website; dailies under 10,000 circulation; first place.
- Human Interest Story; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Bethany Wesley; first place.
- Business Story; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Bethany Wesley; first place.
- Local Breaking News Coverage; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Steve Wagner; first place.
- News Photo; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Monte Draper; second place.
- Sports Photo; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Monte Draper; second place.
- Feature Photo; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Monte Draper; second place.

West Central Tribune (Willmar, Minn.):
- Social Issues Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Anne Polta; second place.
- Best Use of Video; all dailies; third place.

Woodbury (Minn.) Bulletin:
- News Photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Riham Feshir; third place.

Katie Erdman of the Hancock (Minn.) Record accepts the first place award for best “Classified Ad Section” for weeklies up to 2,500 circulation.

Hancock (Minn.) Record:
- Classified Ad Section; weeklies up to 2,500 circulation; first place.

Forum Communications Co.’s interactive team releases six updated iPad apps

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A screengrab of the updated iPad app for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.

FARGO, N.D. – Forum Communications Co. now has available in the Apple store updated iPad news apps for six of its newspaper properties in North Dakota and Minnesota, company officials announced.

The updated iPad apps feature the in-depth news coverage of local newspapers conveniently packaged for busy mobile users, but the new apps also improve a user’s experience by allowing continuous side-to-side scrolling of content, creating a more magazine-like feel to reading and viewing the stories and photos you want from The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald, Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune, The Jamestown (N.D.) Sun, The Dickinson (N.D.) Press and the Alexandria (Minn.) Echo Press.

You can find the updated apps here: The Forum, Grand Forks Herald, Duluth News Tribune, The Jamestown Sun, The Dickinson Press and the Alexandria Echo Press. Or to quickly access all six apps visit here.

.“Readers now will be able to scroll between articles by the simple swipe of a finger,” said FCC Digital Product Development Manager Chris Welle.

In addition, the updated apps include new caption and photo views, rebuilt layouts and new advertising opportunities for those wishing to capitalize on Forum Communications Co.’s mobile content platforms.

Forum Communications Co. iPad apps are updated throughout the day and offer a simple, clean presentation of content from their newspapers’ most popular sections, and the apps also include breaking news and video.

In addition, Welle said, the new updates should give the user increased iPad performance.

“We’ve also significantly optimized the apps performance and reduced the amount of resources it uses on the iPad,” Welle said. “This results in a much smoother and faster experience for our readers.”

The new iPad app demonstrates Forum Communications Co.’s commitment to providing the content on the platforms its users desire.

Forum Communications Co. is a multimedia information company based in Fargo. Forum Communications owns dozens of newspapers, websites and television and radio stations in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.