Wednesday Journal won 14 editorial awards and took third place for General Excellence in the large circulation category of the annual Illinois Press Association Best of the Press contest. The Journal also took the top prize among weeklies for advertising and marketing efforts. And we have the gargantuan Sam Zito Award for Excellence trophy to prove it.
Winners were announced June 4 in East Peoria.
The Journal was recognized across all facets of its newsroom’s work. News reporting, feature writing, editorial section, special sections, website, design, photography and columns.
A long series of news articles covering Oak Park’s role in ICE protests in Broadview took second place in News Series. Those articles were largely reported by Brendan Heffernan.
Freelancers Gregg Voss, Jessica Mackinnon and Bill Dwyer were recognized for feature writing and obituary tributes. Voss wrote a piece on Gina Orlando’s service at Ascension Church anticipating her journey toward death. As of the moment Gina remains among us. Mackinnon wrote the obituary for Mary Anne Brown, the iconic head of Hephzibah House. And Dwyer continued his long coverage of the Heather Mack murder case.
Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor placed third for original column.
The Journal took 3rd and 4th place for special sections for our Answer Book and our Election Guide. That category was topped by the Austin Weekly News, our sister pub, with its West Side magazine project.
The Forest Park Review, another of the four NEWSWELL Chicago flags, was named the state’s best small weekly for the second year running. That means the Kramer Trophy returns home again this year.
Overall NEWSWELL Chicago’s four flags brought home 44 editorial prizes from the IPA contest.
Max Reinsdorf, general manager of NEWSWELL Chicago, said the strong showing on both the editorial and advertising sections of the IPA contest reflected the hard work and talent of the staff. “We’re committed to creating strong, independent and always locally focused news for our communities. We have great people, rooted in these neighborhoods. It is gratifying to see that work appreciated at the state level,” he said.
