Tea Weekly takes home awards
Jeremy Waltner, publisher of the Freeman Courier, was elected president of the South Dakota Newspaper Association during the group’s annual convention April 30 in Mitchell.
Waltner said. “It means a lot to be able to follow in the footsteps of so many talented and respected journalists who have held this very office, including my dad.
“Newspapers, in general, and this association, specifically, are in a very good place and I’m eager to work for the betterment of both,” Waltner added.
Also elected to the SDNA Board of Directors were: first vice president Kelli Bultena, publisher of the Lennox Independent and Tea Weekly; second vice president Shannon Brinker, publisher of the Rapid City Journal; third vice president Debbie Hemmer, co-publisher of the Grant County Review at Milbank; director Ken Reiste, publisher of the Clear Lake Courier; director Letitia Lister, publisher of the Black Hills Pioneer at Spearfish; and immediate past president Bill Krikac, publisher of the Clark County Courier, Clark.
Another highlight of the convention was the announcement of the results of the annual newspaper contest. Both Tea Weekly and The Lennox Independent did very well, taking home multiple awards.
The awards for Tea Weekly included: 1st place best advertising special section (Anne Homan and Bultena for the Tea Community Guide); 3rd best series ad idea (Bultena); 3rd best news series (staff); 3rd best use of local photography (Bultena).
Judges comments on the guide stated, “This was a perfect representation on idea made reality; the layout, ads and use of color are spectacular. Extremely well done.”
The Lennox Independent awards were as follows: 3rd best multiple ad section (Bultena); 2nd best use of art (Jon Kruger); 3rd best website all weekly papers in SD (Bultena); 2nd best sports photo (Homan); 2nd best typography and design (Debbie Schmidt and Bultena); 3rd best sports column (Homan); 3rd general excellence (Schmidt and Bultena).
SDNA, based in Brookings, represents the state’s weekly and daily newspapers with a total readership of more than 600,000.