Wisconsin Media Group’s three weekly papers - the Oregon Observer, Stoughton Courier Hub and Verona Press - combined for 17 total awards at this year’s Wisconsin Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, held Friday, March 15 in Madison.
The awards haul includes five first-place awards and two General Excellence category awards, with all five WMG editorial staff members taking home first-place awards.
Verona Press staff won seven awards including first place honors for Maddie Bergstrom’s Reporting on Local Government story, “To Germany and Back: VAHS students make lasting connections in Europe” and Mark Nesbitt’s Sports News Story, "Deserving points," on Verona Area/Madison Edgewood gymnastics team winning the program's first state championship.
Nesbitt won second place for Sports Feature Story, "The bat of Blomberg" story featuring Hillary Blomberg, a slugger for the Verona softball team who committed to play at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jack Miller won a third place award for his Sports Feature Story on boys hockey player Reece Cordray and an Honorable Mention for his Sports News Story on the Verona boys hockey team’s state semifinal game and Maddie Bergstrom won Honorable Mention awards for Rookie Reporter of the Year and Spot News Photo of area first responders conducting an active shooter training.
