2021 NDNA Special Awards

	Rookie Reporter of the Year
	All Divisions:	> > >	Rookie Reporter of the Year
	First Place
	Fargo, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
	Adam Willis: Rookie Reporter entry
	Adam Willis
	Judge comments: This was an incredibly competitive category chalk full of new talent, but Adam stood out among the pack for his careful reporting. His leads are spot on, his organization is incredibly mature, and you can tell he has a knack for getting people comfortable in interviewing. He's not afraid of the tough questions, and his work gets to the heart of some very complex topics. This writer has a great future ahead of him. Fantastic work.
	Public Notice Journalism
	All Divisions:	> > >	Public Notice Journalism
	First Place
	Bismarck Tribune
	ND COVID-19 vaccination committee
	Staff 
	Judge comments: The Tribune found that the state's COVID vaccine committee had failed to provide public notice of its meetings and pressed the issue, which lent transparency to the process that was and is of vital importance to residents. It's coverage was fair, and the editorial on the topic included other ways in which state government had been less than open and honest with residents concerning its Covid response. Great work here.
	Community Service
	All Divisions:	> > >	Community Service
	First Place
	Grand Forks Herald
	Charles Thurber, lynching victim in GF, is memorialized
	Joe Bowen, Mike Jacobs, Chuck Haga
	Judge comments: This category included many submissions in which newspapers stood up for a cause and made lasting changes in their communities. While every one of them deserves recognition, the Herald's work stood out for a number of reasons. It not only covered an effort to memorialize the first lynching of a Black man in the state in ways that spurred the community to come together, but it also had to reconcile its own role in the city's racist past. Grappling with its biased, racist coverage at the time, Herald staff did not just apologize. They owned up to that history in a way that informed a needed community conversation about the ways our history of racism shapes and informs racial problems today. In doing so, the Herald wrote a new chapter for the history books, of which the community and state should recognize with pride as it continues racial justice endeavors.

	First Amendment
	All Divisions:	> > >	First Amendment
	First Place
	Fargo, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
	Forum First Amendment entry
	Forum staff 
	Judge comments: This entry represents a year of hard work aimed at upholding government transparency and illuminating when local government ran afoul of the law. Editorials clearly laid out what is at stake for readers when open records/open meetings laws are broken. Reporting on the mental health provider that ignored warning signs before a violent attack on an employee shed light on what can go wrong when institutions are lax in their duty to protect. Fantastic package; readers are fortunate to have the Forum as a champion of their rights.

	General Excellence
	Weekly: Small	> > >	General Excellence
	Honorable Mention
	Bowbells, Burke County Tribune
	General Excellence
	Lyann Olson
	Third Place
	Drayton, Valley News & Views
	General Excellence
	Lesa Van Camp
	Second Place
	Mandan News
	General Excellence
	Staff 
	First Place
	New Rockford Transcript
	General Excellence
	Transcript staff
	Judge Comments:  We would have like to see stronger editorial photos - less posed shots. Overall nice package!

	Weekly: Mid-Size	> > >	General Excellence
	Third Place
	Carrington, Foster County Independent
	General Excellence
	Staff 
	Second Place
	Washburn, The Leader-News
	General Excellence
	Staff 
	First Place
	Hillsboro Banner
	General Excellence
	Banner Staff
	Judge Comments:  HIllsboro Banner's strong front page design, variety of news coverage and photography coupled its impactful advertising messages lifted it above the competition.

	Weekly: Large	> > >	General Excellence
	Honorable Mention
	Crosby, The Journal
	General Excellence
	The Journal 
	Third Place
	Bottineau Courant
	General Excellence
	Bottineau Courant Staff
	Second Place
	Watford City, McKenzie County Farmer
	General Excellence
	McKenzie County Farmer Staff 
	First Place
	Grafton, Walsh County Record
	General Excellence
	Staff
	Judge Comments:  A great, all around community newspaper. Speaks well for the community and the team that rallies each week to 
publish it. They care and it shows. Congratulations! 

	Multi-Day: Small	> > >	General Excellence
	Third Place
	Jamestown Sun
	General Excellence
	Jamestown Sun Staff 
	Second Place
	Dickinson Press
	General Excellence
	Joy Schoch, Jenn Binstock, James Miller
	First Place
	Wahpeton, Daily News
	General Excellence
	Daily News staff 
	Judge Comments:   

	Multi-Day: Large	> > >	General Excellence
	Third Place
	Bismarck Tribune
	General Excellence
	Staff 
	Second Place
	Grand Forks Herald
	General Excellence
	Staff 
	First Place
	Fargo, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
	General Excellence
	Forum staff 
	Judge Comments:  Excellent product

	Sweepstakes
	Weekly: Small	> > >	Sweepstakes
	Winner!
	Elgin, Grant County News
	Score: 3025: 22 first places, 8 second places, 5 third places & 3 honorable mentions
	Weekly: Mid-Size	> > >	Sweepstakes
	Winner!
	Hillsboro Banner
	Score: 5375: 32 first places, 18 second places, 13 third places & 7 honorable mentions
	Weekly: Large	> > >	Sweepstakes
	Winner!
	Grafton, Walsh County Record
	Score: 4550: 21 first places, 22 second places, 9 third places & 14 honorable mentions
	Multi-Day: Small	> > >	Sweepstakes
	Winner!
	Dickinson Press
	Score: 4525: 17 first places, 21 second places, 19 third places & 13 honorable mentions
	Multi-Day: Large	> > >	Sweepstakes
	Winner!
	Fargo, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
	Score: 4575: 27 first places, 24 second places, 13 third places & 13 honorable mentions