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The Messenger editorial and advertising staffs have won more than 20 Iowa Newspaper Association awards, accumulating the most total points in the history of The Messenger's participation in the contest.
The awards were announced Thursday during a virtual presentation.
"These statewide awards reflect the hard work our people put in," said Publisher Terry Christensen. "I'm extremely proud and excited for our newsroom and advertising staffs."
The newspaper earned second place in general excellence in the Daily 1 class. The Messenger also took home first place for best sports section.
City Editor Chad Thompson won first place in best breaking news story for his coverage on the night the Rev. Al Henderson was killed. Thompson also won first place in the category of best personality feature story. He earned that award for a piece he wrote about Zachariah Nuzum, a Black man who shared a message of peace during a candlelight vigil in Fort Dodge. The speech was given during a time when racial tensions were high following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Staff Writer Elijah Decious earned first place in the category of best continuing coverage for his reporting on saving small town grocery stores in both Manson and Gowrie.
Sports Editor Eric Pratt won first place for best sports columnist. The judges described Pratt's work as, "Crisp, descriptive writing that puts the reader in the moment and captures the emotion."
The Messenger advertising department took home first place honors for best special section advertising. The ad department won first and second place for best ad featuring agriculture.
The newspaper won these other honors in the INA competition:
• Second place in best special section editorial for the annual Messenger football preview.
• Third place in best editorial pages.
• Staff Writer Kelby Wingert won second place in coverage of education. Wingert earned third place in the master columnist category. Wingert and Decious earned second place for best use of social media.
• Pratt won second place for best sports feature story for a piece he wrote about Roxanne Kuhlman losing three rings previously worn by her late daughter Kristin.
• Staff Writer Dana Becker, along with Thompson and Decious, earned second place for best COVID-19 coverage.
• Editor Bill Shea took home third place for excellence in editorial writing.
• Sports Photographer Britt Kudla won third place for best sports photo. She earned that award for an image she captured of Fort Dodge softball player Tristin Doster in midair as she went past first base in a game against Newell-Fonda. Kudla won third place for best sports feature photo for an image she captured of Humboldt softball players embracing after being eliminated from the state tournament.
• Thompson earned third place in the category of best breaking news photo for an image he captured of Fort Dodge Firefighter Orlando Peace running a hoseline by Mid-Iowa Towing as the building burned.
• The ad department also won second place for best ad featuring furniture, furnishings, appliances or hardware; second place for best ad featuring automotive, boats, aircraft, tires, gasoline, etc.; and second place for best ad idea for a community promotion or event.