By Amanda Rink, Editor
Last night, the Iowa newspaper industry gathered to celebrate journalists across the state at the Iowa Better Newspaper Contest award ceremony. With about 3,200 entries across many categories, the competition was steep.
Mid-America Publishing Company took home multiple awards, including one for The Wright County Monitor. Our newspaper earned third place in Class II for the article “No Eminent Domain for Private Gain,” written by yours truly. And it was an incredibly proud moment, not just because of the award but because it confirmed something I believe: local journalism matters, even when it’s not easy or fun.
The article tackled the issue of property rights, focusing on landowners’ concerns. Not everyone agreed with the coverage, and some pushed back. But as I’ve written before, journalism isn’t about writing what is comfortable; it’s about covering the issues that impact our community.
The Iowa Better Newspaper Contest, which was judged by the Kansas Press Association, was divided into five classes based on circulation. The Wright County Monitor competed in Class II, weekly newspaper with circulation between 756 and 1,260.
Judes shared their thoughts on my piece, noting: “I’ve done such stories and gotten some very angry comments from the property owners and their friends.” You can review the contest results and read the full article here: shorturl.at/6caDf
Winning this award is a reminder that asking tough questions and sharing those answers is worth it. No matter the pushback, shining a light on the issues that matter to our community is what news reporting is all about!
So, thank you, your support makes THIS possible. Here’s to sharing more stories that matter!
