By Staff
Leader Publications won four statewide awards in the 2005 Michigan Press Association Better Newspaper Contest in conjunction with National Newspaper Week Oct. 2-8.
Dowagiac Daily News Sports Editor Scott Novak won first place for sports writing from 50 entries for his coverage of the University of Notre Dame firing football coach Tyrone Willingham.
Judges said, &#8221Great job taking a breaking regional/national story and localizing it.“;
Novak also won first place from 23 entries for &#8221Going for the Pin,“; a sports photo he took for the Edwardsburg Argus.
The Dowagiac Daily News finished second in editorial writing from 27 entries to The Mining Journal in Marquette. An entry consists of three editorials.
Daily News Managing Editor John Eby submitted the newspaper's fall 2004 endorsement of President George Bush's re-election; &#8221Bipartisan Berrien board a refreshing change of pace,“; from Jan. 17; and &#8221Public not sympathetic to press freedom complaints,“; which was published Feb. 28.
Judges commented, &#8221Very well written and structural. Lays out a persuasive argument.“;
The Niles Daily Star staff won second from 51 entries for special section for the 10-page section produced overnight following President Bush's visit to Niles and Cass County in May 2004.
Members of the Virginia Press Association studied more than 4,498 entries submitted by 138 Michigan newspapers.
That effort is further magnified by the fact that McDonald's in Niles burned to the ground only hours before President Bush was scheduled to arrive at Niles High School.
In addition to the special section, that day's newspaper was bumped up two pages at the last moment to accommodate coverage of McDonald's fire.
Leader Publications competes among newspapers with up to 15,000 circulation.