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T-R, Tama-Grundy bring home awards at INA convention

Christensen recognized as Master Editor-Publisher

T-R PHOTO BY HILARY CRANE — Members of the T-R staff pose for a photo with the awards they received during the Iowa Newspaper Association’s annual convention and banquet on Thursday in Des Moines.

DES MOINES — The Times-Republican and the Tama-Grundy weekly publications walked away with several honors at the annual Iowa Newspaper Association convention and awards banquet held at the downtown Des Moines Marriott on Thursday evening.

Perhaps most notably, the T-R was recognized for Best in Class advertising in Daily Class I along with four other first place plaques in advertising classes: Best Special Section Advertising, Best Agricultural Advertising, Best Ad Featuring Financial, Insurance or Other Professional Service and Best Ad Featuring Furniture, Furnishings, Appliances or Hardware.

In the Weekly Class I contest, North Tama Telegraph Reporter Ruby McAllister also brought home first place awards for Best News Feature Story for her coverage of rural ambulance services struggling to find staff, Best News Feature Photo for “The Holidays come to light in Traer” and Best Continuing Coverage for her stories about the controversy over wind turbines in Tama County.

Other T-R awards included a second place in the Best Personality Feature category for freelance writer Austin Chadderdon’s story of Richard and Rosalene Heil and their 73-year marriage, a second place in the News Feature photo category for Susanna Meyer’s shot from the Dream Flight with a WWII veteran in Marshalltown as well as a third place for the Progress Business section in editorial. McAllister also took third place in the news feature category for a separate story for the Telegraph about Union students planting a special flower on the Irvine Prairie.

“The Iowa Newspaper Association awards banquet shined a bright light on our newspapers yesterday and the many dedicated professionals that it takes to provide a longstanding history of good news coverage and excellence in advertising as much as we strive to go above and beyond we don’t always recognize the efforts that are put into delivering an accurate and timely product that we can be proud of,” T-R General Manager Rhonda James said. “As much as we are appreciative of the recognition, we are truly grateful for our readers, subscribers, advertisers and the communities that we serve.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — Times-Republican Publisher Terry Christensen, right, was honored with the Master Editor-Publisher award at the 2023 INA Awards Banquet in Des Moines on Thursday night. Also pictured are his Fort Dodge Messenger predecessor Larry Bushman, left, Bushman’s wife Sandy, second from left, and Christensen’s wife Tammy, second from right.

Terry Christensen, who joined the T-R as interim publisher in August and has since taken on the job permanently along with his duties at the Fort Dodge Messenger and Webster City Daily Freeman Journal, was one of four individuals to receive the Master Editor-Publisher Award in 2023. In recognizing Christensen, the selection committee cited his “new ideas, tactics, and philosophies for his newspapers.”

“When he is named publisher of newspapers, it becomes clear the impact he has on communities and people,” the committee wrote. “His management style is one of empowerment and positive reinforcement. He involves all employees in regular meetings to drive goals and create a cohesive operation. He is known as a “people” person who forms positive relationships with anyone he meets. He is well liked, respected and looked up to in his community. Most importantly, he is driven to improve the communities he lives and works in.”

James also praised Christensen and his leadership.

“Terry works tirelessly daily to make us better people, and his leadership exemplifies the high standards and commitment to the newspaper industry. I almost feel like we should name a street after him or create a statue for all the great things he is doing for Iowa newspapers,” she said.

The Ackley World-Journal was named the 2023 Newspaper of the Year.

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