The Jefferson County Leader brought home a handful of hardware from the annual Missouri Press Association convention, held Sept. 14-15 in St. Louis County. The paper garnered 11 first-place awards, eight seconds, nine thirds and four honorable mentions in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest. In doing so, the Leader amassed enough points to win the coveted Gold Cup award, given to the highest-scoring entry in each division. (Weekly and daily papers are judged separately, in two circulation-size categories each).
“It was very exciting,” assistant publisher Peggy Scott said. “It’s always nice to have the hard work and effort we put into this paper recognized by our peers.”
First Place
The paper took first place in Best Overall Design. Judges said, “The Leader is very lively, while remaining careful and consistent. Generally very good use of spot color, especially in elements such as ‘news briefs’ and ‘school notes’ bars. Excellent story count and length, subheads used when needed.”
Other first-place awards included:
■ Best headline writing
Judges said the Leader’s headlines “do a great job of bringing readers into stories without overly using cliches.”
■ Best editorial pages
The judge in this category commented, “This paper's opinion section entails everything I look for on an editorial page. There are great local anecdotes and personal connection pieces with the columnists, as well as hard-hitting, bold opinion pieces on local government. This entry stuck out above all others.”
■ Tilghman Cloud Memorial Editorial Award
“Voting no on drug monitoring not just dumb, it’s dereliction of duty” concerned the
County Council voting down a proposal for Jefferson County to join a regional PDMP.
■ Best breaking news story
The staff compilation of stories about May floods that wreaked havoc across the county elicited this comment: “In an area that floods often, the staff did not take this one lightly. Comprehensive report, with lots of detail about damage, road closings and useful information for residents.”
■ Best feature story
Judges liked “Miracle Times Two,” a Laura Marlow story on an Imperial family whose twin babies survived a near-death experience.
“This was a thorough, endearing piece. Looking beyond the family's perspective and speaking with medical staff was a brilliant move by the reporter, and it really added another dimension to the story. Overall, this story was the ultimate feel-good story, a hallmark of classic feature writing.”
■ Best columnist, humorous
Judges said Patrick Martin column’s about a crazy night with Chuck Berry at a bowling alley in the 1970s was “hands down the best of the bunch. This columnist is obviously comfortable telling a story, and it shows in the easy flow of his columns. Worldly
observations.”
■ Best editorial cartoon
“It’s all your fault,” was Judy Dixon’s humorous take on scapegoating.
“Great message, in glorious black and white,” judges said. “Every reader can get it without any knowledge of the issue.”
■ Best sports feature photograph
Ron Rigdon snagged top honors with a wrestling photo that judges said showed “great isolation that focuses on the comparison between winner and loser.”
■ Best sports columnist
Russell Korando’s column about dealing with aging parents touched a nerve with judges, who said, “Readers with older parents can identify with this first-person perspective.”
■ Best story about rural life or agriculture
“No bull” was a Mary McKinstry story about a family of longhorn ranchers
“Reading this made me hungry,” the judge wrote. “Where can I get a longhorn steak that was slow-cooked and from an animal that was fed right? Good Story!”
Second place
The Leader won second place in Best Sports Pages. Judges said, “Very detailed stories that go beyond just re-capping the game. Great photos.”
Other second-place awards included:
■ Best columnist, serious
Patrick Martin’s column was about a local effort to save the endangered Jefferson College pool “Patrick Martin does a very good job of highlighting important issues facing the community in a witty, engaging way.”
■ Best columnist, humorous
Peggy Bess wrote this column about President Donald Trump acting like a spoiled child.
■ Best photo illustration
Ron Rigdon won for shots of a Ted Nugent concert at the Jefferson County Fair
“I don't even like Ted Nugent, but it caught my attention,” the judge said. “I'm tempted to read, especially with the great facial expressions you caught in the crowd.”
■ Best business story
“Plastic Men” was a Tracey Bruce story about a Fenton business owner who found his niche in the plastics industry. “Good historical research. Excellent descriptive lead,” judges said. “Good overall writing and good use of quotes. A nicely detailed profile of the company, featuring lots of research and diverse interviews.”
■ Best story about history
Tracey Bruce scored again with “America’s biggest nickel’s worth,”a story about the former Pepsi warehouse in Crystal City which judges called “An interesting story about community, family and neighborhood.”
■ Best news or feature obituary
Laura Marlow’s Life Story on Nick Ittzes was one of three to place in this category.
“Each of Ms. Marlow's pieces is very well-written, and could stand on its own as a feature story,” judges wrote. “Her balance of personal detail with societal and historical matters, and most notably, specific medical information stands out.”
■ Great American Eclipse, a special category for this year only.
Third place
The Leader took third in General Excellence among Class 3 weeklies.
“The Leader is lively without being sloppy or sensational,” judges wrote. “Its hallmarks are high story count and great variety, from hard news to features to community service.”
Other third-place awards included:
■ Tilghman Cloud Memorial Editorial Award
“As Grandview shows, candor is best in troubling time” gave kudos to district officials for the way they handled an embezzlement scandal.
■ Best news photograph
Ron Rigdon won for his dramatic front-page shot of the August 2017 solar eclipse
“Incredible shot of a rare event in the United States, captured at just the right time,” judges said.
■ Best sports feature story
“She’s a keeper” Gordon Bess story about a four-year varsity starter for the St. Pius X girls soccer team. “Well-written and solid quotes back up how big of an impact the keeper has made,” judges said.
■ Best story about rural life or agriculture
“Down on the farm” was a Mary McKinstry story about a local farm celebrating the birthday of Johnny Appleseed. Judges said, “Good lead! Johnny Appleseed, who planted seedlings, not seeds, and the critters who took all the apples were interesting and fun to read about. Good story flow.”
■ Best story about religion
Judges complimented “Faith behind bars,” a Gordon Bess story. “Features about jail ministries aren't that unusual. But the writer takes the extra steps of detailing the financing and procedures that make the ministry work. Nicely done.”
■ Best editoral cartoon
Judy Dixon drew “Pevely’s piggy bank” to accompany a column about a local city having tourism money it couldn’t spend
■ Best columnist, humorous
Kevin Carbery did a trivia column on odd fads of the past
■ Best news or feature obituary
“Life Story: Sarah Foster,” by Laura Marlow
Honorable mention
The paper won honorable mention in the category of Best Online Newspaper or Website.
Other honorable mention awards included:
■ Best news or feature special section
The Great American Eclipse was compiled by Laura Marlow, Tony Krausz, Peggy Scott and staff. “This was fun to read and informative – accented by eye-catching graphic design,” judges said.
■ Best sports feature story
Judges characterized “It’s a hard-knock life,” a Russell Korando story, this way: “Interesting, off-the-beaten-path feature. Does a good job conveying the relationship between son and mother.”
■ Best news or feature obituary
“Life Story: Bob Brophy” by Laura Marlow