INDEPENDENCE – Carrie Hendricks, Graphic Designer for the Independence Bulletin Journal (IBJ), was presented the First Place award for Best of Class Advertising at the annual Iowa Newspaper Association (INA) convention Thursday evening in Des Moines.
The Bulletin Journal is part of NE Iowa Publications (i.e. Waverly Newspapers, Oelwein Daily Register, Vinton Newspapers, and Fayette County Newspapers) that are owned by Community Media Group. Hendricks has worked for the group for 18 years, the last five focusing on the IBJ and Shopper Reminder layout and ad design.
Based on the frequency of publication and the number of paid subscribers the IBJ is in INA Class IV.
Hendricks awards were:
- Best Ad Featuring Miscellaneous: First Place for a Johnson Plumbing Heating, & Cooling ad. Judge Comments, “Photo draws reader to ad and follows with a smile. Great visualization with this ad. Very Clear who advertiser is.”
“It has been nice to work with an award-winning designer for our ads,” said Stacey Johnson of Johnson Plumbing.
- Best Special Section Advertising: First Place for ads (including the Johnson Plumbing ad) which appeared in the Progress 2023 Special Section. Judge Comments, “This entry stood out above all of the others. The quality of the ads was exceptional. Given the size of this project, I also was impressed at the wide variety of ad design. It did not feel like any of the ads resembled any of the other ads, which can be difficult in a project with a lot of advertisers. Very well done.”
- Best of Class-Class IV: First Place from all First Place ads in the 10 Advertising Categories (grocery/entertainment, financial, furniture/hardware, miscellaneous, automotive/transportation, special section, service/merchandise campaign, community promotion, agriculture, web). Again the Johnson Plumbing was recognized. Judge Comments, “This ad grabbed my attention, made me laugh and look at it again. Good call to action, attention grabbing photo, big logo so you know who to call and names of the owners, so you feel connected to who you are calling.”
- Best Ad Designer: Hendricks was awarded Second Place in Class IV for a portfolio of work which included several ads.
“I am so proud of Carrie and her talents!” said Tracy Cummings, Publisher fro the NE Iowa publications. “She does an amazing job and am grateful to have her on our team! Congratulations Carrie! Well deserved!”
Master Editor-Publisher
In addition, the Iowa Newspaper Association annually honors a Master Editor-Publisher based on, “The nominee has worked hard, thought soundly, influenced unselfishly, and lived honorably. This award may be given to any person who at the time of the selection is actively engaged in editing and/or publishing a newspaper… Each year’s honorees are selected by past recipients of the awards.”
Anelia Dimitrova, former Editor of Waverly Newspapers and Regional Editor of the NE Iowa Publications was awarded Master Editor-Publisher. Comments from her nomination form included:
“Anelia takes tremendous pride and joy in being able to serve the community through journalism and inspiring others to believe in the power of journalism. With a bottomless appetite for storytelling, a love for others, and the passion for others, our recipient continually puts other parts of life aside to focus on these priorities.
“Anelia puts heart into developing every story, whether an in-depth feature or breaking news story. A significant amount of effort is put into proofreading and fact checking every detail to ensure the utmost accuracy. The human touch element is not sacrificed however. She handles every hard conversation with sources with grace, love and kindness. A well-known figure in the community, she has developed countless relationships through difficult situations, and the community regards her endearingly.
“Anelia’s dedication to nurturing young talent is unparalleled. She tirelessly searches for and cultivates talent, mentoring young journalists and community writers. One of her most notable achievements is the creation of a journalism initiative that engages, empowers and educates writers about community journalism, including youth of all ages and backgrounds, individuals with different abilities and anyone with a passion for writing. Her efforts have not only produced exceptional journalism but have also strengthened the bonds within the community.
“Anelia’s innovative storytelling, mentorship of young journalists, and multiple journalism awards are evidence of her excellence and dedication. Her work has had a profound impact on the community, and her leadership has set a standard for others to follow.”
