Cedar County News is one of only six Neb. newspapers to earn national honors
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Cedar County News was one of only six Nebraska newspapers to earn national honors this week.
Each year, the National Newspaper Association honors the best in community journalism in the Better Newspaper Editorial Contest and the best in community newspaper advertising in the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest.
The BNEC and BNAC, together, make up the association’s Better Newspaper Contest. Entries are accepted during the contest entry period, which occurs annually from January through June.
The Cedar County News won a second-place plaque for a personal column by Co-Publisher Rob Dump. The column drew on the lessons we all teach our kids as they are growing up and how those same lessons should be used by the adults in today's politically obsessed world.
This marks the 10th year in a row the Cedar County News has earned national acclaim for one of Dump's personal columns. The News has now picked up national honors in 16 of the last 20 years — a claim few other Nebraska newspapers can make.
The News also earned a pair of third-place plaques for its advertising department.
A special election preview section was honored for its completeness and informational value.
Cedar County News Co-Publisher Peggy Year designed the entire election section, while Cedar County News staff members Raelynn Schmit, Kellyn Dump and JoAnn Wiebelhaus all worked together on the “Shop at Home" Holiday section.
The annual “Shop at Home” section was created several years ago by Year. It is designed to give area businesses an inexpensive and effective way to promote their products and services during the Holiday shopping season.
The News was the only Nebraska newspaper to win any honors in the Advertising contest.
Winners of the National Newspaper Association Foundation’s 2021 Better Newspaper Contest and Better Newspaper Advertising Contest will be honored at a special awards ceremony Saturday, Oct. 2, during the Association's 135th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Jacksonville, Fla.
There were 1,229 entries in the Better Newspaper Editorial Contest and 1,280 entries in the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest. A total of 509 awards were won by 83 member newspapers in 33 states.
The Iowa Newspaper Association was awarded the second annual “Best of NNA” Award for their 74 winning entries, beating out Wyoming with 66 wins and Texas with 44 wins.
Judging was performed primarily by active community newspaper editors and publishers, as well as retired university journalism professors and retired or former newspaper professionals.
Judge Pat Reilly, publisher of The Dodgeville Chronicle in Mayville, Wisconsin, said, “I was impressed with the quality of writing and the attention to detail along with it. Very high quality and proof that good journalism is alive and well.”
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