2020 MNA Better Newspaper Contest

Human Interest Story ( 5,000 - 10,000 Dailies)Back

  • Place Name: First Place
    Contestant Name: Virginia - Mesabi Daily News
    Entry Title: ‘Gary set that perfect example’
    Entry Credit: Jerry Burnes
    Judge Comment: Good anecdotal lead. Really great sourcing and very nice description. I especially like how the description of his office and the baseball memorabilia flows into his family background. My main critique is the story starts with a strong focus on the judge's work and impact on a new drug court program, serving as maybe a major part of his legacy, but it pivots away from this focus, returns to it and then ends with comments from colleagues. The ending quote is good, but I think this was a missed opportunity to really focus on the judge's legacy.
  • Place Name: Second Place
    Contestant Name: Virginia - Mesabi Daily News
    Entry Title: Aboard Bus No. 2: Delivering school meals to students’ homes
    Entry Credit: Leah Ryan
    Judge Comment: Very nice lead and nut graf. Very good sourcing. But I just wish the story focused on the narrative that emerges toward last part of the story regarding the bus delivery route. The menu description and other details were more suited for a short news brief or sidebar. A human interest story would reveal more about the bus driver and those she was serving. Still, very nice job!
  • Place Name: Third Place
    Contestant Name: Willmar - West Central Tribune
    Entry Title: The Allure of Lutefisk
    Entry Credit: Carolyn Lange
    Judge Comment: Really interesting subject. The nut graf provides a really great justification for this story regarding the decline of these dinners. But the story drifts from the human interest angle to something more topical regarding this dish. Also, the story needed some short descriptions for some of the terms and dishes.
  • Competition Comment: None