BND staff members win awards in Illinois journalism contests
The BND staff was recognized last week for winning 24 awards in journalism excellence contests sponsored by the Illinois Press Association and Illinois Associated Press Managing Editors.
BND journalists who cover southwestern Illinois for you every day are dedicated and passionate about their work. They don’t do it for the accolades, but I wanted to make sure that you were aware of this recognition by their peers and that each journalist received this well-deserved public shoutout.
Our small staff traditionally chooses to compete with the state’s larger newsrooms, including the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, in both of these contests. (Pound for pound, community news organizations our size and smaller across Illinois produce excellent journalism daily. More on that later.)
BND photojournalist Derik Holtmann won nine awards this year, including first-place in the IPA’s spot news photo category for his entry titled ``A family mourns” and first place in the IPA’s general news photo category for ``Shedding a tear.”
Teri Maddox won four reporting awards, including first place in IPA’s obituary tribute category for the story titled ``East St. Louis woman who raised 12 children and helped feed the hungry dies at 105.”
The BND’s other first-place award - in IPA’s series: localized national story category - went to reporter Lexi Cortes for her story titled ``In Illinois, kids have been fatally shot at 10, faced gun charges at 12, prison at 16.”
Here’s a rundown of all the BND award winners:
Illinois Associated Press Managing Editors:
Breaking News: Second, Carolyn P. Smith and Mike Koziatek, “Illinois State Police SWAT trooper dies”
General News Photo: Third, Derik Holtmann, “Family members with casket”
Best Use of Social Media by an Institutional Account: Third, Belleville News-Democrat.
Spot News or Spot Sports Video: Third, Derik Holtmann, “Resident safe after house explodes”
Public Service: Third, Beth Hundsdorfer, Gary Dotson and George Pawlaczyk, “Murders in East St. Louis”
Best Website: Third, Belleville News-Democrat
Illinois Press Association:
Community Service: Second, Beth Hundsdorfer, Gary Dotson, George Pawlaczyk “Murders in East St. Louis”
News Reporting-Single Story: Fourth, Teri Maddox, ``Mascoutah residents still haunted by brutal murder of teens after prom 50 years ago”
News Reporting-Series: Fourth, Belleville News-Democrat staff, ``Coverage of state trooper shooting in East St. Louis’’
Localized National Story: First, Lexi Cortes, ``In Illinois, kids have been fatally shot at 10, faced gun charges at 12, prison at 16”
Freedom of Information: Third, Joseph Bustos, “Owners of revoked Illinois FOID cards must give up their guns. Fewer than half do”
Freedom of Information: Fourth, Hana Muslic, ``Hana Muslic FOIA stories”
Obituary Tribute: First, Teri Maddox, ``East St. Louis woman who raised 12 children and helped feed the hungry dies at 105”
Feature Writing: Fourth, Teri Maddox, ``Mascoutah residents still haunted by brutal murder of teens after prom 50 years ago”
Feature Writing-Personality Profile: Fourth, Teri Maddox, ``East St. Louis woman who raised 12 children and helped feed the hungry dies at 105”
Sports Columnist: Fourth, Todd Eschman, Multiple columns
Spot News Photo: First, Derik Holtmann, ``A family mourns”
Spot News Photo: Third, Derik Holtmann, ``Extinguishing hot spots”
Spot News Photo: Fourth, Derik Holtmann, ``Push!”
General News Photo: First, Derik Holtmann, ``Shedding a tear”
General News Photo: Third, Derik Holtmann, ``Family members with casket”
General News Photo: Fourth, Derik Holtmann, ``Brothers’ hug”
Portrait/Personality: Third, Derik Holtmann, ``Alan Blumhorst”
Headline Writing: Third, Jason Koch, Multiple headlines
It’s great to be recognized by our peers in these annual journalism contests, though it’s not what motivates the journalists in this newsroom. It’s about serving our readers and the southwestern Illinois region, as we have for more than 162 years.
Community newsrooms like the BND and others around the state work hard to provide readers with essential news everyday that keeps you informed, holds public officials accountable and helps you participate in civic life.
We are deeply committed to that mission and so appreciative of our subscribers, financial contributors and advertisers who make this work possible by their generous support.
Thanks again for reading and supporting the Belleville News-Democrat, bnd.com and other community newsrooms across Illinois. We can’t do it without you.
This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 8:00 AM.
