Press Release

133rd Annual Convention Montana Newspaper Association

 

The 133rd Annual Convention of the Montana Newspaper Association was held June 15 & 16 in Billings, Montana.

 

At the Montana Newspaper Association annual meeting, Scott Squillace, Yellowstone Newspapers became the 2018-2019 President, Tyler Miller, Independent Record was elected 1st Vice President; Kellyn Brown, Flathead Beacon was elected 2nd Vice President and Erin Leonard, The Madisonian was elected 3rd Vice President.

 

At the Montana Newspaper Advertising Service annual meeting, Jeff Martinsen, Choteau Acantha, was elected President and Chad Knudson, Glendive Ranger-Review was elected Vice President.

 

Darla Downs, The Herald-New was honored with the 2018 Master Editor/Publisher Award for her significant contributions to the Montana newspaper industry and the Montana Newspaper Association.

 

William Richard “Dick” Crockford II, Dillon Tribune and Edward A. Coyle, Missoulian were inducted into the Montana Newspaper Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was established by the Montana Newspaper Association and the University of Montana School of Journalism, and honors Montana journalists who have made outstanding contributions to the profession, the arts, and their community.

 

Donald Lee La Baugh, Choteau Acantha and Bill Vander Weele, Sidney Herald were honored with the 2018 Distinguished Service Award for their contributions to the Montana newspaper profession and to their community.

 

The top awards from the 2018 Better Newspaper Contest were presented to:

Billings Gazette – The Sam Gilluly Award for Best Daily Newspaper in Montana

Flathead Beacon – The Thomas Dimsdale Award for Best Weekly Newspaper in Montana

Hunter D’Antuono, Livingston Enterprise – Mel Ruder Photograph of the Year Award

Big Horn County News – Division 1 Newspaper General Excellence

Choteau Acantha – Division 2 Newspaper General Excellence

Lewistown News-Argus – Division 3 Newspaper General Excellence

Flathead Beacon – Division 4 Newspaper General Excellence

Billings Gazette – Division 5 Newspaper General Excellence

 

The full presentation of all the awards can be found online at:

https://www.mtnewspapers.com/awards2018/presentation.php

 

The mission of the Montana Newspaper Association is to advance and sustain the news publishing industry in Montana. The association has 85 professional member newspapers and was established in 1885.