Times reporter awarded at state newspaper contest

The Trempealeau County Times was again awarded at the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest last week.

Reporter Benjamin Pierce won a first-place award for his reporting on local education. Pierce submitted three stories for the award including “Independence board split on gender/sexuality alliance” which appeared in the Nov. 10, 2021 edition of the Times; “’See something, say something’: Local school administrators react to Uvalde shooting,” June 1, 2022 and “Revote ahead after illegal school board vote ups G-E-T school meal costs,” Aug. 17, 2022.

Of Pierce’s work, the judge wrote: “Timely issues covered from local angles. Good writing. Solid coverage. Important work.”

“We’re proud of the work Benjamin has done and continues to do for our readers on a weekly basis,” Andrew Dannehy, Times editor, said. “While the most important reward comes from the positive feedback we get from our readers, it’s nice to be recognized amongst our peers.” 

The 2022 contest received 2,230 entries from 106 newspapers. Eligible entries were published between Sept. 1, 2021, and Aug. 31, 2022, and were judged by members of the Arkansas Press Association.

Pierce was also awarded for his reporting on local education in the 2021 contest for work published in The Gazette prior to joining the Times staff in 2021. 

The Times has been awarded each year it has submitted work to the WNA Better Newspaper Contest. 

This year’s banquet was held last Friday at the Madison Concourse Hotel in downtown Madison. Recipients of 2022 Newspaper of the Year awards were The (Janesville) Gazette, Daily Division, and The (Minocqua) Lakeland Times, Weekly Division.