News-Review Wins Award at Iowa Newspaper Association Convention

DES MOINES – The 2024 Iowa Newspaper Association Convention was held in Des Moines on Feb. 8, ending with an awards ceremony recognizing Iowa newspapers for work in 2023. The News-Review was nominated for four awards, coming first in one category and coming second in three. The News-Review competed in the Class III category, against other weekly papers with 1,261 or more readers.

The News-Review was named best in class in the “Best Advertising Series or Campaign Featuring Any Service or Merchandise Category” for a March Madness bracket challenge that ran from March. 15 to April 5. The brackets were created by Designer Morgan Finck, Sports Editor Sean Strohmeyer and Marketing Consultant Katie Phillips. “Good ad series, the strip ad stood out on the page and let the readers spend a lot of time on it due to the nature of the page. Good use of color, clear information. Nice ad,” commented the judge.

Phillips and Finck also placed second in “Best Advertising Idea For a Community Promotion or Event” for the 2023 Keokuk County Visitor's Guide, with the judge commenting “Eye catching photos for a cover,” and placed second in “Best Ad Featuring Automotive, Boats, Aircraft, Tires, Gasoline, Etc.” for an ad for Helmuth Ford Sigourney featured in the guide.

News Editor Casey Jarmes placed second in the Coverage of Government and Politics category, with the judge commenting “Solid work keeping the community informed.” Stories submitted included, “Supervisors Worry Lowered Taxes Will Reduce Budget For Vital Services” (March 1), “Councilman Found Innocent of Conflict of Interest” (April 12), “Tensions Blaze Over Abrupt Removal of Richland Fire Chief” (June 28), “Upcoming Election Solution to Fire Department Problems, Says Richland City Councilman” (July 26), and “Senator Joni Ernst Tours Sigourney Businesses” (Aug. 9).