Twenty-nine members entered nearly 260 entries in the 2019 Nebraska Press Women Professional Communications Contest, making it one of the largest in recent history.
Of those entries, 52 received first-place awards and advanced to the national contest sponsored by the National Federation of Press Women. National winners will be announced June 6 in an online ceremony.
The NPW Marianne Beel Sweepstakes Awards will be announced at the fall conference Oct. 17 in Seward.
Broken down by division, nearly 160 entries were in writing division, with almost half of those in specialty articles. Totals for other general categories were: graphics and design, 11; editing,13; photography,43; web and social media, eight; PR and advertising,12; and radio and TV, one.
Terri Hahn and Mary Jane Skala are the contest-co-chairs.
Contest entrants were:
Tammy Bain of Duluth, Minn., formerly of North Platte, freelancer;
Barb Batie of Lexington, freelance writer and columnist;
Lauren Brant of Scottsbluff, Gering Courier, editor, and Scottsbluff Star-Herald, reporter;
Phyllis Buell of Lincoln, freelance columnist;
Carla Chance of Cedar Creek, Video King, director of marketing and communications;
Roxanne Converse-Whiting of Gothenburg, freelance columnist;
Terri Hahn of Osceola, Grand Island Independent, features editor;
Jenna Hemenway of Clearwater, Summerland Advocate-Messenger (co-entrant with LuAnn Schindler);
Heather Johnson of North Platte, Mid-Plains Community College, area public information specialist;
Delores Meister of West Point, freelancer;
Ellen Mortensen of Gothenburg, Gothenburg Leader, news reporter;
Sarah Miller of Gothenburg, Gothenburg Leader, graphic designer;
Irene North of Scottsbluff, freelancer;
Bette Pore of Grand Island, Grand Island Independent, senior editor;
Lori Potter of Kearney, Kearney Hub, reporter;
Leta Powell Drake of Lincoln, freelancer;
Erika Pritchard of Pleasanton, Kearney Hub, regional editor and photographer;
Angela Putnam of Mitchell, S.D., freelancer;
Joni Ransom of Grand Island, Central Community College, chief of staff;
Tammy Real-McKeighan of Fremont, Fremont Tribune, news editor;
Cassie Reif of Columbus, Nebraska Public Power District, senior communications specialist;
Natalie Saenz of Scottsbluff, UNL student, former intern for the Grand Island Independent;
Ana Salazar of Kearney, Kearney Hub, videographer (co-entrant with Lori Potter);
LuAnn Schindler of Clearwater, publisher/editor, Summerland Advocate-Messenger;
Rebecca Steward of Gothenburg, sports reporter and photographer;
Mary Jane Skala of Kearney, Kearney Hub, lifestyle editor and reporter;
Kimberly Stuhr of Springfield, freelance writer/editor;
Jessica Votipka of York, York News Times, features editor;
Melanie Wilkinson of York, York News Times, managing editor.
Following are the contest winners. Note that judges are not required to award first place in all categories.
WRITING
1. News story
A. Print-based newspaper
1. Melanie Wilkinson
2. Tammy Real-McKeighan
3. Lori Potter
HM. Erika Pritchard
HM. Natalie Saenz
B. Magazine, newsletter or other non-newspaper print publication
1. Barb Batie
2. Joni Ransom
C. Online publication
2. LuAnn Schindler
- Continuing coverage or unfolding news
1. Mary Jane Skala
2. Tammy Real-McKeighan
HM. Ellen Mortensen
3. In-depth reporting
1. Ellen Mortensen
2. Mary Jane Skala
3. Tammy Real McKeighan
HM. Ellen Mortensen
4. Editorial/Opinion
1. Bette Pore
3. Melanie Wilkinson
HM. Bette Pore
5. Feature story
A. Print-based newspaper
1. Tammy Real-McKeighan
2. Irene North
3. LuAnn Schindler
HM. Lori Potter
HM. Erika Pritchard
HM. Natalie Saenz
B. Magazine, newsletter or other non-newspaper publication
1. Barb Batie
C. Online publication
1. Terri Hahn
2. LuAnn Schindler
6. Personality profile
A. 500 words or fewer
1. LuAnn Schindler
2. Irene North
3. Delores Meister
B. More than 500 words
1. Tammy Bain
2. Lauren Brant
3. Rebecca Steward
HM. Joni Ransom
7. Specialty articles
A. Agriculture, agribusiness, aquaculture
1. Jessica Votipka
2. Lori Potter
3. Ellen Mortensen
HM. Irene North
B. Arts and entertainment
1. Erika Pritchard
2. Delores Meister
3. Irene North
HM. Erika Pritchard
C. Business
1. Lori Potter
2. Mary Jane Skala
3. Irene North
HM. Erika Pritchard
D. Education
1. Lori Potter
2. LuAnn Schindler
E. Food
1. Ellen Mortensen
2. Mary Jane Skala
3. Erika Pritchard
HM. Erika Pritchard
HM. Delores Meister
F. Ghost-written article penned for someone else
HM. Irene North
G. Government or politics
1. Lori Potter
2. LuAnn Schindler
HM. Barb Batie
H. Green/environmental
1. LuAnn Schindler
2. Irene North
3. Lori Potter
HM. Jessica Votipka
I. History
1. Lori Potter
2. Tammy Real-McKeighan
3. Mary Jane Skala
HM. Irene North
HM. Barb Batie
J. Hobby, crafts, building, designing, construction
1. Mary Jane Skala
2. LuAnn Schindler
3. Irene North
HM. Erika Pritchard
K. Personal essay
1. Irene North
2. Barb Batie
3. Erika Pritchard
HM. Lori Potter
L. Physical health
1. LuAnn Schindler
2. Irene North
3. Ellen Mortensen
M. Religion
1. Mary Jane Skala
3. Delores Meister
HM. Jessica Votipka
N. Reviews
1. Irene North
O. Science or technology
1. Mary Jane Skala
2. LuAnn Schindler
3. Heather Johnson
HM. Irene North
P. Social issues
1. Barb Batie
2. Irene North
3. Mary Jane Skala
HM. LuAnn Schindler
Q. Sports
1. Mary Jane Skala
2. LuAnn Schindler
3. Irene North
R. Style
1. Mary Jane Skala
2. LuAnn Schindler
S. Travel
1. Mary Jane Skala
2. Lori Potter
3. Barb Batie
HM. Irene North
HM. LuAnn Schindler
8. Columns
A. General
1. Lori Potter
2. Phyllis Buell
3. Rebecca Steward
HM. Barb Batie
HM. Roxanne Converse-Whiting
B. Humorous
1. Mary Jane Skala
2. Barb Batie
3. Phyllis Buell
C. Informational (how-to, Q&A, advice)
HM. LuAnn Schindler
D. Personal opinion (bylined, not editorial)
1. Mary Jane Skala
2. Tammy Real-McKeighan
3. Barb Batie
HM. Lori Potter
- Headlines
1. LuAnn Schindler
2. Jessica Votipka
3. Bette Pore
HM. Angie Putnam
10. Publication regularly written by entrant
B Magazine/Magapaper
2. Cassie Reif
D. Newsletters or other non-newspaper publication, corporate or for-profit
1. Carla Chance
EDITING
18. Single page, section, or supplement edited by entrant
A. Newspaper
1. Bette Pore
2. Terri Hahn
3. Angie Putnam
HM. Terri Hahn
HM. LuAnn Schindler
D. Corporate or for-profit publication
HM. Carla Chance
HM. LuAnn Schindler
19. Publications regularly edited by entrant
A. Newspaper
2. Bette Pore
3. LuAnn Schindler
B. Magazine/Magapaper
1. Joni Ransom
D. Newsletter or other non-newspaper publication, corporate or for profit
1. Carla Chance
2. LuAnn Schindler
20. Book edited by entrant
1. Kimberly Stuhr
- PHOTOGRAPHY
21. Single photograph
A. News or feature photo
1. Lauren Brant
2. Lori Potter
3. Lauren Brant
HM. Melanie Wilkinson
HM. LuAnn Schindler
B. Sports photo
1. Erika Pritchard
2. Heather Johnson
HM. Heather Johnson
HM. Lori Potter
HM. Lauren Brant
HM. Rebecca Steward
HM. Erika Pritchard
HM. LuAnn Schinder
C. General photo (open competition on any subject)
3. Erika Pritchard
HM. Heather Johnson
HM. Heather Johnson
HM. Lori Potter
HM. Lori Potter
HM. Irene North
HM. Erika Pritchard
HM. LuAnn Schindler
22. Photo essay
1. Ellen Mortensen and Rebecca Steward
2. Erika Pritchard
3. Lori Potter
HM. Irene North
HM. Erika Pritchard
23. Photographer-writer
1. Lauren Brant
2. Erika Pritchard
3. Lauren Brant
HM. Jessica Votipka
GRAPHICS AND DESIGN
24. Graphics
A. Graphics
1. Carla Chance
B. Infographics
1. LuAnn Schindler and Jenna Hemenway
2. Sarah Miller
25. Page Design
A. Newspaper
1. Terri Hahn
2. Terri Hahn
3. Angie Putnam
HM. Bette Pore
HM. Angie Putnam
HM. LuAnn Schindler
B. Magazine or newsletter
3. Carla Chance
26. Book designed by Entrant
1. Irene North
- RADIO AND TELEVISION
30. Interview (radio or television)
1. Leta Powell Drake
WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA
33. Web Copy
2. LuAnn Schindler
34. Website edited or managed by Entrant
B. Corporate or for-profit
1. LuAnn Schindler
36. Blogs
C. Personal
1. Irene North
39. Social Media Presence
B. Corporate or for-profit
3. Carla Chance
C. Personal
3. Irene North
41. Videos for web
A. Web news reporting single news story
2. Lori Potter and Ana Salazar
B. Web reporting feature or continuing coverage
3. Lori Potter and Ana Salazar
D. PR video promoting specific product or service
1. Heather Johnson
ADVERTISING
42. Single advertisements for print or electronic publication
HM. Carla Chance
43. Advertising campaigns
2. Carla Chance
44. Advertising posters, billboards and banners
1. Carla Chance
2. LuAnn Schindler and Jenna Hemenway
PUBLIC RELATIONS MATERIALS
52. Brochures
B. Corporate or for-profit
HM. Carla Chance
53. Catalogs, manuals and handbooks
1. Heather Johnson
HM. Carla Chance
INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA
54. News or feature release – single release
1. Heather Johnson
55. News or feature releases – multiple releases
1. Heather Johnson
56. Media pitch
1. Heather Johnson
