NDNA elects new president; hands out $15,000 in journalism awards in partnership with A-Mark Foundation
5/09/25 (Fri)
FARGO -- The North Dakota Newspaper Association at it’s annual convention Friday, elevated Alyssa Meier of Forum Communications to the position of president of the association and passed out awards recognizing the best journalism in the state, including $15,000 in cash prizes for investigative journalism in cooperation with the A-Mark Foundation.
Alyssa Meier
Meier succeeds out-going president Allison Olimb of the Walsh County Press, Park River.
“I was lucky enough to stumble into journalism as a 15-year-old high school student, but it is thanks to those who build, nurture and protect North Dakota’s newspaper industry that I can even have the career I love today,” Meier said. “I’m honored to work alongside the talented, dedicated and ink-stained professionals who fight to ensure North Dakotans wake up every day with access to reliable local news.”
Also joining the board this year are Art Hagebock, Pure Prairie Publishing, publisher of newspapers in Enderlin, Kulm, LaMoure and Litchville; and Kelsey Majeske, Nor Dak Publishing, with 10 newspapers publishing in central and southeastern North Dakota.
NDNA inducted into the Hall of Fame Jill Denning Gackle, who first came to North Dakota as NDNA’s Executive Director in 1986. She later ran 11 newspapers in the BHG chain with her late husband, Mike Gackle, who was inducted in 2023. Earlier this year, Jill became a lifetime ex-officio member of the NDNA Education Foundation Board, which she had chaired for several years previously. She also remains active in the industry as co-chair and co-founder of the North Dakota News Cooperative.
Also recognized at the awards ceremony were three long-time NDNA members with 50 years or more service: Wanda Gravseth, Bottineau Courant, 50 years; Sharon Olander, Hazen Star, 55 years; and Jane Brandt, Hebron Herald, 60 years.
NDNA this year for the first time welcomed digital entries from associate members, competing in the top circulation category in editiorial divisions. The North Dakota Monitor took home two of the top A-Mark prizes for investigative journalism, along with the Grand Forks Herald.
Mary Steurer of the North Dakota Monitor won a first place award of $5,000 for reporting on ethics issues for North Dakota lawmakers and the outlet won $2,500; second place, Sav Kelly at the Grand Forks Herald won $3,000 for reporting on a shooting in Polk County and the outlet, $1,500; third place went to Jacob Orledge of the North Dakota Monitor won $1,500 for reporting on business interests of Gov. Kelly Armstrong and questions about his regulating the oil industry, with the outlet taking home $1,000.
“These prizes will be offered again next year. We’ve never been able to offer a reward like this before, so we hope it inspires others to tackle investigative pieces in the future,” said Cecile Wehrman, executive director of NDNA.
Another top award is for General Excellence. Placing in the Above 5,000 Circulation group were: Grand Forks Herald, first; Bismarck Tribune, second; and The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, third. Placing In the 1,641-4999 circulation category were: Hillsboro Banner, first; Walsh County Record-Grafton, second; The Journal-Crosby, third; and the Jamestown Sun, honorable mention. Placing in the 901-1650 circulation group were: New Rockford Transcript, first; Wahpeton Daily News, second; and the Beulah Beacon, third. Placing in the Under 900 circulation group were: Walsh County Press-Park River, first; Hankinson News Monitor, second; Burke County Tribune, third; and Grant County News-Elgin, third.
Photo of the Year in the multi-day newspaper division went to Tanner Ecker of the Bismarck Tribune for a photo entitled Volleyball Celebration; in the weekly newspaper category, Lynn Evenson of the Bottineau Courant one for a photo titled “Girl Under a Rainbow.”
The NDNA convention was held Thursday and Friday, May 8-9 at the Avalon Events Center is Fargo.
For further information, contact the
NDNA Executive Director,
866-685-8889 or director@ndna.com