The Leelanau Enterprise has earned 26 awards in the National Newspaper Association’s Editorial and Advertising Contest.
The contest is open to all newspapers in the country.
Both creative and editorial departments were recognized for their efforts.
“The work of the entire Enterprise team was recognized by judges from across the county in the 2024 National Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper contest. Combined, advertising, creative and newsroom teams won 26 national awards,” COO John Elchert said. “From advertising, design, photography, and editorial and writing, all facets of our operation were deemed some of the best in the country.”
Top honors went to the entire staff for “Leelanau on a Dime” a Diversions section which ran in July 2023.
Judge’s comments were: “Great package cover to cover.. This is a nice feature package that has things that any family or person could do without breaking the bank.”
Other first-place honors earned to creative director Mike Anderson for a Kids Fishing Day advertisement and Jason Plowman for his work on the classified section.
Both Anderson and Plowman ran away with several awards. Anderson was praised for an advertisement for Nittolo’s 2 for $20.23 and Knot Just a Bar’s Polish Christmas Dinner advertisement.
Plowman and was recognized for “best use of color” for his work on an advertisement for Falcon Roofing and for and advertisement for the Lake Leelanau Community Association’s bridge walk. among others.
The editorial staff earned 16 awards.
Reporter Meakalia Previch-Liu garnered a second-place for best feature photo. The subject of the photo was Grand Traverse Band members dancing at the annual Pow Wow.
Previch-Liu was also recognized with a second place award for “best business” story titled “Cold temps bring ice wine harvest” and a third for best serious column about the fires that consumed Maui, in her native state of Hawaii.
Previch- Liu also earned honorable mentions for stories about the passing of Bill Collins, a Northport icon, and the TRASHion Fashion Show held at Northport Public School.
Reporter Brian Freiberger earned six individual awards: a second for his photo of a Leland student running through the sprinkler on the last day of school and two thirds for best breaking news photo of a 10-acre fire in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and “best use of photographs” in his coverage of the Glen Lake girls basketball team’s state championship.
Three honorable mentions went to Freiberger for photos of sporting events.
It was a team effort for Previch-Liu, Freiberger and reporter Zachary Marano who earned a second place in the “best feature series” for the weekly People of the Peninsula.
Enterprise reporter Alan Campbell earned a first place for best agricultural story entitled “Underpaid tarts.” He also earned a second-place award “best coverage of military affairs” for a story featuring Leelanau veterans and Camp Lejeune; two third places for best environmental story and best non-profile feature story about “Jesus in Song.”
“With editor Amy Hubbell and creative director Mike Anderson leading the way, our dedicated team continues to produce one of the best papers in the country,” Elchert, the publisher said. “I am so proud of the outstanding work that the entire team does every day in providing a top-notch newspaper for our communities.”
