Brainerd Dispatch earns 10 awards

The Brainerd Dispatch garnered 10 awards at the 2019-20 Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest.

The virtual event honored the work of journalists from throughout the region.

• Hard news: Jennifer Kraus, first place, dailies 10,000 circulation and over, former Baxter youth pastor faces sexual assault charges . Judges: “Excellent reporting on a sensitive subject.”

• News photo: Steve Kohls, first place, all dailies, for a photo titled “On thin ice.” “This photo hit the mark on all criteria, content, reader appeal, technical quality, composition, and editing! The creative above the fold layout, super-imposed with the mast would make anyone want to read all about it. A standout entry in a highly competitive category.”

• Feature photo: Kelly Humphrey, third place, all dailies, the eelpout winner photo at the 2020 Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza. Judges: “We’ve all covered festivals and tried to get a fresh photo. This one hit it perfectly.”

• Sports photo: Kelly Humphrey, second place, dailies 10,000 and over, WinterFest. Judge: “I love that this is a different type of sports photo. You have snow and action but also kites in the background. It’s a good mix of images.”

• Use of information graphics and graphic illustrations: Chelsey Perkins, third place, all dailies, Crow Wing County election results. Judges: “The innovative thought process and use of resources available is fantastic. The end result of an interactive infographic for the election is a job well done!”

• Best magazine: first place, all dailies, Brainerd Dispatch staff, Minnesota Home 2020. Judges: “This magazine is on par with a national magazine. Well executed, attractive, incredibly professional looking. They set the bar high and were successful in creating a well-crafted product.”

• Category X, a topical category the association picks each year. This year, the category recognized excellence in amplifying the frequently unheard or underrepresented voices in communities. Dispatch staff, third place, all dailies. Judges: “The Dispatch didn’t earn this award by serving a diverse community. Brainerd is 91 percent white. The Dispatch earned this recognition for respectful, blunt, in-depth coverage of racial reckoning when it may have been easier not to.” Stories included in the Dispatch's entry were Protesters face off over Gazelka's stance on police accountability , Black Lives Matter demonstration draws conflicting groups in Brainerd , Baxter teacher accused of racist comments , and Forestview teacher accused of racist comments resigns, apologizes .

• Classified ad section: second place for all dailies.

• Advertising campaign: Jill Wasson, Brenda Lawrence, Tammy Doyle and Russ Zinke, second place for Shannon’s Autobody ad. Judges: “Attractive, modern, fresh. Use of color and design was excellent! Great work!”

• Use of color in advertising: Jill Wasson and Sue Stark, second place, all dailies, Judges: “This ad provides a nice overall appearance due to the cohesive, yet differentiated, use of color. Color use was made effective by utilizing, in key points, headlines, etc. within the ad copy to make the overall ad, as well as prominent messaging within, pop for the reader. Very well done, you can tell this took a lot of time, effort and consideration!”

A Forum Communications Co. project in which Brainerd Dispatch newsroom staff participated was also recognized. "19 Hours," which detailed a 19-hour span in the lives of Minnesotans dealing with the pandemic, earned first place for best use of multimedia.

Also earning awards were local-based page designers Becca Clemens and Marcy Nickel, who work for Forum Communications Co. Clemens earned first place in use of information graphics and graphic illustrations for the Rochester Post-Bulletin and design portfolio for her work on the Duluth News Tribune. Nickel earned a second place finish in design portfolio for the Alexandria Echo Press.