Times awarded by National Newspaper Association

The Trempealeau County Times has received national acclaim for a story that printed last September.

The Times received honorable mention in the Freedom of Information Act Request category of the National Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest for a story titled “Local candidate accused of misconduct while working as police officer.” The FOI Act Request category is open to all newspapers — daily and non-daily, regardless of circulation — in the country. Also awarded in the category were newspapers from Graham, N.C.; Chester, N.Y. and Philadelphia, Pa. 

The local story, written by Times Managing Editor Andrew Dannehy, included information obtained from six separate FOI Act requests made from July to September of last year. The story printed in the Sept. 21 edition of the Times after a response from the Department of Justice was received on Sept. 16. 

The Times was one of five newspapers in the state of Wisconsin to be honored in the national contest. There were 602 awards won by 92 newspapers in 33 states.

The Wyoming Press Association was awarded the fourth annual “Best of NNA” Award for their 83 winning entries, beating out California with 53 wins and New Mexico with 48 wins.

Judging was performed primarily by active community newspaper editors and publishers, as well as retired university journalism professors and retired or former newspaper professionals.

Established in 1885, the National Newspaper Association (NNA) is the voice of America’s community newspapers and is the one of the largest newspaper associations in the country. The NNA Foundation (NNAF) is the educational arm of the NNA. Its mission is to promote news literacy, protect the First Amendment, and enhance the quality, role and capabilities of community newspapers and community journalists.

Winners of NNA awards will be recognized at the NNA Foundation’s annual Convention and Trade Show in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 30.