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N'West
Iowa Review is the 2009 Newspaper of the Year
The Sheldon
N’West Iowa Review has been
named the Iowa Newspaper Association’s 2009 Newspaper
of the Year. The presentation of the Newspaper of the Year
as well
as other awards in the INF Better Newspaper Contests, culminated
two days of educational sessions, social gatherings and trade
show exhibitions that made up the 2009 INA Convention and Trade
Show Feb. 5-6. The event was held at the downtown Des Moines
Marriott.
Click
here to see photos from the 2009 INA Convention and Trade
Show
Click
here to see a list of Better Newspaper Contests winners
2009
Virtual Trade Show
Watch a video
of INA members singing with Past Presidents' Luncheon presenter
Peter Yarrow
Hundreds of newspaper staffers turned out to learn how their
operations can find new ways to cut costs and increase revenue
in today’s economic climate. A total of 800 people registered
for the convention, making INA’s the best attended
of any state press association in the country for the fourth
consecutive
year. Ninety-seven weeklies and 32 dailies were represented.
INA again partnered with the Iowa College Media Association
to allow interaction between college students interested
in journalism
careers and journalism professionals. A total of 150 ICMA
students and advisers took part in the activities. A Mentor-Student
Luncheon Thursday afternoon provided a forum for students
interested
in
media careers to meet and mingle with Iowa’s publishers,
advertising and editorial professionals. Following the lunch,
a panel of newspaper employees participated in a question-and-answer
session with college students, to help students understand
how to build a career in newspaper journalism.
Other activities Thursday included a session led by Martin
Till, president and publisher of Easton Publishing in Pennsylvania.
Till challenged publishers to think outside the box when
taking on the challenges of our rapidly changing profession.
Following
these sessions, the association’s three boards of directors
held their annual meetings and elections.
The INF Live Auction was split into two sessions this year,
allowing more convention-goers to see and vie for the items
up for bid.
Thursday evening’s Trade Show Reception featured the
first part of the Live Auction while allowing registrants
an opportunity
to socialize and check out the products, services and ideas
of 20 exhibitors.
Friday’s highlights included:
• Advertising, circulation and roundtable sessions and the display
of INF Better Newspaper Contest winners allowed newspapers
to share winning ideas.
• Postal favorite Max Heath returned to help publishers and circulation
directors better understand postal regulations and maximize
savings.
• Technology guru Russell Viers shared tips on working with Photoshop,
InDesign and QuarkXPress.
• National speaker Jeff Greene presented three sessions designed
to provide newspapers with new advertising ideas and methods
for keep advertising revenues up during challenging economic
periods.
• Other advertising sessions offered advice on publishing community
guides to garner extra revenue and provided an opportunity
to ask questions of a panel of current newspaper advertisers.
• Several Iowa journalists shared tips on covering natural disasters,
using public records to write stories and rebuilding circulations.
•
Web and online products and procedures were an important part
of the program as well, with sessions covering ways to start
and/or improve your newspaper’s Web site, live chatting
with your community, incorporating videos into your site
and making money from your site.
Many honored on Friday
Both up-and-coming writers and seasoned newspaper professionals
were honored throughout the day Friday.
During Friday evening’s Awards Banquet, 2009 Master
Editor-Publisher awards were given to recipients who have
worked hard, thought
soundly, influenced unselfishly, and lived honorably. The
winners were Lowell Carlson, editor of the Bellevue Herald-Leader;
Ken Chaney, publisher of the Sigourney News Review, Brian
Cooper,
executive editor of the Dubuque Telegraph Herald; and Dennis
Wilcox, publisher of the Madrid Register-News.
Named Outstanding Young Iowa Journalists for their achievements
in the newspaper industry were: Aaron Jaco, Indianola Record-Herald & Tribune;
Adam Belz, Cedar Rapids Gazette; and Liz Martin, Cedar Rapids
Gazette. The Young Iowa Journalist award is presented jointly
by the Iowa Newspaper Foundation and the journalism schools
at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and Drake
University.
One couple and two individuals were inducted into the Iowa
Newspaper Foundation’s Individual Heritage Club based on generous
donations they have made. They were Mark and Laura Hamilton,
Times-Citizen Communications; the late Oliver “Bud” Lesan
of the Creston News Advertiser; and Steve Mores of Harlan
Newspapers. The recipients join 57 other individuals or couples
who are
already members of this elite group. With the gifts of those
recognized
at the banquet, the Individual Heritage Club now represents
a total of $315,000 in contributions to the Iowa Newspaper
Foundation.
Also during the Award Banquet, Brian Steffens, Executive
Director of the National Newspaper Association, presented
INA Executive
Director Bill Monroe with the NNA’s President’s
Award. Tom Yunt, CEO of Dubuque-based Woodward Communications,
announced
the Bill Monroe INA Innovation Award, which will be presented
in future years. The award is designed to encourage INA member
newspapers to develop new and cutting-edge products and services
outside the confines of established newspaper products.
Three Distinguished Service Award winners were honored for
their outstanding service to the newspaper profession and
their communities
at Friday’s Past Presidents’ Luncheon. Recipients
of this honor included Jay Luther of the Iowa Falls Times-Citizen;
Mary Reuter, general manager of the DeWitt Observer; and
Jo Martin, chief operating officer of Iowa Falls Times Citizen
Communications.
Also during the luncheon, six newspaper veterans were awarded
50-Year Club certificates, recognizing their fifty-plus years
of service to the newspaper industry. They were Roger Allen,
Montezuma Republican; Dorothy Muckey, Algona Upper Des Moines;
Dennis Nuss, Sumner Gazette; Jack Zimmerman, Sheffield Press;
Gene Andrews, Anita Tribune; and Frances Melvold, Maquoketa
Sentinel-Press.
Past Presidents’ Luncheon presenter Peter Yarrow, formerly
of the folk singing group Peter, Paul and Mary, entertained
the audience with music while talking about Operation Respect,
an
anti-bullying campaign.
Following Yarrow’s presentation, INA Executive Director
Bill Monroe was surprised with a “roast” celebrating
his 29 years leading the INA. This convention was the final
annual event for Monroe, who will retire at the end of 2009.
INF Auctions set record
The INF’s Live and Silent Auctions broke an all-time
record, with total receipts of $13,196. Jim Normandin, publisher
of the
Dubuque Telegraph Herald, and Dave Storey, publisher of the
Cedar Rapids Gazette, served as auctioneers for the two-part
live auction.
Items sold at the live auctions raised $8,200 for the Foundation.
The biggest ticket item was an Okoboji Weekend Escape package
donated by Jo Martin of the Iowa Falls Times-Citizen. The
item received so much attention from bidders that Martin
graciously
offered to donate two additional Okoboji packages. The packages
garnered $1,300 from Dave Storey of the Cedar Rapids Gazette
and Jim Normandin of the Dubuque Herald, $1,200 from Mark
Hamilton of Times-Citizen Communications and $1,100 from
Bill Monroe
of the INA. In addition, Steve and Alan Mores of Harlan Newspapers
donated $500 to attend dinner at Jo Martin’s house
in Okoboji.
Receipts from the INF’s Silent Auction totaled $4,996.
Several weekend getaway packages, framed comic strips and
gift baskets each brought in $100-plus for the Foundation.
General Excellence winners in their respective circulation
classes were the Carroll Daily Times Herald, Des Moines Register,
Sergeant
Bluff Advocate, Adel Dallas Co. News and Sheldon N’West
Iowa Review.
Best of Class Advertising trophies for their respective classes
went to the Spencer Daily Reporter, Dubuque Telegraph Herald,
Sergeant Bluff Advocate, Eagle Grove Eagle and Altoona Herald-Mitchellville
Index.
The INA board elected new officers and directors during Thursday’s
annual meetings. INA Board officers elected were Amy Duncan,
Indianola Record-Herald and Tribune, president; Mary Ungs-Sogaard,
Dyersville Commercial, vice president; Ron Peterson, Sioux
City Journal, secretary-treasurer; and Bill Casey, Iowa City
Daily
Iowan, executive member at large. Elected to the INA board
were Steve Delaney, Burlington Hawk Eye, to serve an additional
three-year
term; Ron Peterson, to serve an additional three-year term;
Julie Bechtel, Davenport Quad-City Times, to serve a first
two-year
term; Scott Ervin, South Hamilton Record News, to serve a
first three-year term; and Mike Hodges, Wapello Republican,
to serve
a first three-year term.
The INA Services Co. board elected the following directors
during its annual meeting: Ron Peterson, Sioux City Journal;
Kevin Johnson,
Des Moines Register; Mary Ungs-Sogaard, Dyersville Commercial;
Amy Duncan, Indianola Record-Herald & Tribune; Tom Stangl,
Le Mars Daily Sentinel; Tim Kurtz, Oskaloosa Herald and Jeff
Wagner, Sheldon N’West Iowa Review. Elected as officers
were Kevin Johnson, president; Jeff Wagner, vice president
and Tim Kurtz, secretary/treasurer.
The INF board also appointed new officers during its annual meeting:
Jo Martin, Iowa Falls Times-Citizen, president; Brad Hicks, Hampton
Chronicle, first vice president; Janine Kock, Westside Observer,
second vice president; and David Braton, Waterloo Courier, third
vice president. Michael Giudicessi, Faegre and Benson; Rich Paulsen,
Creston News Advertiser; and Paula Buenger, Spencer Daily Reporter
were elected to three-year terms.
Visit www.INAnews.com to review the full slate of contest winners
and to view the slide show that was presented during the Awards
Banquet. To order duplicate award plaques or certificates, contact
Jennifer Asa at jasa@inanews.com or 515-422-9070.
Click
here to see photos from the 2009 INA Convention and Trade
Show
Click
here to see a list of Better Newspaper Contests winners
2009 Virtual
Trade Show
The 2009
INA Convention and Trade Show was sponsored in part by:
Industry Sponsor-
Friend of Iowa Newspapers-
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