This year’s Good News Awards drew a record number of entries, 54, and distributed 39 awards and certificates of merit, the most in its 13-year history.
Media professionals from around the Upper Peninsula gathered at First Presbyterian Church in Marquette on June 9 to receive awards for the positive stories they wrote and programs they produced during 2009. This is the first year that anyone has won an award or certificate for multiple media outlets.
Tom Buchkoe received a Good News Award for The Mining Journal and a Certificate of Merit for Marquette Monthly in the photograph category. In addition, Lorissa Juntti earned a Good News Award in the youth straight news category for Marquette Monthly and a Certificate of Merit in the youth editorial category for WMQT-FM, while Chelsea Parrish took home a Good News Award for WMQT-FM and a Certificate of Merit for Marquette Monthly, both in the category of youth feature story. Lorissa and Chelsea are affiliated with the youth journalism organization, 8-18 Media.
Since 1998 the Good News Awards have been honoring local works of excellence in broadcasting and print that affirm the dignity of people, recognize and uphold universally-recognized human values, and uplift and nourish the human spirit. The awards are sponsored by the religious leaders of the Catholic, Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran, Presbyterian and United Methodist Churches in the Upper Peninsula region.
Here are the 2010 Good News Awards by division and category:
TV Stations
Straight News Story
Good News Award: WLUC-TV, Marquette for “Too Many Dogs” (friends help out woman overrun by dogs) by Jerry Hume
Feature Story
Good News Award: WLUC-TV, Marquette for “Place Kicker” (mentally-challenged football player) by Jeni Jewell
Editorial
Good News Award: WLUC-TV, Marquette for “The Upside: Moses’ Mothers” (20 mothers breastfeed a baby) by Editorial Board at TV6 and Rob Jamros
Public Service Announcement
Good News Award: WLUC-TV, Marquette for “The Upsiders” (looking for people doing good) by Kim Parker and Tyler Czarnopis
Certificate of Merit: WLUC-TV, Marquette for “The TV6 Canathon Program” (review of the TV6 Canathon collection efforts) by Scott R. Zerbel (producer/director)
Series
Certificate of Merit: WLUC-TV, Marquette for “Pay it Forward” (chain of people helping people) by Steve Asplund
Radio Stations
Program
Good News Award: WNMU-FM, Marquette for “Addicted to the Gyil” (music is an international language) by NMU Advanced Audio Production Class with Professor Charles Ganzert, Hans Ahlstrom (host) and Bernard Woma (musician)
Youth Straight News Story
Good News Award: WMQT-FM, Marquette for “A Visit with Lisa Ling” (discussing the welfare of the world’s children) by 8-18 Media’s Erin Bozek-Jarvis, Ben Harris, Danielle Jahnke and Glen Ellen Lehmberg
Youth Feature Story
Good News Award: WMQT-FM, Marquette for “Kids and Free Speech” (do kids still understand and cherish free speech?) by 8-18 Media’s Chelsea Parrish, Danielle Jahnke, Maggie Guter and Glen Ellen Lehmberg
Youth Editorial
Certificate of Merit: WMQT-FM, Marquette for “The True Holiday Gift” (what “the holidays” are all about) by 8-18 Media’s Lorissa Juntti
Daily Newspapers
Straight News Story
Good News Award: The Daily Press, Escanaba for “Dental Clinic Nearly Complete” (construction of free dental clinic) by Jenny Lancour
Certificate of Merit: The Evening News, Sault Ste. Marie for “American Café Owner Writes Memoir” (longtime café owner shares anecdotes) by Kenn Filkins
Certificate of Merit: The Daily News, Iron Mountain for “IMHS Math Teacher Finalist” (local teacher honored) by Linda Lobeck
Certificate of Merit: The Mining Journal, Marquette for “Goods Delivered in Canathon” (TV6 2009 Canathon) by Johanna Boyle
Feature Story
Good News Award: The Mining Journal, Marquette for “For Larry Syrjala, It’s been a Long Road Back” (recovering from a brain injury) by Johanna Boyle
Good News Award: The Daily Press, Escanaba for “On the Wings of an Angel” (six-year-old girl receives heart) by Jillian Jamison
Certificate of Merit: The Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton for “Keeping Memories Alive” (woman works to have uncle’s remains returned for burial) by Kelly Fosness
Certificate of Merit: The Daily Globe, Ironwood for “Funnovation” (Gogebic Community College students modify game controller for use by those with disabilities) by Kate Genellie
Editorial
Good News Award: The Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton
for “Hancock, Finlandia on Right Track” (local educational institutions think “outside the box” to help each other in tough economic times) by Larry Holcombe
Good News Award: The Daily Globe, Ironwood for “Human Element Outweighs Technology in Classroom” (a reminder about the importance of teachers) by Joe Karius
Regular Column
Certificate of Merit: The Daily Globe, Ironwood for “Officer’s Death Reminds Us to Cherish Life” (reflections after shooting death of area native in Oakland) by Joe Karius
Certificate of Merit: The Evening News, Sault Ste. Marie for “Refugees are Contributing” (Burma Christian refugees move to Sault) by Kenn Filkins
Photograph
Good News Award: The Mining Journal, Marquette for “Sunrise Megalith” (ore dock at dawn) by Tom Buchkoe
Series
Good News Award: The Mining Journal, Marquette for “Candid Cancer”(editor’s journey through cancer treatment) by Renee Prusi
Certificate of Merit: The Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton for “Ontonagon Playspace Series” (Ontonagon Elementary comes together to make dream a reality) by Stacey Kukkonen
Other Newspapers
Straight News Story
Good News Award: Marquette Monthly, Marquette for “History on the Move” (Marquette County History Museum) by Michael Murray
Certificate of Merit: The Finnish American Reporter, Hancock for “Dance Group’s Dream Becomes Reality” (youth dancers work to make trip to Finland possible) by David Maki
Feature Story
Good News Award: Win Awenen Nisitotung, Sault Ste. Marie for “Playing for Change: Working for World Peace” (Playing for Change organization) by Rick Smith
Good News Award: Marquette Monthly, Marquette for “House of Heroes” (D.J. Jacobetti Veterans Home) by Larry Chabot
Certificate of Merit: Iron County Reporter, Iron River for “Bargain Shoppers Welcome at Crystal Falls’ St. Vincent Store” (shopping at St. Vincent de Paul stores) by Allyce Westphal
Editorial
Certificate of Merit: Marquette Monthly, Marquette for “Locals ‘Live United’ to Help County” (United Way) by Leslie Bek
Regular Column
Good News Award: The Munising News, Munising for “Biographical Sketch Featuring Dick and Myrtle St. Martin” (Dick and Myrtle St. Martin’s life together) by Marilyn Wood
Good News Award: Marquette Monthly, Marquette for “Marquette’s First Hospice” by Don Curto and Dr. Aaron Scholnik
Photograph
Certificate of Merit: The Finnish American Reporter, Hancock for “Kicking Up the Past” (high school student makes traditional kicksled in shop class) by Jim Kurtti
Certificate of Merit: Iron County Reporter, Iron River for “Pinwheels Planted” (child abuse awareness month) by Allyce Westphal
Certificate of Merit: Marquette Monthly, Marquette for “Fred Rydholm: 1924-2009” by Tom Buchkoe
Series
Certificate of Merit: The Munising News, Munising for “Women in Business…Years Ago” (women who started their own businesses in Munising) by Marilyn Wood
Youth Straight News Story
Good News Award: Marquette Monthly, Marquette for “Children, Community Come Together during Forest Fire” (Black River Falls forest fire) by 8-18 Media’s Tia Platteborze, Lorissa Juntti, Sydney Dorow and Mariel Morton
Youth Feature Story
Certificate of Merit: Marquette Monthly, Marquette for “Young Filmmakers Inspired by Michigan Film Festival” (local youth attended the film festival in Traverse City) by 8-18 Media’s Chelsea Parrish, Andrew Powell, Hayley Maskus, Lane Whitley and Tia Platteborze
