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Sarah Stultz won first place for Photography Photo Story for photos taken at the funeral of World War II veteran Mickey Nelson in Clarks Grove in June.

Sarah Stultz won first place in the Human Interest Story-News Feature category for a story about Albert Lean Victoria Lopez, who participated in the Healthy Start program.

The Tribune won Best Advertisement for this Produce State Bank ad.

Sarah Stultz won second place in the Human Interest Story category for a story about Albert Lea Housing and Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Deborah Mitchell.

Sarah Stultz won second place in Local Breaking News Coverage, for coverage of a confirmed EF1 tornado near Twin Lakes.

Sarah Stultz won third place in the Business Profile category for a story on Century Partners when they were recognized as Citizens of the Year in the Tribune’s 2024 Progress edition.

Ayanna Eckblad won second place in the Social Issues Story category for a story about artist Rachel Coyne, whose work titled “Missing and Disappeared” was featured at the Albert Lea Art Center.

Ayanna Eckblad won second place in the Human Interest News Feature category for a story about Jodie Hofkamp, who works as a psychologist at Albert Lea High School.

The Tribune won second place in the Best Advertising category.

By Albert Lea Tribune

The Albert Lea Tribune took home 14 awards Thursday in the Better Newspaper Contest banquet as part of the 158th annual Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention in Brooklyn Park.

Among the awards were first place for website and Editorial Page as a Whole, as well as first place for Magazine Use of Photography as a Whole.

“The cartoons, especially, were engaging and timely,” the judge wrote about the editorial page entry. “Clean flow and compelling combination of local and regional/national topics.”

The magazine that won the photography category was the July/August 2024 issue, which included features on the Pelican Breeze, the Itasca Rock Garden and a local AirBNB.

The newspaper also won third place in typography and design.

“Solid design, good use of headlines and photos,” the judge wrote. “Could use some more pictures inside played larger. Good effort, solid work.”

Managing Editor Sarah Stultz won four awards for stories she wrote and two awards for photography:

• First place: Human Interest Story-News Feature, for a story about Albert Lean Victoria Lopez, who participated in the Healthy Start program, which allows the Commissioner of Corrections in Minnesota the authority to conditionally release incarcerated mothers who are pregnant or within eight months post-delivery from prison to the community. The goal is for the mothers to engage in work, vocational training, substance abuse or mental health treatment, education or parenting education and help get their child’s life off to a healthy start. The program may last the duration of the pregnancy and up to 1 year of the newborn child’s life.

“Story kicks off with a heartbreaking lede, explains a complex issue and lends much humanity to a human source. Well done,” the judge wrote.

• First place: Photography News Photo, for a photo taken at the scene of a double-fatal crash at the intersection of Minnesota Highway 13 and West Main Street in August.

“A strong breaking-news picture that captures the intensity, drama and seriousness of rescuers in action at the accident scene,” the judge wrote.

• First place: Photography Photo Story, for photos taken at the funeral of World War II veteran Mickey Nelson in Clarks Grove in June.

• Second place: Human Interest Story, for a story about Albert Lea Housing and Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Deborah Mitchell.

“The writer did a great job with the intro on this profile story,” the judge wrote. “You learn so much in such a short period of time that explains why this person has such a passion for affordable housing. Showcasing the personal experience helps readers understand the subject’s character and motivation.”

• Second place: Local Breaking News Coverage, for coverage of a confirmed EF1 tornado near Twin Lakes.

• Third place: Business Profile, for a story on Century Partners when they were recognized as Citizens of the Year in the Tribune’s 2024 Progress edition.

“Most readers don’t know how vital the partnerships are to redevelop large downtown buildings,” the judge wrote. “Nice job.”

Reporter Ayanna Eckblad won two awards:

• Second place: Human Interest News Feature, for a story about Jodie Hofkamp, who works as a psychologist at Albert Lea High School.

“Thoughtful quotes. Good review of the subject’s background and motivations,” the judge wrote.

• Second place: Social Issues Story, for a story about artist Rachel Coyne, whose work titled “Missing and Disappeared” was featured at the Albert Lea Art Center.

“This was an engaging feature about a tragic recurring problem affecting Black and Indigenous communities, including helpful information about the DNA identification procedure,” the judge wrote.

The Tribune also won a first and second place for Best Advertisement for advertisements for Produce State Bank and Holly Miller Design, respectively. 

Most of the awards were for multi-day newspapers up to 5,000 circulation. The website and magazine awards were for all multi-day newspapers. 

The awards were for work completed from Sept. 1, 2023, to Aug. 31, 2024.

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