NEED Rocks SPJ Page One Awards

from left to right; Kelly Kinnunen, Kasey Hatzung, Emily Sauer, Liz Werner, Rachel Yuen, Salli Jaaskelainen, Stephanie Kinnunen, Kyra Gibson, Lauren Fischer, Adam Hanson, Katy Petershack

The SPJ Page One Awards Banquet, held in Minneapolis on May 14, proved a rewarding and exciting night for the NEED staff. We submitted entries for issues 4, 5 and 6 and won seven first place awards including “Best Overall Magazine” (for less than 50,000 circulation). NEED was also recognized for excellence in several other categories.

The awards ceremony was great experience and opportunity for all who attended. Awards were also given for distinguished newspaper, television and radio journalism. After meeting remarkable Minnesota journalists, we listened to a speech by news veteran Tom Brokaw about the value and future of journalism.

Founded in 1909, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) is the oldest, largest and broadest-based organization of journalists in the US.

Magazine Awards Received:

FIRST PLACE

Best overall - Issues, 4, 5 and 6

Best overall design - Issues, 4, 5 and 6

Best department - WORK (Issues 4, 5 and 6)

Best commissioned photography - Begging in the Rain by Paul Corbit Brown(HOME issue 5)

Best feature design - In the Crossfire (KIDS issue 5)

Best spread design - Muhammad Yunus (DIALOGUE issue 5)

Best single page design - In the Crossfire (KIDS issue 5)

SECOND PLACE

Best cover using photography - The Sounds of Success (GENEROSITY issue 5)

THIRD PLACE

Best use of multimedia - Breaking the Cycle (HOME issue 5)

Best single news story - Kosi Flood (Blog 12/05/08)

Lauren Fischer and Katy Petershack