Chronicle wins SDNA awards

Members of the Chronicle staff have once again received awards in the S.D. Newspaper Association’s (SDNA) annual Better Newspaper Contest for 2019. Due to the cancelling of the SDNA annual convention in Deadwood last month, the contest winners were announced via Zoom meeting and email Thursday morning. 

In the advertising division, graphic artist Darrell Mohr won two first-place awards among all weekly newspapers in the state for his advertising design work. Mohr took first for “Best Use of Color” for his Miner’s Cup ad. 

The contest judge noted, “This ad is well done! It stands out on a page and the colors are striking.” 

The other first-place plaque was in the category of “Best Use of Local Photograph” and was for an ad produced for the 1881 Bank Beer Garden opening.

In the editorial division, Ron Burtz and Jason Ferguson took first and second, respectively, among weekly newspapers with circulation over 1,300 for their headline writing. The two writers each submitted five headlines for consideration in the category. 

Among the prizewinning headlines were Burtz’s for a story on the defeat of a proposed city ordinance allowing for backyard chickens — “Plan fails to hatch” — and Ferguson’s entry “Airport decision causes turbulence.” 

In addition, Ferguson won second place in the “Best Sports Column” category for his “Wednesday Morning Quarterback” columns and Burtz took second in the “Best Feature Series” division for his “Christmas Around the World” articles which included holiday memories from two foreign exchange students and Custer restauranteur Maria Lyndoe who was born and raised in Mexico. 

“Great, unique feature series that is not only seasonal, but involves so many members of  your community,” commented the contest judge. “Well written and with great detail and perspective.” 

Ferguson took third place honors in the “Best News Series” category for his articles on the Harry David Evans sexual assault and kidnapping trial, sentencing and the subsequent lawsuit filed by the victim. 

“This series had more information than readers needed, but the impact was there and justice was served,” wrote the contest judge. 

Also taking third place among weeklies with over 1,300 circulation for “Best Photo Series” were Norma Najacht and Burtz for their photos of the Flood of 2019. 

Burtz also won third place among all newspapers in the state for his original editorial cartoon from May of 2019 entitled “Graduation in the age of smart phones.” 

The cartoon contest judge commented, “Interesting depiction of a generation...surrounded by technology.” 

In closing out the online awards program, SDNA executive director David Bordewyk of Brookings expressed his regrets that the association was not able to honor its newest Hall of Fame inductees, Chronicle publishers Charley and Norma Najacht, at a live meeting this year. 

The induction ceremony is expected to take place at a joint convention of the North and South Dakota Newspaper Associations set for next spring in Deadwood.