Maries County Advocate takes 28 awards at Missouri Press Association’s 2019 Better Newspaper Contest

By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 10/9/19

The Maries County Advocate received 28 awards Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Missouri Press Association’s 2019 Better Newspaper Contest for work produced in 2018.

Awards were presented during …

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Maries County Advocate takes 28 awards at Missouri Press Association’s 2019 Better Newspaper Contest

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The Maries County Advocate received 28 awards Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Missouri Press Association’s 2019 Better Newspaper Contest for work produced in 2018.

Awards were presented during the association’s 153rd annual convention held in Kansas City, Mo.

Of the 28 awards, six were for first-place, 12 were second-place, five were third-place and there were five honorable mentions.

The Advocate staff received first-place in Best Page Design for an article on a local Belle/Vichy wood carver. Laura Schiermeier, Advocate reporter in Vienna, received first place in Best Coverage of Government for her article on the “Lawsuit Against Opioid Companies.”

Dave Marner, managing editor, received first-place in Best Photo Package for pictures of a Bland fire. Jacob Warden received first-place for Best Sports Photography with his photo “GRRRR of a Champion” and Best Feature Photography with his photo “Dumping Pig.”

The judge of the contest commented, “Great photo. Capturing a great moment. Right place, right time, right shot.”

Roxie Murphy, Belle reporter, received first-place for Best Breaking News Story on coverage of a Bland fire.

Second-place awards for staff included “Heavy Hitters” for Best Page Design and Best Overall Design.

Individual second-place awards for Schiermeier included “Local woman fights cancer” Best Health Story; “Bears spotted” for Best Outdoors Story; and “Receives two art teaching awards” for Best Story about Education.

Warden received second-place awards for “Donkey Basketball” Best Photo Package; and “Tough Win” Best Sports Feature Photograph.

Neal Johnson received a second-place award for “Goalie Dive” Best Sports Photograph.

Marner received second-place for “Garage attack” Best News Photograph.

Marner and Murphy received second-place for “Bland man dead from gunshot” for Best News or Feature Series. Murphy received second-place for “Homicide victims wife.”

The category judge said, “Putting gossip to rest is a vital function of modern journalism, and this story accomplishes that with gusto. Extensive, heartbreaking, but vital reporting helps give voice to the voiceless here. Great work.”

Staff received a third-place award from Best Front Page. Individual third-place awards included Schiermeier for “Violent Owensville man” Best News Story.

The category judges said, “Nice, straight reporting on some peculiar crime and grime. That mugshot could make a case for the hall of fame to be sure. Good work.”

Warden and Will Johnson, sports writer, received third-place for “Congrats Eagles” Best Sports News Story or Package. Warden also received third for “Dancers” Best Photo Package.

Murphy received third-place for “Outsourcing Belle PD” in Best Coverage of Government.

Honorable mentions for staff were Best Business Story and Best News Story.

Warden received an honorable mention in Best news Photograph and Best photo Package.

Murphy received an honorable mention for Best news or Feature Series.

The Advocate’s sister paper The Gasconade County Republican earned two first-place awards, four second-place awards, one third-place award and one honorable mention among class 2 weekly publications.