The Holyoke Enterprise earns 2 national awards
The Holyoke Enterprise secured a pair of awards in the National Newspaper Association Foundation’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.
Darci Rodriguez won first place for her Melissa Memorial Hospital Cancer Walk ad from August 2021 in the best single ad idea, black and white category. The entry competed against other nondaily newspapers with circulations less than 5,000.
The judge commented, “Information is broken up so nice, and ad is easy to read.”
In the best multiple advertiser section category, Brenda Brandt and Rodriguez placed second for the Holiday Hide and Seek promotion that ran in the Enterprise in December 2021. This category included both daily and nondaily publications, circulations less than 5,000.
“I love this concept. It really engages the community,” said the judge.
The staff of the Enterprise’s sister newspaper, The Imperial (Nebraska) Republican, also won two national awards — general excellence and best photo essay for a Smokin’ on Broadway page.
National winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony Saturday, Oct. 8, during NNAF’s 136th Annual Convention and Trade Show in San Francisco, California.
There were 1,561 entries in the newspaper and advertising contests, and 586 awards were won by 92 newspapers from 40 states.
Judging was performed primarily by active or retired community newspaper editors, publishers and university journalism professors.
Judge Larry Hochberger, associate publisher of The Ithaca (New York) Times said, “It is great to see that in the already-challenging world facing newspapers and then a pandemic, these papers are surviving and thriving and doing great work for their communities.”
Established in 1885, the National Newspaper Association is the voice of America’s community newspapers and is one of the largest newspaper associations in the country. The NNA Foundation is the educational arm of the NNA. Its mission is to promote news literacy, protect the First Amendment, and enhance the quality, role and capabilities of community newspapers and community journalists.