The Brown County Democrat newsroom staff earned 41 awards Dec. 2 in the Hoosier State Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest — more than any other paper in the state.
That list included runner-up for the top award, the Nondaily Blue Ribbon; a story-of-the-year finalist nod for reporter Suzannah Couch; and first place in general newspaper excellence for the eighth year in a row.
Couch’s story, “Good kids, bad choices,” about Brown County Schools’ efforts to combat drug use among students, was chosen from among all stories in The Democrat’s circulation division as a finalist for the top reporting award.
“Not only was this story well written, it touched on a unique subject that the community might not know of otherwise and touches on taboo subjects that would be passed by if not attacked head-on,” the judges wrote.
In three categories, general news photography, business/economic news coverage and ongoing news coverage, The Democrat swept all of the awards.
The Brown County Democrat qualifies by circulation to compete with the smallest nondaily newspapers in the state, but chooses to compete with larger newspapers that publish three or fewer editions per week.
This is the seventh year The Democrat has been a top-three finalist for the Nondaily Blue Ribbon since 2010; it has won the top award twice in that time.
Winning entries were:
FIRST PLACE
Deadline news: Suzannah Couch, “Justice claims victory,” for coverage of the trial of Daniel Messel for the murder of Hannah Wilson
Non-deadline news: Couch, “Good kids, bad choices,” about efforts to combat drug use among students
Ongoing news coverage: Couch and Sara Clifford for coverage of the Wilson/Messel trial in print and online
Business/economic news: Couch and Clifford for “Building a destination: New music venues in the works for Little Nashville,” a package of stories about the Little Nashville Opry and the Maple Leaf Performing Arts Center
Short feature story: Couch for a story about Brown County Intermediate School students going through a disability simulation
Profile feature: Couch for a story on the county’s oldest veteran, Bob Vollmer, celebrating his 100th birthday
In-depth feature or package: Couch and Clifford for a story about the Citizens Law Enforcement Academy, in which both writers participated
General news photo: Couch for a shot of Clara Stanley receiving a surprise $10,000 grant for BETA from the Women’s Circle of Care
Sports feature photo: Former reporter/photographer Ben Kibbey for a shot of Cash Myers after a tennis match
Multiple picture group: Couch and Kibbey for coverage of the Brown County Fair
Video story or photo story with audio: Kibbey for a walk-through of the county’s new electronic voting system
Editorial page: Staff
Feature section or pages: Staff for the Arts & Entertainment section
Business section or pages: Staff
Community service: Couch and Clifford for stories about Kids on Wheels trying to create a skate/teen park
General excellence: Staff
SECOND PLACE
Non-deadline news: Couch for “Help wanted: Mental health care lacking in county jail”
Ongoing news coverage: Couch and Clifford for coverage of school funding challenges
Business/economic news: Clifford for “High spirits? Brewery/distillery working through growing pains
Headline writing: Clifford and staff
Sports news or feature: Kibbey for a story about Skylar Fleischman being the first girl to score a point for the Eagles football team
General news photo: Kibbey for a shot of gravestone restoration work
Sports action photo: Daily Journal (Johnson County) photographer Scott Roberson for a shot of pole vaulter Madison Fields competing at the state meet for The Democrat’s sports section
Feature photo: Clifford for a shot of a couple enjoying the restored formal gardens at T.C. Steele State Historic Site
Website: Staff
Sports section: Staff
Feature section or pages: Staff for Out There (the outdoors section)
Newspaper design: Staff
Nondaily Blue Ribbon: Staff
THIRD PLACE
Deadline news: Couch and Clifford for “Church defaced with hate message”
Ongoing news coverage: Couch and Clifford for “Early learning for all?” about preschool funding
Business/economic news: Clifford and Kibbey for a series of stories about Helmsburg’s past and possible future
Headline writing: Staff
Short feature story: Kibbey for “Restoring history: Cemetery preservation projects”
Profile feature: Couch for a story about “Doc” Laurie Godfrey receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brown County Playhouse
In-depth feature or feature package: Staff for “Yesteryear,” a package of feature stories about Brown County residents older than 80
Sports event coverage: Kibbey for “County’s first state girls golfer hopes to inspire”
General news photo: Couch for “Operation Prom” accident simulation
Use of graphics: Staff
Community service: Clifford and Kibbey for coverage of the Bean Blossom sewer project
