Wright County Journal receives six national newspaper awards

The Wright County Journal was nationally recognized with six prestigious awards, including one best in the nation award, at Friday night’s 140th National Newspaper Association (NNA) Convention held in Detroit, Mich.
The publication earned four total awards, the third most earned by a Missouri newspaper, in the National Newspaper Association Foundation (NNAF) Editorial Contest.
The WCJ’s highest honor came as it won first place in the Best Use of Photographs category that featured both daily and non-daily newspapers with a circulation less than 5,000.
A first-place plaque is currently sitting on the front counter inside the WCJ office in Mountain Grove for those wishing to see the award.
A judge said, “Photos are local, show action and make the design of the newspaper better. They are everywhere inside the editions and are of excellent quality. Great job.”
A photo taken behind two young “The Nutcracker” ballerinas watching older dancers in a performance during Winterfest in Mountain Grove received a third place award for Best Feature Photo in the non-daily division of newspapers with a circulation size of 2,000-3,999.
Ron Schott, WCJ owner/publisher, took the photo.
“A lovely quiet moment for these youngsters,” said one judge. “Great eye for the photographer to see the opportunity and capture this moment that otherwise would have been forgotten."
Schott’s sports feature on the Dobsons and carrying on their father's broadcasting legacy with the Ozark Mountain Groove radio station received fourth-place honors for Best Sports Story in the non-daily division (2,000-3,999 circulation).
“We love to know the people behind those voices,” said one judge. “Quirky layout. Enjoyable read.”
Freelance reporter Sam MacPherson received a fourth-place award for Best Business Feature Story for his article featuring Farmer Deckard’s start-up business to meet the trash pick-up needs of his area. This honor came in the non-daily division for newspaper’s with circulation less than 6,000.
A judge said, “An enterprising young man fills a community need by starting a rival trash collection service for underserved farmers.”
The Wright County Journal took home two more awards, the most for a Missouri newspaper, in the NNAF’s Better Newspaper Advertising Contest.
In the Best Public Notice category, the publication’s treatment of the notices was recognized as the second best in the nation as it was judged among both daily and non-daily newspapers of all circulation sizes.
First place went to The Ark in Tiburon, Calif.; third place went to Brentwood Press, in California; and The Daily Washington Law Reporter in Baltimore, Md. received honorable mention honors.
The judge for the contest offered several comments regarding the WCJs second-place selection.
They said, “This is a strong, practical legal notice presentation. The WC legals branding is consistent, the red section header gives the pages identity, and the tax-sale material is organized in a way that helps readers scan a dense public record product. It is not flashy, but it is orderly and trustworthy.”
As for the Best Classified Section category featuring all daily and non-daily newspapers, the Wright County Journal’s classifieds received third place in the nation honors.
The judge said, “Strong visual identity and hierarchy. Branding on point.”
The Taos News in New Mexico was first place, Grosse Pointe News from Michigan came in second and the Marietta Monitor in Oklahoma earned Honorable Mention honors.
“I am just in awe that God has allowed us to receive six national newspaper awards,” Schott said. “It is amazing that our publication with just one full-time staff member, a contracted carrier and a couple freelance reporters and photographers can receive these honors going up against newspapers with much larger staff sizes across the country. It is special to win one best in the nation plaque for our use of photographs in our publication. For judges to then say we have the second best public notice and third best classified sections out of all the daily and non-daily newspapers in the country, I am speechless. I am grateful for all of the judges and their kind comments. To God be the glory for great things He has done.”