by Jennifer Pallay
LANSING, Ill. (October 12, 2019) – Competing against more than 760 publications, The Lansing Journal recently won multiple awards in the 2019 Independent Free Papers of America (IFPA) Advertising and Editorial Contest.
The publication, which is Lansing’s only newspaper and offers local news and advertising, received two second-place awards and a third-place honor.
Three awards
The May 2018 print issue of the paper included a front-page feature article about the Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce Good Neighbor Day Parade, an event that promotes community support of local businesses. Articles throughout that issue covered job fairs, new businesses, and new services offered by existing businesses. The April 3, 2019, print issue highlighted how Torrence Avenue construction would impact local businesses throughout the summer. Other articles covered the Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and a book signing at a local business.
Those two issues garnered The Lansing Journal second place for local business coverage.
The September 2018 editorial titled “A newspaper for all of Lansing,” which was written by Lansing Journal Managing Editor Melanie Jongsma, won second place for editorial original writing. This award is presented to the best editorial on a subject of local community interest, which personifies strong hometown allegiance and fearless expression of opinion.
The paper’s feature called The Lansing Journal Journeys won third place for self promotion, being honored for promoting the use of the paper by advertisers or acceptance by readers.
Reactions
“It’s nice to be able to tell people that we are an award-winning newspaper that offers award-winning business coverage,” said Jongsma. “I like our advertisers to know that they are supporting a professional publication, and they are receiving award-winning coverage in return.”
Lansing Chamber of Commerce executive director Amy Todd said the recognition for The Lansing Journal is fantastic.
“The paper is high quality and what they are able to do for our business community as far as a Chamber standpoint is amazing,” she said. “They offer affordable advertising for our local businesses, and the ads are designed well, the colors pop — and the great thing about the [printed] Journal is that it is direct mailed to all the homes in town.”
About the contest
The IFPA (ifpa.com) contest included 763 entries from publications in the United States and Canada. Judges from Middle Tennessee State University and Columbia State Community College were impressed with the diversity and imagination they saw as they pored over all the entries, according to the IFPA. The organization aims to help independent publishers compete in a fast-changing world.
That’s awesome! Congratulations on a job well done! It’s so nice to hear positive things happening in Lansing, instead of all the negative! I always look forward to reading my new Lansing Journal, but also love reading the articles online! Keep up the good work!
This is an amazing accomplishment. Congratulations to managing editor Melanie Johngsma and the talented staff at The Lansing Journal who continue to bring us excellence in journalism through our local newspaper. I appreciate the original stories that showcase the residents of Lansing who strive to make our village a better place as well as the daily online local news that makes me feel connected to our community. Bravo!
Congratulations! The Lansing Journal is definitely an award winning newspaper.
Such great ‘news’ about a truly great Journal. Each issue shows all the care and insights into our town that I enjoy so much!! Thanks, Melanie and staff, for brightening each day on line, and with the printed copy that I can pick up, to catch up, on the terrific stories!
May the awards continue over and over and over again!!
Congratulations to you, Melanie, and your staff for putting out such a high quality community newspaper. This is proof!