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2013 NDNA Better Newspaper Contest Award Winners

Special Awards
NIE Newspaper of the Year
NIE Newspaper of the Year
Grand Forks Herald
Sue Lindlauf
Judges Comments: The Herald's program is comprehensive and continuing, providing regular features and lesson
plans. The use of blogs and Twitter are good examples of how newspapers are integrating social
and electronic media to enhance the role of print.


NIE Teacher of the Year
NIE Teacher of the Year
Grand Forks Herald
Laura Knox, Viking School - Grand Forks, ND
(Nominated by Sue Lindlauf of the Grand Forks Herald)
Judges Comments: Laura Knox is to be commended for understanding how newspapers can be lifelong learning
tools for engaged Americans. Bringing this message to students as young a kindergarten age,
along with the creative Awesome Authors component, makes it clear she cares


Rookie Reporter of the Year
Rookie Reporter of the Year
Fargo, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
Kyle Potter
Judges Comments: Potter is a thorough researcher with strong enterprise ability. His projects show an ability to
pour through pages and pages of documents, and then to synthesize the material and boil it
down into readable reports, often with clever turns of phrases.


High School Reporter of the Year
High School Reporter of the Year
Bismarck Tribune
Lexi Jorgenson
Judges Comments: Lexi Jorgenson writes at a level that belies her youth. The quality of her stories exceeds that of
many reporters with more experience. On top of that, her participation in school and
community activities makes her a clear choice as a top community newspaper reporter.

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Community Service
Community Service
Grand Forks Herald
Santa Claus Girls/Stadstad Classic
Grand Forks Herald Staff
Judges Comments: This package describes a long and continuing commitment on the part of the newspaper and its
staff to help community members in need. A great project, well reported, with clear impact.




First Amendment
First Amendment
Fargo, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
Various
Forum staff
Judges Comments: The Forum was relentless in its effort to expose willful and pervasive efforts to hide public
higher education information from the public. Its coverage demonstrates serious and necessary
attention to an out-of-control state entity. Very good work.


General Excellence
1-1,000 > > > General Excellence
Third Place
New Town News
Second Place
Parshall, Mountrail County Record
First Place
Center Republican
1st Place Comments: Very attractive newspaper with good use of photos and graphics. Strong education coverage.
Would be even better with a well-marked, locally written editorial. Overall, a great newspaper for
a small market.

1,001-1,999 > > > General Excellence
Third Place
Tioga Tribune
Second Place
Hillsboro Banner
First Place
Hazen Star
1
st
Place Comments: Strong, thorough coverage of local issues and events. The use of info boxes adds enormously to
reader value. Very creative use of photographs and graphics. But most importantly, a wide range
of good information for your community.
3

2,000 or more > > > General Excellence
Third Place
Crosby, The Journal
Second Place
Grafton, Walsh County Record
First Place
Watford City, McKenzie County Farmer
1
st
Place Comments: Clean. Good headline writing. Photos and advertising both jump off the page.

12,000 or less > > > General Excellence
Third Place
Dickinson Press
Second Place
Williston Herald
First Place
Jamestown Sun
1
st
Place Comments: This entry had the total package. It was very well designed with a strong, clean presentation
throughout the entries. The stories are well displayed with a balance of news, features, local and
national. The photography was a clear winner for this entry.


12,001 or more > > > General Excellence
Third Place
Grand Forks Herald
Second Place
Bismarck Tribune
First Place
Fargo, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
1
st
Place Comments: This entry is the clear winner. Overall product - layout, writing, photography, story choice and
presentation - is by far the best in this category.

Sweepstakes
1-1,000 > > > Sweepstakes
Winner!
Velva Area Voice
(Score: 1,875: 11 first places, 9 second places, & 4 fourth places)
1,001-1,999 > > > Sweepstakes
Winner!
Hillsboro Banner
(Score: 4,900: 25 first places, 19 second places, 15 third places, & 4 fourth places)
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2,000 or more > > > Sweepstakes
Winner!
Grafton, Walsh County Record
(Score: 4,475: 17 first places, 22 second places, 19 third places, & 10 fourth places)
12,000 or less > > > Sweepstakes
Winner!
Dickinson Press
(Score: 4,075: 15 first places, 17 second places, 18 third places, & 14 fourth places)
12,001 or more > > > Sweepstakes
Winner!
Fargo, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
(Score: 5,800: 28 first places, 21 second places, 21 third places, & 12 fourth places)

Congrats to all the contest winners!
Next year:
129
th
Annual Convention
(in conjunction with the South Dakota Newspaper Association)
May 14 16, 2015 Ramkota Hotel Bismarck, ND