Oshkosh Northwestern staff take home eight awards for in-depth reporting, feature photos and more at Wisconsin newspaper awards
It just goes to show, even judges can't resist a good dog photo.
Oshkosh Northwestern photojournalist Dan Powers' portrait capturing Joni Geiger's love of animals — and a joyful pup — took home top honors, but newspaper staff received seven other awards at this year's Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation's Better Newspaper Contest.
The annual contest recognizes local journalists' work across the state, and this year Northwestern journalists received recognition for a rookie reporter's in-depth reporting on difficult subjects, ongoing coverage of Day By Day Warming Shelter's search for a permanent home, photos of an ice shove damaging a Lake Winnebago home and more.
"I'm honored that our small team was able to make such a big impact, during this award selection but also for the work we put in daily in the name of local journalism," Oshkosh Northwestern editor Katy Macek said.
Here's what to know about The Northwestern's awards:
Humane society's dog, director portrait capture first-place award
Photojournalist Dan Powers received first place for his powerful and adorable feature photo of former Oshkosh Area Humane Society executive director Joni Geiger's portrait that accompanied this March 14, 2022, story about her retirement after 32 years with the organization.
Second-place winnings go to reporting rookie, group feature story and ice shove photo
Government watchdog reporter Bremen Keasey, who has done a wide range of reporting in just over a year on the job, was recognized for his talent by receiving second place as Rookie Reporter of the Year. The submission featured his in-depth stories on: how a dispute between Winneconne and Oshkosh schools left some families with an unsafe bus stop; a disabled army veteran who was recognized for helping other vets find a platform; and how a woman overcame a heroin and crystal meth addiction with help from a peer coach.
Keasey also split a second-place win for Feature Story (Non-profile) with former reporters Roshaun Higgins and Renee Hickman for a story on how tough it is to staff volunteer fire departments — and how that staffing impacts communities.
One judge had to say this: "With emotive visuals, striking data and well-planned depth, the authors engage readers in understanding the crisis and its impacts on their community — a public service of great storytelling."
Photojournalist Bill Glasheen received a second-place win for his photo essay on a Lake Winnebago area homeowners' close encounter with ice shoves last winter.
School bus stop, Day By Day Warming Shelter coverage and e-newsletter take third place honors
Keasey's deep dive into the Winneconne-Oshkosh school bus stop debacle also netted him third place in the Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting category.
Macek, who had been the Streetwise business reporter until August, received third place for her ongoing coverage of Day By Day Warming Shelter's efforts to open a year-round homeless shelter.
The package of stories included: the shelter's first roadblock after a committee delayed purchasing the property; a feature on what it's like to spend a night at the shelter and why a permanent space is needed; Day By Day's win after the city finally voted to buy the property; and how 2021-22 was a season of record need for Day By Day that featured Larry, a man for whom the shelter helped find a permanent home.
The Oshkosh Streetwise e-newsletter received third place for the Community Engagement Award, highlighting Macek's efforts to connect with readers in a new way by launching this newsletter in April 2021, which has been continued by current Streetwise reporter Daphne Lemke.
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Menominee Tribe's efforts to update Chief Oshkosh plaque earn honorable mention
Macek and Native American issues reporter Frank Vaisvilas received an honorable mention for their ongoing coverage of the Menominee Tribe's efforts to have their history fully represented on a statue of Chief Oshkosh in Menominee Park.
The coverage followed the tribal members' efforts to rewrite the plaque themselves after a city commission opted to write their own version; why Menominee tribal members and allies believed the efforts to fully understand Chief Oshkosh and the Menominee Tribe's history were so important; and how they felt when the signage was approved.
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin journalists earn three awards
The Northwestern is part of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, comprising 10 newspapers including the Appleton Post-Crescent, Green Bay Press-Gazette and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
In addition to The Northwestern's eight awards, journalists among the network received recognition for the following regional and statewide projects:
First Place, Ongoing/Extended Coverage: Staff, for the Home is Here series, a look at the changing demographics of northeast Wisconsin.
Third Place, Localized National Story: Madeline Heim, for her story about doctors' views of the impact of Roe v. Wade being overturned.
Honorable Mention, Community Engagement Award: Staff, for coverage of the Stock the Shelves fundraising effort to fight hunger in Wisconsin.
What are the WNA awards, and how are they judged?
The awards were given during a ceremony Friday that capped WNA's annual convention at the Madison Concourse Hotel in Madison. The WNA Foundation is a nonprofit organization created in 1980 that works to improve Wisconsin’s newspaper enterprises.
Each year, newspapers from across the state can submit entries in a variety of editorial and advertising, which are divided into most categories based on readership size and daily versus weekly publications.
The contest for 2022 received 2,230 entries from 106 newspapers. The Reporter is in Division B, daily circulation less than 9,999.
The Arkansas Press Association judged this year's eligible entries, which were published between September 2021 and August 2022.
For more great Wisconsin journalism, peruse the WNA 2023 Better Newspaper Contest tab for a complete list of winners with judges' comments.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh Northwestern staff recognized for reporting, photos at WNAs
