Cedar County News picks up more national honors

NORFOLK, Va. — The Cedar County News was once again honored last week as one of the nation’s best community newspapers.

The Cedar County News was one of just five Nebraska newspapers to take home national recognition for news and editorial coverage during the three-day National Newspaper Association convention here last weekend.

News Co-Publisher Rob Dump earned a first-place plaque in the personal column writing category. It was the only first-place plaque awarded to a Nebraska newspaper this year.

Hartington’s community newspaper also earned Honorable Mention status for a feature photo by Tyler Schank. The photo was taken during the Cedar County Fair Poultry Judging Show. The News also earned an Honorable Mention plaque for its use of Social Media during the State Volleyball championships.

This marks the seventh straight year the Cedar County News has garnered a national award for its editorial page.

The Cedar County News has now earned 27 national awards since 2001 when the newspaper first began submitting entries to the contest.

“It’s really gratifying to be rewarded for something that you love doing so much,” Dump said. 

The West Point News, published by former Cedar County News Publisher Tom Kelly, earned a third-place plaque for Best Local News Coverage. The Washington County Enterprise of Blair earned Honorable Mention recognition for Best Special Section. The Blair Pilot-Tribune earned a second-place plaque in the Breaking News Photo category.

The final Nebraska newspaper to be honored at the Virginia event was the Aurora News-Register, which picked up a third-place plaque for its Newspaper in Education program.

Winners were recognized at an awards breakfast Saturday during NNA’s 132nd Annual Convention & Trade Show at the Waterside Marriott, Norfolk, Va.

There were 1,405 entries in the Better Newspaper Editorial Contest and 202 entries in the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest for a total of 1,607 entries. 

A total of 478 awards were won by 115 member newspapers in 38 states.

Iowa had the most combined BNC/BNAC wins with 59, followed by California with 45 and Wyoming at 38.

Judging was performed primarily by active community newspaper editors and publishers, as well as retired university journalism professors and retired or former newspaper professionals.