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The Argus Chief has gained 29 awards within the South Dakota Newspaper Affiliation’s annual “Higher Newspapers” competitors. The winners have been introduced Friday on the band’s assembly in Mitchell.
Highlights included achievements in Public Service reporting, Freedom of Data mission, Greatest Use of Social Media, and Digital Promoting. Argus competed towards each each day newspaper in South Dakota and was prosecuted by journalists from the Washington (State) Newspaper Publishers Affiliation.
We additionally got here first within the each day Sweepstakes award primarily based on the overall factors earned from particular person prizes. That is the equal of a workforce profitable a common working occasion: After medals are awarded in every self-discipline, the workforce with probably the most factors (or on this case, the information operation) wins.
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I’m pleased with the work we do and the workforce that does it. Let’s transfer on to the awards.
Right here is the total record of SDNA awards the Argus Chief has gained:
Attracts:
First Place – Employees
Freedom of Data mission:
First Place – Employees
Sherry:Little one pornography, confidential courtroom proceedings and ‘contact’
The Argus Chief spent most of 2021 (and greater than a 12 months in whole) beneath a gag warrant, attending confidential, personal courtroom hearings, and finally preventing for entry to public information within the South Dakota Supreme Court docket federal baby pornography investigation. the state’s foremost businessman and philanthropist, T. Denny Sanford, on Forbes’ international billionaires record.
A four-state investigation uncovered a number of search warrants that the Argus Chief sought to acquire, however which have been sealed.
We’re nonetheless preventing after getting access to this public data within the State Supreme Court docket. We’re in courtroom for key police statements that led to investigations, and we’re in courtroom to search out out from our raid well being service if this investigation remains to be ongoing and what this case means for a district and metropolis that sees this man’s identify in every single place. system, from Sanford Well being to the T. Denny Sanford Occasions Heart, Sioux Falls’ essential live performance and athletic venue.
The Argus Chief frequently fights such battles yearly, however that is unprecedented.
Public Service award:
First Place – Employees
Story: secret poll on the legal professional common
When lawmakers maintain a particular legislative session within the state of South Dakota, the votes that set off it are allowed to be saved secret.
Or no less than they have been till the Argus Chief received concerned.
Greater than two-thirds of each Home and Senate members final fall petitioned the chamber chairman to carry a particular session to conduct hearings on the impeachment of Lawyer Normal Jason Ravnsborg, who killed a pedestrian along with his automotive in September 2020. However when requested to make copies of the signed petitions publicly obtainable, each Speaker of the Home Spencer Gosch and the Legislative Analysis Council denied the request.
Gosch argued that particular person lawmakers are free to share it with their constituents, the press, and most of the people in the event that they signal a petition in assist of a particular session, however nothing within the regulation requires an exhaustive record of petition signers or the petitions themselves. public.
This clarification ignored the truth that the petitions have been an act of the state legislature that inspired legislative motion. And sooner or later, any social gathering might want to contact 105 MPs individually to search out out who helps and doesn’t assist a particular session.
This resulted in a lawsuit to have the petitions turned down. However earlier than the matter might be settled in courtroom, the Legislature’s governing physique enacted the precept that petitions for particular session – be it on Ravnsborg’s impeachment or another matter – are a part of public information.
So, whether or not it is in the present day, tomorrow, or 20 years from now, and no matter MPs’ skills (in the event that they’re lifeless) or their willingness to share with the general public how they voted to carry particular periods, there will likely be a public report due to the Argus Chief and customary sense. legislative leaders deceiving their very own Speaker of the Home. As well as, we proceed to amend the de facto constitution.
Excellent Younger Journalist:
Erin Woodiel.
From the nomination letter:
“As with every ‘debate of the 12 months’, Erin’s nomination encompasses far more than ability in her craft. She’s considerate, enthusiastic, and sort. She’s the sort of colleague and pal who energizes a workforce and does the onerous work of being a journalist. It is a little bit little bit of realizing she’s in your facet. Simpler.
At this level in my tenure with the Argus Chief, I’ve labored with dozens of younger journalists (and plenty of photographers) and there are a uncommon few who can maintain a candle for Erin Woodiel.” – Cory Myers, information director.
Spot Information Picture:
First Place – Erin Woodiel
Authorities Reporting:
First Place – Morgan Matzen
Story: ‘Rumors and nothing’: South Dakota’s privateness legal guidelines put households in a decent spot over trainer self-discipline
Third Place – Makenzie Molnar
Story: South Dakota lacks shopper safety legal guidelines for used automotive gross sales. Here is what it’s good to know before you purchase.
Information Collection:
First Place – Makenzie Molnar and Alfonzo Galvan
Story: Smithfield has spent thousands and thousands on COVID-19 measures. A 12 months later, employees say it is not sufficient.
Second Place – Morgan Matzen
Story: South Dakota DOE removes Indigenous topics from social research requirements earlier than last draft
Sports activities Columns:
First Place – Michael McCleary for a set of columns, together with: De Smet’s Kalen Garry scored 87 factors, gained the sport and made nationwide headlines throughout hurricane week
Second Place – Matt Zimmer for columns, together with this posthumous tribute to John Madden.
Sports activities Picture:
First Place – Erin Woodiel for O’Gorman observe fatigue
Sports activities Journalism:
First Place – Michael McCleary on how the Tea Space has develop into a soccer powerhouse
Sports activities Collection:
First Place – Brian Haenchen for ‘Season of Sacrifices’: The invisible price of COVID-19 for highschool athletes on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Second place – Matt Zimmer for the novice baseball mission.
Third Place – Alfonzo Galvan for Little League World Collection protection.
Greatest Use of Social Media:
First Place – Employees
Greatest Web site:
First Place – Employees
Greatest Particular Subject:
First Place – Employees
Greatest Typography/Design:
First Place – Employees
Digital Promoting:
First Place – Employees
General Excellence:
Second Place – Employees
Function Profile Story:
2nd Place – Erin Woodiel – ‘We’re your neighbor’: How does it really feel to be transgender or nonbinary in South Dakota?
Native Column:
Second Place – Views writing group, an ongoing collection of columns from South Dakota’s African American, Latino, Indigenous, South Asian, immigrant and refugee communities.
Third place – Jonathan Ellis for a collection of columns: Kristi Noem’s aggression in taking down Ravnsborg might have backfired
Spot Information Story:
Third Place – For Police, Annie Todd and Alfonzo Galvan shot and killed a person after a home violence incident.
Function Collection:
Third Place – Meals Style Assessments Employees
Burritos: Greatest specific burrito in Sioux Falls? Not Chipotle. And never Giliberto’s.
Pizza: What’s the finest pizza in Sioux Falls? For this slice of neighborhood you have to to take the primary roads
Chislic: Greatest chislic in Sioux Falls? Apparently from a bar you do not know sufficient about.
Function (Non-Profile):
Third place – Makenzie Molnar for ‘It is breaking my coronary heart’: As Sioux Falls devours city farms, these are the ultimate stops
Picture Collection:
Third Place – Erin Woodiel for Tribes welcomes the stays of the Rosebud kids returning to South Dakota.