Columbia Missourian receives awards from Missouri Press Association

KANSAS CITY — The Columbia Missourian received 28 awards from the 2009 Missouri Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest, the winners of which were announced Saturday.

The Missourian received seven first-place awards during the 143rd MPA Convention, including a General Excellence Award for the seventh consecutive year and the eighth time in nine years. Competing in the Class 3 division against papers such as the Sedalia Democrat and the Lebanon Daily Record, the Missourian has "excellent photos, layout, and creativity" and "delivers a solid news punch," according to the judging panel.

The Missourian also received first-place awards in its division in categories including: Best News Story; Best Special Section; Best Story, Outdoors; Best Story, History and Best Page Design.

Additionally, the newspaper won a second place Best Headline Writing Award, second to the Kansas City Star, and an Honorable Mention for Investigative Reporting - Tasers.

The Missourian's 28 MPA Awards

First Place

General Excellence – Staff

Best News Story – "Pay now or pay later" – Kate Schuman (this story will download as a PDF). 

Best Special Section – "Weird tales of MO" – Staff

Best Story, Outdoors – "Missing layers of history" – Katie Underhill

Best Story, History – "Small artifact, big find" – Rebecca Delaney

Best Page Design – Staff

Best Feature Story – "Teacher works magic with emotionally disturbed children" – Stephanie Detillier

Second Place

Best News Story – "In Memory" – Annelise Searle

Best Sports Photo – "How bout them Tigers?" – Catalin Abagiu

Best Photo Package – "From vineyard to table" – Mike Pittman

Best Business Story – "Made from scratch" – Liz Manring

Best Headline Writing – Staff

Third Place

Best News Story – "Salvaging the past" – Sean Sposito/Matt Harris/Isabelle Roughol

Best Feature Story – "Re-enlist in life" – Tim Lloyd

Best Sports Pages – Staff

Best Sports Feature – "A Mom’s biggest fan" – Rachel Crader

Best Coverage, Young People – VOX – Staff

Honorable Mention

Best Feature Story – "Lifetime of waiting" – Catherine Pearson

Best Feature Story – "Back to basics" – Matt Harris

Best Ad Idea, Advertiser – Thank You (homecoming) – Staff

Best Investigative Reporting – Tasers – Staff

Best Business Story – "A hub of activity" – Tyler Armao

Best Coverage of Government– "Full service city" – Paul Weber

Best Rural Life/Ag Story – "A forgotten relic" – Sara Shahriari

Best Story, Religion – "An unusual pulpit" – Rachel Smeda

Best Story, Religion – "Spiritual discovery" – Staff

Best Information Graphic – "Bad driving weather" – Darla Cameron/Francisco Fisher

Best Story, Outdoors – "Pallid sturgeon" – Jake Siegel