Creston wins in newspaper contest

DES MOINES - Creston News Advertiser’s Cheyenne Roche won best series in the Creston’s classification of daily class 1 newspapers. Her work was on the opioid issue in Union County. She was also honored for her editorial and continuing coverage. Former sports reporter Jared Larson was noted for photography.

The Ackley World Journal was named Thursday as the Iowa Newspaper Association 2023 “Newspaper of the Year.” The award was announced during the association’s Awards Ceremony on Feb. 2.

Also recognized during the convention were three 50 Year Club recipients, individuals honored for completing 50 years of service to the newspaper industry. Recipients of this honor included Connie Wagner, Sheldon N’West Iowa REVIEW; Jeff Wagner, Sheldon N’West Iowa REVIEW; Peter Wagner, Sheldon N’West Iowa REVIEW and Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register.

Presentations were made to winners of the 2023 Iowa Better Newspaper Contests, which were judged by the North Carolina Press Association. Approximately 2,500 entries in dozens of categories were judged by class, based on circulation.

Daily Class I is for newspapers published daily with 5,000 circulation and under, Daily Class II is for newspapers published daily with 5,001 circulation and above. Weekly Class I is for newspapers published weekly with 875 circulation and under. Weekly Class II, 876 to 1,550 circulation; Weekly Class III, 1,551 and above circulation.

How Creston placed in its winning categories follows:

Master Columnist

Daily Class 1: First Place- Southeast Iowa Union Washington Evening Journal- Kalen McCain, Second Place- Webster City Daily Freeman- Journal- Jane Curtis, Third Place- Creston News Advertiser- Cheyenne Roche.

Best Breaking News Photo

Daily Class 1: First Place- Ames Tribune- Nirmalendu Majumdar, Second Place- Creston News Advertiser- Jared Larson, Third Place- Ames Tribune- Nirmalendu Majumdar.

Best Series

Daily Class 1: First Place- Creston News Advertiser- Cheyenne Roche, Second Place- Southeast Iowa Union Washington Evening Journal- Kalen McCain, Third Place- Mason City Globe Gazette- Zach Martin.

Best Continuing Coverage

Daily Class 1: First Place- Iowa City Press- Citizen- George Shillcock, Second Place- Ames Tribune- Ronna Faaborg, Omar Waheed, Phillip Sitter, Grace Altenhofen, Third Place- Creston News Advertiser- Cheyenne Roche

Best Sports Photo

Daily Class 1: First Place- Webster City Daily Freeman- Journal- Troy Banning, Second Place- Creston News Advertiser- Jared Larson, Third Place- Ames Tribune- Nirmalendu Majumdar.