The Forest Park Review was named Illinois’ best small weekly for the second year in a row in the Illinois Press Association’s Best of the Press contest. Winners were announced June 4 at the annual event in East Peoria.
Altogether the Review won 14 editorial awards including a first place in General Excellence and with it the David Kramer Sweepstakes Trophy.
In naming the Review the top small weekly, judges wrote it has “content that suggests the staff knows what key stories and topics to cover for readers. … All around, a product the staff should be proud of and that readers should value.”
The Review and reporter Jessica Mordacq took first place in the News Series category for its diligent coverage of building code and zoning issues in Forest Park. Mordacq placed second in government beat reporting.
The Review’s obituary for Dorothy Gillian, local businessperson and community leader, took first place in that category. The story was reported by Mordacq.
For the second year, Mordacq also won the Review an award for agriculture reporting. While the story on Opportunity Knocks and its farm at the Altenheim was a good one, we are certain the Review has never previously been recognized for our ag reporting.
Our annual No Gloves softball section placed first in special sections with the community guide placing third.
Wednesday Journal, the Review’s sister paper, also won top honors in the advertising and marketing contest. That brought us the Sam Zito Award of Excellence Trophy which basically dwarfs the Kramer trophy.
The Journal and Riverside-Brookfield Landmark each placed third in General Excellence in their circulation categories.
Overall NEWSWELL Chicago’s four flags brought home 44 editorial prizes from the IPA contest.
Max Reinsdorf, general manager of NEWSWELL Chicago, said the strong showing on both the editorial and advertising sections of the IPA contest reflected the hard work and talent of the staff. “We’re committed to creating strong, independent and always locally focused news for our communities. We have great people, rooted in these neighborhoods. It is gratifying to see that work appreciated at the state level,” he said.