Chronicle takes home nine awards

Custer County Chronicle staff won nine awards at the 2022 South Dakota Newspaper Association  (SDNA) Better Newspapers Contest. The results were announced as part of the the SDNA/North Dakota Newspaper Association Convention last weekend in Devil’s Lake, N.D. The Chronicle competed in a category for weekly newspapers with circulation over 1,300.
Chronicle photographer Carl Hansen won first place in the Best Feature Photo competition for his photo of the kids calf scramble at the Custer County Fair.
“Something about this picture made me feel like I was about to get run over by the calves,” the judge wrote. “Nice work putting the reader right in the thick of the action.”
Another first was received by Jason Ferguson in the Best Feature Series category for his series “Assisting with the escape,” a series of stories on Custer County Sheriff Marty Mechaley and wife Jen helping some of Warren Jeffs’ daughters escape the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints compound.
“This is a story that must have been challenging for the reporter,” the judge wrote. “The stories are told with compassion. Well done.”
Ferguson won another first place in the Best Feature Story Profile category for his story that told the story of the escape from the FLDS from the perspective of one of Jeffs’ daughters.
“From the opening photo illustration to the topic itself and the excellent writing, this is a solid feature story that captivates the reader about a sad crime story about a church leader,” the judge wrote. “The writer did a great job of sharing the impact this had on the leader’s daughter. I also like the sidebar ‘Setting the Record Straight’ that definitely helps tell the story in an interesting way.”
The Chronicle’s final first place award came in the Best Special Section category for its annual Progress Edition.
“Great special section with lots of effort put into it,” judges wrote.
The Chronicle received a second-place award in the Best Special Publication category for its magazine, Down Country Roads.
“Nice publication — great stories balanced with good amount of ads. Great layout and use of photos. Beautiful cover,” judges wrote.
The Chronicle received four third-place finishes, including Jay Gismondi in the Best Use of Color for an ad he built for Betty’s Quiltery.
Ferguson received a third-place honor in the Best Feature Series Non-Profile category for a story on a documentary being shot at the Purple Pie Place.
Ferguson also received a third-place honor in the Best News Series category for his coverage of the ongoing saga of the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant in the city.
“This series dug deep into the battle over wastewater discharge and its impact on the residents of the area,” judges wrote.
The final third-place award again went to Ferguson, this time for Best Sports Photo. The photo is of a young girl goat-tying at a rodeo in Buffalo Gap.
“Great action and an incredibly sharp picture. The blurred background also helps bring the reader’s attention directly to the girl’s face,” judges wrote. “There were a few good rodeo shots, but this one earned third place because of how sharp it was.”
The contest was judged by the Minnesota Newspaper Association.
Also at the convention, Ferguson was elected to the SDNA’s board of directors. He will serve as the association’s second vice president and will become the association’s president in the spring of 2025.