REGIONAL - For the second year in a row, the Timberjay has taken the top honors in its size category in the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, with its second straight first-place finish for General Excellence.
“Relevant and timely coverage of local affairs and keen localization of decisions as far away as Washington, D.C.,” wrote the judges. “A good mix of community features and a separate local sports section each week delivers what so many readers want from a community newspaper. Excellent and fearless editorial page. Clearly, the best in class. The Timberjay knows how to fly.”
The award for General Excellence is considered the top award in the contest, reflecting the overall quality of the newspaper. It’s the seventh time in the past 20 years that the Timberjay has won first place in the category and it was one of a total of 11 awards that the Timberjay won in this year’s contest.
The Timberjay also claimed first place for General Reporting in its size category. The judges were especially impressed by the wide range of coverage in the newspaper. “I feel like after reading three issues of your paper, I know the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful elements of living in your community. Diverse and interesting news fare in a clean layout,” the judges wrote.
The paper also won first place for Editorial Page as a Whole, and a third place award for Typography and Design.
Timberjay Publisher Marshall Helmberger and General Manager Jodi Summit took second place for the Lynn Smith Community Leadership Award, for their work on the planning and construction of the Ancient Cedars Trail in Tower. “An inspiring entry,” wrote the judges. “Excellent community leadership— positive leadership— at a time when communities everywhere needed positivity beyond the pandemic. Close to the winner.”
Other Timberjay staff won individual awards as well.
Cook-Orr Editor David Colburn won first place for Social Issues reporting for his story on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected Mother’s Day.
Ely Editor Keith Vandervort and Jodi Summit took second place for their stories on the outdoor staging of the annual summer opera performed as part of the Northern Lights Music Festival. Editor David Colburn took second place as Best Columnist.
Helmberger won third place awards for investigative reporting, for an analysis of the Tower Ambulance Service, and for Best Human Interest Feature for a story on an Embarrass couple’s interest in dragonflies.
Summit also won a third-place award for Best Sports Feature for her story on a local musher’s involvement in a major motion picture.
“We’re obviously very pleased again at the results of this year’s contest,” said Timberjay Publisher Marshall Helmberger. “As usual, we’ve won in a wide range of categories, reflecting the broad strength of our newspaper overall."