The publisher of one of the state’s newest weekly newspapers was named the Nebraska Press Women (NPW) Communicator of Achievement (COA), according to Ruth Brown, NPW COA director.
LuAnn Schindler, who publishes the Summerland Advocate Messenger in northeast Nebraska, received the award at the group’s fall conference today in Grand Island. The conference marks the 75th anniversary of the Nebraska Press Women organization.
The COA Award is the highest honor bestowed upon an NPW member. It recognizes achievement in the communications profession, service to the community and industry, and leadership in the organization.
A native of Clay Center, Schindler got hooked on journalism at her high school career day. She then earned an education degree in journalism, English and communication arts at Hastings College, and did post-graduate work at Northwestern University.
Schindler taught high school at St. Mary’s in O’Neill and then at Lutheran High School Northeast in Norfolk before becoming managing editor at the Clearwater Record-Ewing News. All of this time she was also employed as a regional correspondent for the Norfolk Daily News and wrote for an online magazine.
In 2019, Schindler launched the Summerland Advocate Messenger, a printed weekly newspaper that is also delivered on the web and through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. It covers Clearwater, Ewing, Orchard, Page and Royal. LuAnn Schindler and her husband, Scott, also founded ColdType, the parent company, that provides commercial printing and graphic design services.
A member of NPW for seven years, Schindler served on its board of directors for five years, editing the newsletter and assisting with the high school communications contest. In addition, Schindler won numerous awards in the NPW and National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) communications contests as well as in the Nebraska Press Association’s Better Newspaper contest.
Schindler will represent Nebraska at the 2022 NFPW COA competition this June in Fargo, ND.
