Dispatch earns handful of awards in MNA 2021 Better Newspaper Contest

The Montana Newspaper Association announced the winners of the 2021 Better Newspaper Contest June 18, during their 136th Convention and the Blackfoot Valley Dispatch fared well in the results.

The BVD, a Divsion 1 Newspaper (weekly, with a circulation of fewer than 1250) earned recognition in eight categories this year..

Writer Kate Radford earned a first place recognition for Best Education Coverage for her March 11, 2020 story on the Lincoln School Science fair.

"Good reporting with fun quotes, clear and crisp writing, multiple sources make the piece rich, interesting subject, and eye-catching images draw the reader in," the judge noted.

BVD Editor Roger Dey also earned a first place nod for best feature photo, which was also recognized as the Mel Ruder Photograph of the Year.

Radford and Dey shared a second place award for their series of stories on the development of the Lincoln Skatepark.

"Readers got the who, what, where, when, why and how much, bolstered by numerous renderings and photographs of project progress," the judge said. "Good mix of information sources and statements from community members, and the final photo spread of a community enjoying its efforts on page 6 topped it off nicely."

Dey earned two other second place awards, one for Best Feature Photo for an image of an ice-blue-eyed sled dog peering out from its compartment during Race to the Sky (right), and a second for Best portrait photo featuring Jarrett West shooting at Lincoln Sportsmans Club Range.

An image of Evergreen Skatepark owner Billy Coulon, published in one of the skatepark stories (top far right), earned a third place award for Best Feature Photo, while a shot of a Chinook Firefighting helicopter lifting off of Herrin Lake with a full tank of water placed third in Best news photo.

Finally, a photo of a young guest smiling for the camera during the 2020 Lincoln High outdoor graduation ceremony placed third in the Best Portrait photo category.

This year's contest was judged by members of the Nevada Press Association.