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KEARNEY — The Cedar County News was named as one of the top community newspapers in the state when the Nebraska Press Association celebrated the best in Nebraska journalism Saturday at its annual convention in Kearney.
The event brought together newspaper professionals from across the state to recognize outstanding work, lifelong achievement, and the future of the industry through a series of prestigious awards and scholarships.
The Cedar County News was honored this year with the Freedom of Information award.
The prize is awarded each year to only one Nebraska daily or weekly newspaper — regardless of size. The News earned the award for its efforts to make sure the quadruple murder trial of Jason Jones remained open to the public and the media.
Judges were impressed with the way the News approached the trial, making sure it would remain open after hearing the judge and attorneys discussing the possibility of 'shielding' some evidence.
“Good coverage of what sounds like a horrific case,” judges wrote. “Congratulations for your willingness to fight the good fight.”
In all, the Cedar County News earned 20 awards during Saturday night’s Nebraska Press Association banquet.
This year’s contest, judged by the North Carolina Press Association, consisted of 1,983 entries from newspapers of all sizes from across the state.
The Cedar County News earned eight first-place plaques, seven second-place plaques and five third-place plaques.
For the second year in a row, a Northeast Nebraska News Company newspaper produced the Editorial of the year.
Last year, the Cedar County News was deemed as having the best editorial of any daily or weekly newspaper in the state. This year, the Randolph Times earned that distinction for an editorial urging school district patrons to vote in favor of a school improvement bond election.
The Cedar County News also earned a second-place plaque for general Excellence. The judge’s commented that the News’ dedication to sticking to an important story really stood out.
“As any small paper knows, having a reporter sit through a murder trial gavel to gavel puts a strain on newsroom resources, but the paper went all out to cover this important case. The challenge of presenting a week’s worth of trial coverage in a single issue was well-played by using multiple stories, from closing arguments to the verdict to forward-casting of possible death sentence. Robust use of advertising gang pages is a win, from Mother’s Day to Nurse’s Week to Football Contest voting. Using the print edition to tease to photo galleries shows the paper’s dedication to covering Cedar County. Strong editorial page with locally written editorials.”
The Cedar County News was also singled out for its editorial page and its editorial writing.
The News editorial page claimed first place honors among the largest 35 newspapers in the state, while its editorial writing picked up a second-place plaque.
Judges were also impressed by the photography in the Cedar County News. The News swept the sports action photography division.
Kellyn Dump earned first-place honors in that division, while Jeremy Buss earned second and third place.
Rob Dump took first-place honors for his sports feature photo during Hartington-Newcastle's opening cross country meet of the season.
Buss also won first-place honors in the feature photo category for his underwater photo during swimming lessons. Reporter Trisha Benton earned a third-place plaque for her news photo during the Jason Jones quadruple murder trial.
Two other Northeast Nebraska News Company newspapers also earned honors Saturday night.
The Randolph Times earned seven awards. The Times earned first-place plaques for editorial writing, news writing and for its front page.
The Laurel Advocate also picked up statewide recognition Saturday night during the annual convention.
The Advocate won four awards during the Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest competition.
Laurel’s hometown newspaper picked up a first-place plaque for Sandra Cross’ photo of the demolition of the City Auditorium. The Advocate also won a first-place plaque for Roger Tryon’s look at the history of that building.
Tryon also earned a first-place certificate for the Cedar County News for his series on the creation of the Gavin’s Point Dam.
Reporter Trisha Benton earned a second-place plaque for her coverage of Jason Jones trial and subsequent conviction of the quadruple murders here in 2022.
The Advocate also earned a second-place plaque for the design of a Hillcrest Care Center help wanted advertisement.
The Advocate also earned a second-place plaque for the design of a Hillcrest Care Center help wanted advertisement.
Also at Saturday evening’s banquet, the Nebraska Press Association and Nebraska Press Advertising Service boards of directors thanked outgoing presidents Rob Dump, co-publisher of Cedar County News, Laurel Advocate,Randolph Times and Osmond Republican, and Dee Klein of Lee Enterprises for their leadership on the boards.
The incoming NPA president is John Erickson, publisher of the Bridgeport News-Blade, and the incoming NPAS president is Lynell Morgan, co-publisher of the Elgin Review.
Here is a listing of local awards.
First Place
• Freedom of Information
• Preserving Local History Series Roger Tryon Gavins Point Dam series
• Editorial Page
• Sports Action photo
• Sports Feature Photography
• Feature Photography
• Entertinment Story
• Headline writing
• Special section - Memorial Day
Second Place
• General Excellence
• Public Notice Promotion
• Editorial Writing
• Best use of color
• Sports Action photo
• Building circulation
• Ag advertisement
Third Place
• News photography
• Classified Ad Section
• Special Section - Ag Today
• Sports Action photo
• Ag advertisement
