The Tribune and Times won second place in General Excellence in its division of weekly newspapers in the annual Better Newspaper Contest sponsored by the Missouri Press Association. The award was one of 10 presented to the paper Saturday during the press association’s annual meeting in Wildwood.
Last year, the paper finished third in the general excellence category and Publisher Dennis Minich said the placings were significant.
“I think general excellence is the category every paper strives for because it looks at the total product: writing, photography, layout and advertising. Placing one year can sometimes just be a matter of one judge’s thoughts, but placing for a second time, I think, indicates we are doing things right,” Minich said.
Editor Jimmy Gillispie collected five individual awards for his efforts last year. He earned second places in Best Breaking News Story; Best News Photograph; Best Feature Photograph and Best Sports Photograph. He earned third place for Best Sports Columnist.
The breaking news story recognized was the story about Tryin Samples, a Harrisonville High School football player who nearly lost his leg to an injury sustained in a playoff game. The news and feature photographs were of a single entry of Harrisonville Early Childhood Center students observing the solar eclipse. The sports photograph was of runner Kayleigh Norris winning the state cross country meet.
The judge of the news story provided no feedback, but comments on the other entries were very positive.
About his columns, the judge wrote: “Jimmy Gillispie brings useful perspective and topical relevance to his sports columns. His writing is focused and opinionated in the best way — informative without losing the reader in stats or recaps.”
The news photo judge wrote: “This is a fun photo. There’s definite rhythm and flow to this. It’s balanced and the students against the background really pop. Good job,” while the feature photo judge noted: “A new, creative angle to a story many other outlets nationwide covered in a repetitive way. This is an eye-catching, well-composed photo.”
About the sports photo, the judge wrote: “The story behind this photo makes it all the more powerful. Kudos to photographer to catch what I’m guessing was a fleeting moment in a long race.”
Minich won three individual awards: second place in Best Feature Story and his weekly column earned second place in Best Humorous Columnist and third place in Best Serious Columnist. Minich has earned 16 awards from the MPA for his columns, as well as one from the National Newspaper Association.
The judge in the humorous category said, “Relatable and irreverent stories that made me smile. The writer reveals a bit of vulnerability even in humor, which makes these pieces stand out.” The judges’ comment in the serious category wrote: “The column reflecting on a 50-year high school reunion won me over in the process of judging this category. This writer is sweet and thoughtful, sensitive and wise -- and it all comes through in the writing. Nicely done.”
The feature story award was about “The Traveler,” a Missouri woman who travels around the country in a similar manner of a modern day covered wagon. The judge wrote: “What impressed me, along with very high-quality writing, was the fact someone got a very nomadic person to pause and tell their story. The reader can picture the wagon moving down the highway pulled by a mule. Not something you witness every day. Very good effort.
The paper also earned a second-place nod for Best Front Page.
The Tribune and Times was the only paper from Cass or Bates County to take home awards from the association.
Entries were judged by members of the New York Press Association.
