Newspapers Win State Honors
The Northern Plains Independent and Community News each came away with honors from the Montana Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. The convention was held in Butte during the weekend.
The Northern Plains Independent competed in Division II and the Community News competed in Division I. The divisions are based on circulation.
Darla Downs, publisher of the newspapers, earned first-place awards for best breaking news photo for NPI, best black and white ad to promote merchandise for CN, best sponsor ad for CN and best newspaper promotion ad for CN.
The breaking news photo regarded a house fire that occurred in Wolf Point.
As far as the Northern Plains Independent, Downs received second-place honors for best marketing campaign, second place for best black and white ad to sell or promote services, third place for best ad to sell or promote merchandise, third place for best black and white ad to sell or promote services and third place for best sponsor page.
Editor Bill Vander Weele won a first-place award for best general news photo for CN, The photo featured Froid High School student Cody Olson showing his steer at the county fair.
Editor James Walling earned first place for best breaking news photo for CN. The coverage was for an explosion in Bainville.
For the Community News, Downs received second place for best sponsor page and best promotional newspaper ad. Vander Weele and Downs teamed up for third-place honors for best front page for NPI.
Vander Weele earned second place for best sports photo for Community News. The photo consisted of Culbertson’s football players recovering a fumble during a playoff game.
Downs
Publisher Darla Downs holding first-place awards at the Montana Newspaper Convention.
(Photo submitted)
