SBJ earns Gold Cup at state newspaper contest

Springfield Business Journal is a statewide Gold Cup winner from the Missouri Press Association.

With 26 awards, SBJ was No. 1 in its category of weekly publications with a print circulation of 2,001 to 5,000 to take home the Gold Cup. There were seven Gold Cup awards presented Saturday during the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest in St. Louis in categories for weekly and daily publications, and SBJ is the only winner from southwest Missouri.

“I’m thrilled that the Missouri Press Association recognized our team for its talent and dedication to covering the news with excellence,” SBJ Executive Editor Christine Temple said. “I’m so proud of this group and thankful for the trust they build with our readers each day to make these awards possible.”

Below is the list of SBJ awards. Judges’ comments are available here.

First Place
• Best Online Newspaper or Website.
• Best Local Business Coverage.
• Best Business Story: “Fitness companies build growth online” – Reporter Mike Cullinan.
• Best Story About Rural Life or Agriculture: “Heat Rises” – Reporter Karen Craigo.
• Best Story About Religion: “Expertise to the Test” – Karen Craigo.
• Best Story About Education: “Rethinking Their Careers” – Karen Craigo.
• Best Story About History: “Stuck in a Jam” – Karen Craigo.
• Best Health Story: “Ready, Willing and Able” – Karen Craigo.
• Best Page Design – Rebecca Green.
• Best Information Graphic – Rebecca Green.
• Best Columnist-Serious: “From the Web” – Digital Editor Geoff Pickle.

Second Place
• Best Headline Writing.
• Best News or Feature Special Section: “Office NV” 
• Best Overall Design – Heather Mosley, Rebecca Green, Katelyn Egger, Tia Reeves and Christine Temple.
• Best News or Feature Series: Forward SGF coverage – Karen Craigo.
• Best Coverage of Government: Forward SGF coverage – Karen Craigo.
• Best News Story: “Untapped Market” – Mike Cullinan.
• Best Business Story: “Game Time” – Mike Cullinan.
• Best Page Design – Heather Mosley.
• Best Columnist-Serious – Eric Olson.
• Multi-Media Reporting: Citizen Inc. – Eric Olson.

Third Place
• General Excellence.
• Best News or Feature Special Section – Economic Growth Series.
• Best Health Story: "From Hot Dog Buns to CEO" – Mike Cullinan.
• Best Page Design – Rebecca Green.
• Best Columnist-Serious – Christine Temple.

Other winners in SBJ's coverage area at the MPA conference were:
• Branson Tri-Lakes News, 19 awards.
• Laclede County Record, four awards.
• Springfield News-Leader, 16 awards.
• Webster County Citizen, 12 awards.