Each year, the Hoosier State Press Association conducts what it calls a “Better Newspaper Contest” in which Indiana newspapers of similar sizes compete in a broad range of journalistic categories from news reporting, feature writing, sports writing, page design and photography. There are even categories for Web sites and related content.
When newspapers choose to enter such contests, they do so because it gives them an opportunity to compete with their peers and see where they stack up.
When the Tribune-Star enters the HSPA contest, we are putting our work up against some of the best newspapers in a state with some very good newspapers. Our division is for newspapers with paid circulations of between 18,000 and 40,000. Among our chief competitors are the Herald-Times in Bloomington, The Journal and Courier in Lafayette, the Star-Press in Muncie, and newspapers in Columbus, Anderson, Kokomo, Elkhart, Marion and Fort Wayne.
Awards for 2007 were announced last weekend at a banquet in Indianapolis, and I am proud to report that the Tribune-Star once again did well. We brought home seven awards in all, three of them for first place.
Here is a rundown of this year’s T-S awards:
First Place
Headline Writing — Chad Steenerson, a copy editor here for the past six years, has earned a reputation as one of the most talented headline writers in the state. His first-place award this year was not his first. In fact, he is the perennial winner in this category in the HSPA contest, as well as other statewide contests. Chad is a skilled wordsmith who has a unique ability to capture the essence of news and feature stories and write headlines for them that are often bright and witty.
Sports Event Coverage — Todd Golden, sports editor, and Tom James, sports correspondent, won top prize for their excellent coverage of the Indianapolis Colts’ Super Bowl victory last February. Todd and Tom made for a great team as they trekked to Miami and supplied our readers for an entire week with some of the best coverage of the Super Bowl provided by any news organization anywhere.
Sports News or Feature Coverage — David Hughes, a veteran sports reporter, captured top prize for his poignant feature story about Erica Sell, a student at Terre Haute South Vigo who was fighting cancer while still playing softball for her high school’s team. David’s story was among the best stories published by the Tribune-Star all year, so we’re pleased that he received such high recognition for his work in the HSPA contest.
Second Place
News Coverage with No Deadline Pressure by a Team — This team award goes to our reporting staff, headed by Assistant Editor Susan Duncan, for outstanding work covering the canonization of St. Mother Theodore Guerin in October 2006. This event carried a high degree of interest for our readers, and the staff rallied to produce high quality work over a sustained period.
Use of Graphics — Zach Taylor, news editor, and Elizabeth Goodman, a former copy editor and page designer, teamed up to capture this honor. Zach produced eye-popping photo illustrations for his portion of the entry, while Elizabeth’s contribution was an excellent timeline graphic on St. Mother Theodore Guerin.
Third Place
Ongoing News Coverage — Mark Bennett, feature writer and columnist, was honored for his inspired work while in Rome for the Guerin canonization. Covering a major story in a foreign country is no easy task, even for a seasoned professional like Mark. His work was top-notch, and he is most deserving of this award.
Web site — Producing a superb online edition requires vision and execution. A lot of people contribute, but I particularly want to commend Shaun Hussey, Web developer, James Willis, copy editor, and Sheila TerMeer, community news editor, for the time, care and attention they give to this increasingly important newspaper function.
Congratulations to this year’s winners. Their work has made us proud.
The Tribune-Star and its readers are blessed with a talented, hard-working and productive staff of journalists who time and again rally to the cause of creating a daily newspaper that meets the needs of a large, diverse audience. I feel privileged to work among them.
Editor's Note
December 7, 2007
Editor's Note: Tribune-Star staffers compete well for state honors
- Editor's Note
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MAX JONES: Local seminar to shed light on access
Transparency in public information is an important principle for the proper functioning of government at all levels. Vigilance is key in ensuring that public records and meetings remain open and accessible to citizens of our communities.
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MAX JONES: Farewell to Stephanie, for a while
The Tribune-Star and its legions of readers throughout the Wabash Valley were extremely fortunate six years ago to welcome back a native daughter.
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MAX JONES: Friends ready for next big step at Pyle historic site
The campaign to preserve the legacy of World War II journalist Ernie Pyle in his hometown of Dana passed a milestone last week. Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission voted to end the state’s involvement in the Pyle historic site and turn it over to the Friends of Ernie Pyle organization.
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MAX JONES: Vigo GOP shows its gains are for real
For the better part of two decades, the Republican Party in Vigo County rarely mounted more than a feeble challenge to the entrenched Democratic Party establishment.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Week ahead bringing changes to your newspaper
Your Tribune-Star is undergoing some changes this week, and today’s edition reveals a few of those.
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Editor's Note: A holiday tribute to "Hoosier," and all veterans
My late father, Joseph L. Jones, was a veteran of World War II, a 4th Division Marine whose service sent him to the South Pacific and into combat on the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima.
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MAX JONES: Resuming partnership for political information
Primary elections don’t always stir a lot of interest among voters. In fact, turnout at the polls is traditionally low for primaries, although there have been exceptions. This year may be one of those.
- MAX JONES: Christmas miracles can still happen You don’t have to wander far to find people who remember vividly when downtown Terre Haute was the place to be during the Christmas
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: A day to give thanks and help
Help only becomes a reality when it is given. Today, it’s something needed by many throughout this community and state.
- EDITOR'S NOTE: Appearance of corruption a strong incentive for reform Today, and for the following two days, Tribune-Star readers are being treated to a remarkable series of editorials and essays produced by the Indianapolis Star.
- Editor's Note: Team effort tells stories of Hoosier travel spots When times are tough economically, people get very careful with their hard-earned money. When it comes to spending, it’s a common practice to give special consideration to summer vacations or other leisure trips.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Spelling Bee a great Tribune-Star tradition
Of all the great community-based events this newspaper sponsors and helps sponsor throughout the year, the Tribune-Star Wabash Valley Spelling Bee is one of the most important. It’s extra special because it gives the best and brightest young students in our nine-county area the opportunity to compete for big prizes in a popular and widely recognized annual academic competition.
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Editor's Note: Letters continue to be popular with readers
Survey after survey of newspaper readers tell us that letters to the editor are among the most read and most enjoyed content we offer. While obituaries routinely top the list of most-read items, letters are always near the top.
- Editor's Note: Victory Days — great time to learn history and share memories The number of American military veterans who served their country during World War II are dwindling rapidly. To those remaining, we can’t pay enough tribute. They belong to a generation of men and women who made this nation — and the world — a better and safer place to live.
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Max Jones: Community takes center stage again for fall campaign
Even the most hardened cynic has to admit that Terre Haute is living a charmed life this election year. For the fifth time since spring, the community will be visited by a major political figure in the 2008 presidential sweepstakes. The event will occur later today when Democratic Party nominee Sen. Barack Obama makes a 12:30 p.m. campaign stop at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds.
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MAX JONES: Voters anxious to get news about candidates
Labor Day historically marks the beginning of the fall season for political campaigning. That has been true most years in which elections are conducted. This year, however, such a designation may be greeted will little more than a chuckle.
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MAX JONES: Voters will be big winners in fall gubernatorial debates
Twice in September and once in October, Indiana voters will have an opportunity to participate in and witness, in person or via electronic media, debates among the state’s three candidates for governor.
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Tribune-Star editorial: A day to be grateful for community kindness
Obviously, it’s been a long, trying week for most folks in the Wabash Valley.
Today offers at least a moment for the community to reflect on its survival of the flood of 2008. - Editor's Note: Covering the flood shifts to recovery As natural disasters go, flooding can have a long and nasty legacy. Even when the waters have receded and raging creeks and rivers are passive once again within their banks, hidden dangers — and damages — persist.
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Tribune-Star editorial: And another thing...
And now for something completely different … good news!!
That’s right, amid the misery of local flooding aftermath, an announcement from Tokyo early Thursday allows us to take a brief break and ponder better days ahead for our community and its economy. -
Tribune-Star editorial: Rain down some kindness
Since Saturday, when flash flooding became more than the usual National Weather Service warning for much of Indiana and Illinois, we’ve all heard and seen inspirational stories.
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EDITOR'S NOTE Sounding the bell for those who hear different drummer
Are there any bagpipers out there? If so, please take a deep breath and step forward.
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Max Jones: Evolving with an industry — and with our readers
Newspapers, it is said, are living, breathing organisms that reflect the times in which they exist and the values of the communities they serve. In order to meet the changing needs and wants of their wide and diverse audience of readers, newspapers must evolve right along with them.
- Editor's Note: Teaming up to help readers understand Indiana’s tax issues Being part of a national newspaper ownership group has its benefits.
- Editor's Note: Tribune-Star staffers compete well for state honors Hoosier State Press Association awards for 2007 were announced last weekend at a banquet in Indianapolis, and I am proud to report that the Tribune-Star once again did well. We brought home seven awards in all, three of them for first place.
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Editor's Note: ’07 election letters reflected intensity
Our readers love to write letters, and election politics is one of their favorite subjects. The recent epic mayoral tussle produced a virtual flood of submissions. Emotions ran high in many of the narratives.
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Editor's Note: As election nears, the spotlight gets hotter
The degree of interest in any election among potential voters — who also happen to be all newspapers’ avid and loyal readers — is always most intense the last two weeks of a political campaign. That’s why we target the majority of our pre-election coverage to the final 10 days or so before voters go to the polls.
- Debate format allowed candidates to shine The Tribune-Star has been teaming up with the League of Women Voters of Vigo County and other local organizations to sponsor candidate forums and debates for years. It’s a worthwhile service to provide newspaper readers, who research shows also happen to be among the most likely voters any time there is an election.
- Editor's Note: More and better police news? It could happen Can the Tribune-Star help residents of 12 Points and surrounding areas get a better handle on crime in their neighborhoods? Those who attended a public meeting Monday night at the Maple Avenue United Methodist Church sure think so.
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After summer’s lull, let the campaign begin
Labor Day marks the traditional kickoff to the political season. Campaigns for various offices and seats on the ballot in this year’s municipal election have been on a low boil since the May primaries.
- More Editor's Note Headlines
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Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla.
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Aerials Show Path of Oklahoma Destruction
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Active Search for Utah Missing Mom Ends
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aussie Zoo Shows Off White Rhino Calf
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Horse Saved From Slaughter, Goes on to Win Big
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod
Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life
The all-new Xbox One
RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma
Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial
VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City
Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble
Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique
Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir
Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you
Reporter Cries Over Devastation
Sneak Peek: 'Modern Family' Says Good Bye
Trailer: 'The Last Stand' Available on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Digital Download
IWitness Look at Moore, OK Tornado
RAW: Moore, OK tornado touches down near school
Robert Pattinson Moves Out
RAW: Russian dash cam catches car 20 feet in the air
