The Hometown Press took home 11 awards (four first places, two seconds, and five thirds) from the Iowa Newspaper Association (INA) Awards Banquet held Feb. 6 at the Marriott in Des Moines. The theme for this year’s event, DIG-IT-ALL, encouraged convention-goers to embrace everything digital, while at the same time recognizing the rich tradition of the newspaper industry.
Friday morning, Morley Piper, now 90, of the 29th Infantry Division, shared his stirring account of D-Day when, as a 19-year-old Second Lieutenant, he and other ordinary men were called upon to do extraordinary things. The convention program included educational presentations by experts from across the country in the fields of advertising, writing, social media, digital, and technology. More than two dozen exhibitors at the trade show displayed the latest in products, services, and programs for the newspaper industry. For nearly a decade, the INA Convention and Trade Show has been the largest state press association gathering in the country.
Three members of the Hometown Press staff, Faye Brand, LeAnn Hjelmeland, and Margaret Vander Weerdt, joined Iowa newspaper professionals at the annual INA Convention.
This year, the Hometown Press finished in second place in general excellence judging with 26 points, behind The La Porte City Progress-Review with 34 points as the top newspaper based on points for awards received. Third place went to the North Liberty Leader with 25 points. The Hometown Press also received third place overall for its first-place ad when all the categories were judged together.
The 11 awards the Hometown Press received was more than double what it received in the past two years, five awards each year, since it became eligible for awards.
Best Ad Featuring Financial, Insurance, or Other Professional Service (14 entries)
First Place and Third Place Best of Weekly Class I Advertising: JH Travel
Second Place: Dowie Pest Control
Best Ad Featuring Grocery/Food/Entertainment (16 entries)
Third Place: ZIP IN
Comments: Graphic is so clean and the food looks good. Easy to read with an eye-catching heading. Like the change in typestyles in the copy.
Best Newspaper Website (4 entries)
First Place, www.hometownpressia.com
Best Newspaper Marketing (8 entries)
Third Place – 12/26 Hometown Press page ad, front page graphic, and page three article all announcing the launch of the newspaper's new website
Comments: Catchy ad. Great use of color. Creative content. Nice.
Best Feature Page (5 entries)
First Place – 8/14 Fopma's Aronia Berries, 2/27 Wooden Spoon, 7/24 Harthoorn Family Double Blessing
Comments: Enjoyed all the pages and stories. Creatively designed with photos. Good headlines also.
Best Sports Feature Story (8 entries)
First Place – "The Final Quarter"
Comments: Nice narrative lead draws in reader. The writing leaps off the page and is fun to read.
Third Place – "Once a Hawk, Always a Hawk"
Comments: Fun-to-read feature on a local prep football player.
Best Use of Graphics (8 entries): Third Place – 2/6 Kennedy Roland feature, 10/17 Stella Turnbull feature, 12/19 front page, 2/27 FFA Salute, 7/17 Van Kooten Mustang feature, 12/5 Jasper County Freedom Rock feature
