Springfield Business Journal took home nine awards Saturday during the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.
The MPA presented awards at Chateau on the Lake in Branson during its 150th annual convention. Columbia-based MPA, founded in 1867, represents more than 260 newspapers in Missouri.
SBJ - in the Class 2 Weeklies category for a circulation of 3,001 to 7,000 - earned two second-place awards, three third-place awards and four honorable mentions.
Award information, with judges’ comments, are below.
Second-place awards:
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Best News or Feature Series: “
Day in the Life” - Staff
“Crisp writing and terrific and inviting layout make this feature series on community business leaders a winner. Smart and entertaining presentation.
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Best Business Story: “
How’s your bank’s health?” - Emily Letterman
“This is an important and very overlooked story - affected almost every community since the recession and new regulations started hammering local banks. This was a great and important idea to explore, and you are the only paper I've seen that has recognized it. I can't help but wonder if you heard feedback on this story from the public or from local banks. Nice job.”
Third-place awards:
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Best Overall Design: Wes Hamilton
”Your choices of art and photos on each of the covers were excellent. Each issue presents a very clean and easy to follow layout - I especially like how you do the section headings, simple and not overwhelming.”
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Best Columnist-Serious: Eric Olson
“Your writing kept me engaged for the duration of each submission. I felt transported to your community, and concerned about the issues you discussed. You're clever. I'd just like to see a little more about what you think, your ideas about each issue. You had solid facts, but anybody can get those. I want to hear your ideas about those facts, how they're connected. That will make me buy a paper.”
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Best Story About History: “
Ye Olde English Inn awaits next chapter” - Brian Brown
"A story about a historic inn which is for sale. There were several stories of this nature in the category, but I thought the writing on this one flowed and kept the reader engaged rather than just becoming a timeline history story."
Honorable Mention:
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Best Columnist-Serious: Emily Letterman
“Design-wise, this paper might be my favorite. Topic-wise, you're unafraid to tackle some "taboos" (at least in my tiny corner of the world), and that's encouraging for the future of the newspaper business. You're in a strong field of serious columnists, and you definitely held your own. Your voice is the clearest among all of them.”
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Best Photo Illustration: “
Brand Games” - Wes Hamilton
“I really enjoyed the use of the Monopoly cards for the corporations.”
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Best Story About Education: “
New School of Thought” - Emily Letterman
“No one really thinks about the thinking behind a school building design - well, maybe the designers and school officials. A great piece on what goes into the the evolving thought around school design.”
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Best News or Feature Obituary: “
Death of a leader, birth of an industry” - Brian Brown
Ozark-based Christian County Headliner News won the Gold Cup - the highest honor - in the Class 2 Weeklies categories. The other Gold Cup winners were the Cassville Democrat, St. Louis American, Daily Star-Journal, Columbia Missourian and The Kansas City Star.
