News-Herald wins two newspaper awards

The Le Sueur News-Herald won two awards in the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association contest.
The News-Herald placed first in sports reporting and second in general excellence.
Awards were presented Thursday at the association's convention in Bloomington.
Le Center Leader competed in the weeklies up to 1,500 circulation category.
Judges for sports reporting said, "Head and shoulders above the rest. Love the player profiles and agate-style left column on the fronts. Writing is good. A wide range of sports covered."
Judges for general excellence said, "Good overall layout and design. Good overall news content."
The North Carolina Newspaper Association judged the contest.
Le Sueur News-Herald Editor/Publisher Stephanie Hill said she is proud of the work the Le Sueur News-Herald team does week after week.
"The entire community can take pride in these awards, because the newspaper has always been a collaboration between staff and readers," Hill said. "Every day, people submit news, photos, letters to the editor and all sorts of items giving their newspaper variety. They share their time and thoughts in interviews. News-Herald staffers very much appreciate the community's support, which makes the awards possible."
Huckle Media, LLC is a family-owned media company that owns area newspapers, websites, shoppers and magazines in Owatonna, Waseca, Faribault, Northfield, St. Peter, Le Sueur, Le Center, Kenyon and Lonsdale, as well as a central printing plant in Northfield.
Other newspapers in the Huckle group winning awards included:
• Le Center Leader placing second in headline writing and receiving honorable mention for a sports photo by sports editor Pat Beck.
• St. Peter Herald placing first in sports reporting, and editorial page as a whole; second place in best use of video.
• Waseca County News placing first in new journalist of the year (sports editor Jordan Osterman); second in social issues story (writer Ruth Ann Hager); honorable mention in best use of video.
• Owatonna People's Press placing first in general reporting, advertising excellence, innovative online advertising (sales representative Deb Theisen and graphic designer Kerri Pohlner), and explanation of news operations or newspaper ethics (managing editor Jeffrey Jackson column); second in new journalist of the year (writer Ashley Peterson), and design portfolio (Jason Schmucker).
• Faribault Daily News placing first in the new journalist of the year (writer Joseph Lindberg), sports reporting, use of photography as a whole, and best magazine; second in covering diversity, and best use of multimedia; and honorable mention in human interest (writer Joseph Lindberg).
• Northfield News placing first in general reporting, best use of video, special section, editorial portfolio, business story (writer Jacqueline A. Pavek), and advertising excellence; second in typography and design, sports reporting, investigative reporting (writer David Henke), columnist (sports editor Shane Kitzman), and press photographer's portfolio; (honorable mention, sports editor Shane Kitzman).
• Kenyon Leader placing first in headline writing, best use of video, and best website; second in advertising excellence, and portrait and personality photo (Terri Washburn).
“We are very happy to receive these awards,” said Steven Pope, Huckle Media chief operating officer. “The recognition reflects the skill, effort and dedication that our journalists, advertising consultants and graphic artists bring to their craft every day. We are extremely proud to have these people as part of the Huckle Media team.”