SBJ takes home fourth-straight Gold Cup at Missouri Press Association event

Springfield Business Journal this weekend was awarded its fourth-straight Gold Cup award at the Missouri Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest.

SBJ took home 16 awards to finish No. 1 in its category of weekly publications with a print circulation of 2,001 to 5,000. Four publications won Gold Cup honors based on circulation.

Below is the list of SBJ awards, with select judges' comments when provided.

First place
• Best Page Design for "Quiet, please" by Heather Mosley: "A great illustration really pulls the reader in. The pull-out teasers are very eye-catching."
• Best News Story for "Businesspeople sound alarm on MoDOT plans along Highway 60" by Geoff Pickle: "Well-written story with good detail of proposals that will definitely be of importance to the entire community."
• Best Photo Illustration for "Business of the Arts" by Tawnie Wilson: "This is a nice environmental portrait shot, clearly staged and nicely composed, but it would be more interesting if the focal point were shifted left or right instead of being dead center."
• Best Investigative Reporting for "Harvest Solutions shrinks local presence" by Mike Cullinan and Geoff Pickle: "A thorough and well-sourced look at an important issue."
• Best Election Story for "City goes back to the drawing board after election defeat" by Karen Craigo and Geoff Pickle: "Lots of details on an additional tax defeated at the polls; what its intent was for and no plan B."
• Best Story About Religion for "Church looks to provide park for Rogersville" by Karen Craigo: "Quality writing, excellent photos and an interesting story all the way around. Good work."

Second place
• Best Photo Illustration for "McClure preps for end of term" by Tawnie Wilson: "This is a nice environmental portrait shot, clearly staged and nicely composed, but it would be more interesting if the focal point were shifted left or right instead of being dead center. It comes second simply because the first-place subject was more appealing."
• Best Health Story for "Hardware Ace" by Karen Craigo: "This was a fascinating story about a woman working to create a better biomedical screw. Good combination of the science and mechanics of the device with the healthcare implications of its creation. Very solid reporting!"
• Best Story About Marginalized or Underrepresented Communities for "End of tax credit period signals affordable housing crisis" by Karen Craigo: "Very informative and thorough. Good variety of sources, and appreciate the personal touches with some of the renters' specific experiences. Nice job!"
• Best Information Graphic for "The Importance of Clarity" by Heather Mosley: "It's almost as if the eyes follow the reader around the page and into the darkened hallway of economic uncertainty. There's good info in that big chart that kind of gets pushed aside, maybe? Story's kind of dry. Pull quotes are charming."
• Best Headline Writing: "Very close second. Favorite head 'Banks Buffeted ...'"

Third place
• Best Feature Story for "Quiet, please" by Karen Craigo: "Interesting [feature] on a national conversation. Good explanations of terminology in speaking to local experts."
• Best Feature Photograph for "Animal shelters hit hard by knock-on effects" by Tawnie Wilson: "Good sharp image that helps tell the story that seems to be impacting communities across America. The look on the face of that little puppy, and the overall scene draws a viewer in. Just what you want it to do. This lends credence to the story. Congratulations Tawnie Wilson with Springfield Business Journal on 3rd place!"
• Best Story About Government for "Springfield one step closer to convention center goal" by Karen Craigo: "Convention Centers can be unicorns for some communities and money pits for others, so keeping the public informed on the process is important. A strong lede and a clear description of the background makes the story interesting as well as informative."
• Best Story About Education for "Education’s Storm Front" by Hanna Ghabhain: "Thorough report on the imperiled federal Education Department. Good quotes and wide-ranging reactions from current and former state officials. Sets the scene well for future developments and the programs and people who might be affected."
• Best Story About Marginalized or Underrepresented Communities for "DEI programs come to an end at MSU" by Geoff Pickle: "Good job covering an important story. Could fit the category better if it were more focused on the perspective of a marginalized group or individual."