Newton News and PCM Explorer take home 4 first-place plaques at INA awards

Newton News and the PCM Explorer took home four first-place plaques last week at the Iowa Newspaper Association Convention and Awards Ceremony in downtown Des Moines. Both newspapers, along with the Jasper County Tribune, received top-three placements in 14 categories for their reporting, photography and graphics.

“I am always impressed with the work our staff puts in keeping the public informed week in and week out,” editor Jamee A. Pierson said. “To be recognized for our efforts by our peers is exciting, and I am very proud of everyone who contributes to making our papers great.”

The ceremony was held Feb. 6 at the Marriott Hotel. Presentations were made to the winners of the 2025 Iowa Better Newspaper Contests, which was judged this year by the Kansas Press Association. Approximately 3,200 entries in dozens of categories were judged by class, which is based on circulation size.

Newton News competed in Class IV, which is for newspapers published more than once a week with a circulation under 3,750. PCM Explorer and Jasper County Tribune, which cover the smaller communities of Jasper County, competed in Class I for newspapers published once a week with 755 circulation and under.

SIX PLACEMENTS FOR NEWTON NEWS

Sports Editor Troy Hyde won Best Sports Section for the Newton News. Judges praised the quality writing and page layout. Hyde also earned third place for Best Sports Feature Photo for his photo of Cardinal bowler Libbie Keith reacting to one of her marks against a win over Norwalk.

Newton News also won first place for its Coverage of Business, which featured stories from Associate Editor Christopher Braunschweig about Newton YMCA, The Farmer’s Wife, Open Arms Foundation, Blooms by Design and Cardinal Frame Shop and Relics, LLC Antiques, Collectibles and Stuff.

Braunschweig also earned a third place finish for Best News Feature Story in Newton News and shared a third place placement with Pierson for Coverage of Agriculture for their stories about drought conditions, raising livestock in winter, no-till farming, the farm bill and a Newton ag teacher.

Pierson was also awarded third place for Best Use of Graphics.

FIVE PLACEMENTS FOR PCM EXPLORER

PCM Explorer won first place for Coverage and Government & Politics for Pierson’s reporting on Red Rock Prairie Trail funding, construction progress on the Prairie City Public Library, a reserve police program in Monroe, the effects of the state Public Health and Human Services consolidation and speed cameras.

Hyde won first place for Best Sports Columnist for the PCM Explorer. Judges liked the local elements he tied to his stories, as well as the wide range of topics and teams he covered. They also commended Hyde for showing both sides of an argument to keep all readers engaged in his columns.

Pierson shared second place with Braunschweig for Coverage of Agriculture. PCM Explorer also won third place for Coverage of Business for Pierson’s reports on Monroe Foods and Mustang Nutrition, among others. Pierson also won third place for Best Continuing Coverage for articles on the grade alignment.

THREE PLACEMENTS FOR JASPER COUNTY TRIBUNE

Hyde earned a second place finish for Best Sports Feature Photo for the Jasper County Tribune for his image of the Colfax-Mingo wrestling team celebrating James Gherveny’s win against Belle Plaine of Lynnville-Sully.

Pierson and Braunschweig shared a third place win for Coverage of Agriculture for the Jasper County Tribune. Pierson also won third place for Best News Story for her article on school districts navigating legislation allowing staff to carry firearms on school grounds.