IOWA CITY, IOWA (February 17, 2021) — The University of Iowa's newspaper, The Daily Iowan was named the Iowa Newspaper Association's 2021 Newspaper of the Year, beating the Des Moines Register and every other professional newspaper in the state.
Sarah Watson of De Witt, Iowa, was one of 10 Iowa students who were first-place award-winners.
The DI won the association's top honor for an unprecedented second straight year and the fourth time (1976, 1981, 2020, 2021) in the 52-year history of the award. The Newspaper of the Year is presented to the newspaper that accumulates the highest point total from placing first, second or third in individual categories.
Overall, the DI earned 48 awards against daily newspapers in Iowa with a circulation less than 10,000 — including an impressive 24 first-place awards. Marissa Payne and Sarah Watson served as one of two editors during the contest period.
Here is the list of the DI's first-place award winners:
- General Excellence — Marissa Payne and Sarah Watson, editors
- Coverage of Government and Politics
- Coverage of Education
- Coverage of Agriculture
- Coverage of Business
- Coverage of Court and Crime
- Total Newspaper Design
- Best Use of Graphics
- Best Newspaper Website
- Best Use of Social Media
- Best Podcast — "On the Record"
- Best Slideshow — Shivansh Ahuja and Ryan Adams (Iowa-Minnesota football)
- Best Breaking News Photo — Katie Goodale (Des Moines protest)
- Best Sports Photo — Shivansh Ahuja (Iowa-Ohio State wrestling)
- Best Photo Story — Katina Zentz and Katie Goodale (Trump rally)
- Best Photographer — Katie Goodale
- Best News Feature Story — Katelyn Weisbrod (From pre-med to organic farming)
- Best Sports Story — Anna Kayser (Michael Kemerer's return to the mat)
- Best Sports Feature Story — Shivansh Ahuja (Lisa Bluder: 20 years of making leaders)
- Master Columnist — Elijah Helton
- Best Ad Designer — Heidi Owen
- Best Web Advertisement — Heidi Owen
- Best Ad Featuring Financial, Insurance or Other Professional Service — Heidi Owen
- Best Ad Featuring Automotive, Boats, Tires, etc — Heidi Owen
About the University of Iowa
As a top global university, Iowa is the ideal destination for learning, discovery, and innovation. We bring art and science together to create a truly unique interdisciplinary education. With over 200 areas of study to choose from, students are encouraged to mix and match majors, minors, and certificates to earn a degree that reflects their unique interests.
From inside our world-class medical center to the most prestigious creative writing program in the US, students have access to quality academic support and are equipped with the tools they need to stand out in a competitive workforce. Our 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio allows students to work directly with experts in their field while earning valuable, practical skills.
Our campus seamlessly blends into the heart of downtown Iowa City, making it easy to access academic resources and belong to a larger, welcoming community. With over 500 student organizations, clubs, and communities on campus, and countless in-town events scheduled throughout the year, Iowa makes it easy to build a network of friendships and connections that last a lifetime.
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