Brown County Democrat best nondaily paper in state

Sara Clifford
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The Brown County Democrat brought home the top two awards in the Hoosier State Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest on Saturday: Story of the Year and the Nondaily Blue Ribbon.

The Blue Ribbon recognizes the paper that does the best job of serving its readers, all variables considered, giving “special consideration … to depth of coverage, quality of reporting, copy editing, news judgment, content balance, general appearance, originality, reader interest and overall professionalism.” One Blue Ribbon is given to a daily newspaper and one is given to a newspaper that publishes three or fewer editions per week.

The Brown County Democrat has been a top-three finalist for this award nine of the past 10 years, winning in 2010 and 2013. This makes seven Blue Ribbons for The Democrat since the award was created in 1972.

In evaluating the finalists — which also included the Corydon Democrat (third place) and the Herald Journal (Monticello) (second place) — judges from the Minnesota Press Association pointed out The Democrat’s intensive coverage with such a small staff.

For issues produced during the contest period, the newsroom included two full-time writer-photographers, a part-time typist and a per-assignment sports reporter-photographer. The paper is designed by a Columbus-based central copy desk.

“The breadth and depth of coverage amounts to more than 50 headlines each issue,” the judges wrote. “The Democrat’s quality and variety of reporting shows in crime news, history features, looking ahead, business and compelling storytelling. This colorful, professionally designed paper looks great in their e-edition as well.”

The Herald Bulletin (Anderson) won the Daily Blue Ribbon; the Daily Journal (Franklin), sister paper to The Democrat, came in second; and the Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster) finished third.

The Story of the Year competition involved all stories submitted by Indiana newspapers of any size. The portion of the Brown County Democrat’s Addicted & Dying series that won this award included stories about grandparents raising grandchildren and other effects of the opioid epidemic on children; recovering users who are counseling other inmates; and a group of volunteers who stepped up to lead the fight against drug abuse here.

This is the second consecutive Story of the Year award that the Brown County Democrat has won; last year it was for a group of stories on the anti-drug #DoSomething movement.

Members of The Democrat’s newsroom also won 23 other awards in Saturday’s contest for news, feature, business and sports reporting; photography; newspaper design; headline writing and the website. In addition, the newsroom staff swept the Best Community Service category for reporting that makes a difference in the community, and won the General Excellence award for overall performance in this contest for the 10th consecutive year.

On Friday night, the Brown County Democrat’s advertising staff earned 10 awards, including five first places, for advertising ideas, design and special publications.

“I am extremely proud of our Nashville team,” said Bud Hunt, group publisher and vice president of AIM Media Indiana, the company that owns the Brown County Democrat.

“It is nice to be recognized by one’s peers, but more importantly, I believe this reflects the community we serve,” he said. “A newspaper is an institution in its community. We are proud of our connection with readers. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives and tell your stories.”

AWARDS LIST

Indiana Newspaper Advertising Executives Association and Hoosier State Press Foundation advertising contest

FIRST

  • Lifestyle & Recreation: Julie Daiker and Keith Fleener, Cordry Sweetwater
  • Professional services: Fleener and staff, Bond-Mitchell Funeral Home
  • Real estate: Jessica Dell and Fleener, Carpenter Hills O’Brown
  • Special sections, mini tab or smaller: Paul Hoffman and staff, Brown County Almanack Visitors Guide
  • Think Outside the Box: Dell and Fleener, Carpenter Hills O’Brown

SECOND

  • Automotive services: Larry Hanson and staff, Webb & Sons
  • Medical: Amanda Waltz, Columbus Regional Hospital
  • ROP series or campaign: Dell and staff, Carpenter Realty

THIRD

  • Best publication cover: Hoffman and staff, Brown County Almanack Visitors Guide
  • Lifestyle & Recreation: Hanson and staff, Brown County Fair

Hoosier State Press Association & Foundation Better Newspaper Contest

FIRST

  • Best news coverage with no deadline pressure: Sara Clifford and Suzannah Couch for the Addicted & Dying series.
  • Best headline writing: Staff
  • Best profile feature: Clifford for Gipsons’ 70th anniversary
  • Best portrait: Couch for a shot of Ed “Brownie” Brown at his favorite table of his restaurant
  • Best website: Staff
  • Best feature section or pages: Staff for Arts & Entertainment
  • Best community service: Clifford and Couch for Kids on Wheels skate park project coverage
  • Best newspaper design: Staff
  • General excellence: Staff

SECOND

THIRD

  • Best news coverage under deadline pressure: Clifford for February flash flooding
  • Best short feature story: Couch for “Show no mercy,” about the sentencing of Joshua Asher in an attempted murder case
  • Best feature photo: Clifford for a shot of Bohbrink tickling her son, Owen
  • Best portrait: Couch for a shot of new Brown County Art Guild Director Andra Walters
  • Best sports section: Staff
  • Best special section: Staff for the fall Brown County Almanack
  • Best community service: Clifford and Couch for “Trash talk,” about trash disposal challenges and recycling opportunities

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