Leader wins two newspaper awards

The Le Center Leader won two awards in the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association contest.
The Leader placed second in headline writing and received honorable mention for a photo.
Awards were presented Thursday at the association's convention in Bloomington.
Le Center Leader competed in the weeklies up to 1,500 circulation category.
Judges for headline writing said, "The Le Center Leader had great use of verbs in its headlines, particularly in the sports section."
Judges for the "Braves collide with tough foe" photo by sports editor Pat Beck said, "Very nice photo. A second later and a tighter crop and this would have been first place."
The North Carolina Newspaper Association judged the contest.
Huckle Media, LLC is a family-owned media company that owns area newspapers, websites, shoppers and magazines in Owatonna, Waseca, Faribault, Northfield, St. Peter, Le Sueur, Le Center, Kenyon and Lonsdale, as well as a central printing plant in Northfield.
Other newspapers in the Huckle group winning awards included:
• Le Sueur News-Herald placing first in sports reporting; second in general excellence.
• St. Peter Herald placing first in sports reporting, and editorial page as a whole; second place in best use of video.
• Waseca County News placing first in new journalist of the year (sports editor Jordan Osterman); second in social issues story (writer Ruth Ann Hager); honorable mention in best use of video.
• Owatonna People's Press placing first in general reporting, advertising excellence, innovative online advertising (sales representative Deb Theisen and graphic designer Kerri Pohlner), and explanation of news operations or newspaper ethics (managing editor Jeffrey Jackson column); second in new journalist of the year (writer Ashley Peterson), and design portfolio (Jason Schmucker).
• Faribault Daily News placing first in the new journalist of the year (writer Joseph Lindberg), sports reporting, use of photography as a whole, and best magazine; second in covering diversity, and best use of multimedia; and honorable mention in human interest (writer Joseph Lindberg).
• Northfield News placing first in general reporting, best use of video, special section, editorial portfolio, business story (writer Jacqueline A. Pavek), and advertising excellence; second in typography and design, sports reporting, investigative reporting (writer David Henke), columnist (sports editor Shane Kitzman), and press photographer's portfolio; (honorable mention, sports editor Shane Kitzman).
• Kenyon Leader (weekly) placing first in headline writing, best use of video, and best website; second in advertising excellence, and portrait and personality photo (Terri Washburn).
“We are very happy to receive these awards,” said Steven Pope, Huckle Media chief operating officer. “The recognition reflects the skill, effort and dedication that our journalists, advertising consultants and graphic artists bring to their craft every day. We are extremely proud to have these people as part of the Huckle Media team.”