Wobbema elected president of NDNA

Bismarck Tribune Editor Amy Dalrymple passed the North Dakota Newspaper Association’s president torch to Amy Wobbema, publisher of the New Rockford Transcript and Foster County Independent, during the NDNA’s 136th annual convention, held in Bismarck May 5-7.

The membership also elected Hillsboro Banner’s Cole Short to the position of first vice president and Allison Olimb of the Walsh County Press as second vice president. Terry Schwartzenberger of the Napoleon Homestead was elected to serve a director position, and past president Matt Von Pinnon will remain on the board, serving a two-year director term as well.

Steve Andrist was inducted into the NDNA Hall of Fame during the convention, marking the first time three generations of a family have been given such an honor. His father, John Andrist, and grandfather, Calvin Andrist, were inducted in 2000 and 1978, respectively. Steve, former owner of Journal Publishing, has served on many NDNA boards and committees, and has been incredibly active in the journalism industry, including holding the position of NDNA executive director for seven years. He is currently retired, and serves as co-chair of the North Dakota News Cooperative, a new nonprofit journalism entity.

Jack McDonald, longtime NDNA legal counsel, received the first ever Jack McDonald Freedom Award during the convention, an award named after him that honors a person or organization that demonstrates extraordinary efforts to preserve or enhance government transparency in North Dakota.

Barry Amundson of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, was inducted into the NDNA 50-Year Club. He began working for newspapers at 16, and has worked for The Forum for 15 years. He’s currently the city and night editor and plans to retire this summer.

Wobbema will preside over the association for the next year, and her tenure will culminate with a joint convention of NDNA and the South Dakota Newspaper Association in Devils Lake on May 11-13, 2023. Wobbema succeeds former Transcript Publisher Ed Doherty and Independent Publisher Emeritus Allen Stock, who both previously served as president of the association.