Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Your local newspaper took home 30 awards from the 2024 NDNA Better Newspaper Contest on May 3.
The New Rockford Transcript earned 10 first place, six second place, 10 third place and four honorable mention awards in news, photography and advertising.
Among the highlights was first place among all weekly newspapers for Online Coverage of Breaking News, which recognizes the newspaper's online coverage of the Troyal Thumb murder and subsequent manhunt for the suspect, Nicholas Poitra.
The judge had this to say about the Transcript’s coverage: “Social media metrics suggest everyone in the state was following the New Rockford Transcript’s coverage when a man was shot and killed outside a bar in Sheyenne. Of course, when there’s a manhunt for the well-armed suspect, everyone is watching this story. Nathan Price and Amy Wobbema again were on top of it.”
We also received third place among mid-size weeklies in Overall Design Excellence, a special award that recognizes newspapers that are the most readable and visually appealing to readers.
In the news division, the Transcript’s original reporting and editorial writing garnered 12 awards.
Our “Collegiate Congratulations” tabloid edition earned first place for special news section. The judge applauded our efforts. “This section resonates with personality and revealing accounts of post high school academic success! Good stories about students' achievements packed with personality! Story graphics make even Dean's List accounts appealing. A grand section, packed with ads and original content!”
This award we are happy to share with the Foster County Independent, as the section covers students throughout the area and is inserted in both newspapers twice annually.
Reporter Nathan Price earned first place in government reporting for his coverage of a letter signed by over 100 patrons calling for the resignation of Dr. Jill Louters, superintendent of NR-S.
The Transcript staff also received first place in the editorial page category and in informational graphics for an updated map of the AED locations in Eddy County.
The Transcript earned second place for best website, http://www.newrockfordtranscript.com. That’s where readers can find all the breaking news stories, original reporting, editorial content, photos and advertising anytime, day or night.
Nathan Price received second place in spot news for his immediate coverage of a truck explosion on the outskirts of New Rockford last May.
Staff earned third place awards for their sports pages, for the design of a map illustrating the coverage area of CenDak Cooperative after the acquisition of Fessenden Cooperative, and for coverage of the resignation of Eddy County Auditor Patty Williams.
Honorable Mention awards include Nathan Price’s editorial, “Do you want the good news or the bad news?”, his print coverage of the Troyal Thumb murder/Nicholas Poitra manhunt, and Amy Wobbema’s sports column, “Catching baseball fever.”
The Transcript received four awards in the very competitive photography division. Nathan Price earned first place agricultural photo for his image of volunteers pitching hay at the Central North Dakota Steam Threshers Reunion.
Kyrie Dauenhauer’s photo of Mary Kay Price crossing the finish line at the Freedom 5K earned her a second place award in the outdoor recreation category. Amy Wobbema earned third place in the same category with her picture of a kid doing a backflip off the diving board during the Fourth of July pool games. The photo spread of Independence Day activities, which contained both of the above photos, received third place in the picture story category.
In the advertising division, the Transcript brought home 12 awards. Amy Wobbema received three first place awards, for a Bessette Motors vehicle ad, a series of front page banner ads she designed for Community Credit Union and use of color in the Chamber’s Santa Day ad.
Kyrie Dauenhauer earned top honors in the entertainment/liquor category for the Christmas ad she designed for Hanson’s Bar, titled “Eat, Drink and Be Merry.”
Intern Stephen Merrick received an honorable mention award for a real estate ad he made for Vorland Land Company.
The newspaper’s annual tabloid section promoting the Wells County Fair earned a third place award for special advertising section.
Wobbema received three third place awards: for financial ad with her “CCU Scam Alert” banner, in single ad for the “Inflation Fighter” special at Rindy’s Sheyenne Bar and in entertainment/liquor for DPRCA’s “Deer Camp.”
The Transcript received three second place awards in advertising, including Kyrie Dauenhauer’s signature page “Letters to Santa,” Wobbema’s health care ad for Skilled Nursing Care Week at LHGS and Wobbema’s small space ad promoting Flair Boutique.
Transcript publisher Amy Wobbema also ended a six-year stint on the board of directors at this convention. Serving as immediate past president this last year, she has now passed the responsibilities onto a new board member who was elected to serve as a director. There were two new directors elected on Friday: Tara Kloistreich, publisher of the Daily News of Wahpeton and Daily News Monitor of Hankinson, and Joy Schock, publisher of the Dickinson Press.
