2022 NDNA Special Awards
Better Newspaper Contest Award Winners (for work done in 2021)

Special Awards

	Rookie Reporter of the Year
	Multi-Day: Small	> > >	Rookie Reporter of the Year
	First Place
	Wahpeton, Daily News
	Robert Wanek Jr.
	Judge comments: 	There's nothing boring or boilerplate about Robert's writing -- he draws you in and keeps 
	you there. This writer has a great future ahead of him, and readers are lucky to have such 
	talent. 

	Public Notice Journalism
	Weekly: Large	> > >	Public Notice Journalism
	First Place
	Crosby, The Journal
	Transparency lacking in city nuisance property process
	Brad Nygaard
	Judge comments: 	This is the kind of watchdog reporting that has real consequences. This is a story of government workers breaking down doors and threatening the livelihoods of community members, and then attempting to conduct those high-stakes decisions behind closed doors. Kudos to the Journal for shining a light on this illegal, and dangerous, government overreach, and for explaining to citizens the situation, the law, and the actions it is taking with such clarity and brevity. One of the best entries I've seen all year.
	Community Service
	Multi-Day: Large	> > >	Community Service
	First Place
	Bismarck Tribune
	Hunger in Plain Sight
	Mike McCleary
	Judge comments:	This was a masterpiece of a series. The reporting is the kind that takes a special touch from someone willing to put in the time to really get to know the people he is covering, to see beyond the surface of an issue. The photos pull you in, the videos bring it all to life. This isn't just a tally of the number of pounds of food that were given as a response, but the hearts and minds that were changed, the understanding that prompts empathy and paves the way for true community growth. Fantastic package and a clear winner.

First Amendment
	Multi-Day: Large	> > >	First Amendment
	First Place
	Grand Forks Herald
	Complaints of MSU president & how Higher Ed handled it
	Sam Easter, Sydney Mook, Korrie Wenzel
	Judge comments: 	Oftentimes the most important fight for Freedom of Speech and Information comes from showing people why it matters. In the Herald's terrific example of that, reporters and editors had to wade through hundreds of pages of documents, had to fight for those documents through red tape at every turn, and had to stand firm against bureaucrats bent on painting rosy pictures over serious problems, seemingly without concern for the truth. The reporting cut through the confusing circular rhetoric of academia and PR and presented the findings in a fair and clear way; editorials showed readers why it was important. The Herald team handled backlash with professionalism and honesty. All in all, a service to the community and taxpayers. Fantastic job.

	General Excellence
	Weekly: Small	> > >	General Excellence
	Honorable Mention
	Mandan News
	General Excellence entry
	Staff 
	Third Place
	Bowbells, Burke County Tribune
	General Excellence entry
	Lyann Olson
	Second Place
	Drayton, Valley News & Views
	General Excellence entry
	Lesa Van Camp
	First Place
	Finley, Steele County Press
	General Excellence entry
	Staff 
	Judge comments: One of the best newspapers we judged in the entire state. Keep up the good work.

	Weekly: Mid-Size	> > >	General Excellence
	Third Place
	Carrington, Foster County Independent
	General Excellence entry
	Staff 
	Second Place
	New Rockford Transcript
	General Excellence entry
	Transcript staff
	First Place
	Tioga Tribune
	General Excellence entry
	Tioga Tribune Staff
	Judge comments: One of the best newspapers I have ever seen. Great work. 

	Weekly: Large	> > >	General Excellence
	Honorable Mention
	Lisbon, Ransom County Gazette
	General Excellence entry
	Lynn Kaspari, Mattie Richardson-Schmitz, Jeanne Sexton-Brown, Joe Howell, Doreen Quast, Michael Hallquist
	Third Place
	Garrison, McLean County Independent
	General Excellence entry
	Staff 
	Second Place
	Casselton, Cass County Reporter
	General Excellence entry
	Cass County Reporter Staff
	First Place
	Grafton, Walsh County Record
	General Excellence entry
	Staff 
	Judge comments: Absolutely beautiful newspaper. Congratulations. Great Newspaper. By far the best in the division.

	Multi-Day: Small	> > >	General Excellence
	Third Place
	Wahpeton, Daily News
	General Excellence entry
	Daily News staff
	Second Place
	Jamestown Sun
	General Excellence entry
	The Jamestown Sun Staff 
	First Place
	Dickinson Press
	General Excellence entry
	James Miller
	Judge comments: Very well done newspaper. Great headlines. Photos are terrific. Sports coverage is best in the division.

	Multi-Day: Large	> > >	General Excellence
	Third Place
	Grand Forks Herald
	General Excellence entry
	Staff 
	Second Place
	Fargo, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
	General Excellence entry
	Forum staff
	First Place
	Bismarck Tribune
	General Excellence entry
	Staff
	Judge comments: Great newspaper. Congratulations to staff. This is great work. Extremely impressive. Best newspaper in the division.

 
	Sweepstakes
	Weekly: Small	> > >	Sweepstakes
	Winner!
	Hankinson, News Monitor
	Sweepstakes
	Staff
	Score: 2100: 4 first places, 12 second places, 17 third places & 2 honorable mentions
	Weekly: Mid-Size	> > >	Sweepstakes
	Winner!
	Hillsboro Banner
	Sweepstakes
	Staff
	Score: 4500: 27 first places, 18 second places, 11 third places & 1 honorable mentions
	Weekly: Large	> > >	Sweepstakes
	Winner!
	Grafton, Walsh County Record
	Sweepstakes
	Staff
	Score: 4275: 14 first places, 22 second places, 20 third places & 9 honorable mentions
	Multi-Day: Small	> > >	Sweepstakes
	Winner!
	Wahpeton, Daily News
	Sweepstakes
	Staff
	Score: 3825: 19 first places, 14 second places, 16 third places & 6 honorable mentions
	Multi-Day: Large	> > >	Sweepstakes
	Winner!
	Fargo, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
	Sweepstakes
	Staff
	Score: 5675: 24 first places, 27 second places, 17 third places & 17 honorable mentions