Cook County News-Herald Reporter Jane Howard (left) and Editor Rhonda Silence chatted with “Famous Dave” Anderson after his speech at the Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention luncheon. Anderson was an engaging and inspiring speaker.
Hundreds of reporters, editors, journalism educators and students, historians and vendors gathered at the Sheraton Hotel South in Bloomington for the Minnesota Newspaper Association 144th Annual Convention on January 27 – 29, 2011. Attending to represent the Cook County News-Herald were Editor Rhonda Silence and Reporter Jane Howard. Silence had the honor of accepting three awards for the News-Herald.
The Cook County News- Herald received two first place awards in the Better Newspaper Contest, a statewide competition sponsored by the Minnesota Newspaper Association (MNA). All of the News-Herald awards were for Minnesota newspapers in the 2,500 – 5,000 circulation category. The contest was judged by members of the Michigan Newspaper Association.
News-Herald Ad Designer Laurie Johnson received first place for best advertisement for the original “Catch a Ride with Us” ad she created for the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA) campaign to increase ridership. Judges said, “Eye-catching graphics, great color reproduction and unusual layout format make for an extremely effective ad.”
Camera-shy Johnson also received a first place award in the self-promotion/house ad category for the comical advertisement promoting the News- Herald’s special supplement for Fisherman’s Picnic. Judges said, “A fish preserver! It plays with our eyes, sweeping across the page, pulling us down to the very meaning of the text, to be made with a fish.”
Editor Rhonda Silence received an honorable mention in the investigative reporting category for her coverage of the complicated county sale of the Tip of the Trail property. Judges noted, “Stories on property titles may not be deemed sexy by readers, but the information was well presented.”
The theme of this year’s convention was Newspapers 2.0… Print to Pixels and to match the theme there were workshops on traditional newspaper operations and new media roundtables. There was an interesting variety of speakers, including Governor Mark Dayton, who welcomed MNA members and then asked if there were any questions for him. The roomful of reporters laughed at the understatement and Dayton fielded questions about loss of local government aid, Polymet precious mineral mining, gun restrictions, and more.
Questions were finally cut off and Dayton was followed by the very inspiring Charles Overby, Director of the Newseum, an interactive museum about news on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Overby is also CEO of the Freedom Forum, an independent, nonpartisan foundation that funds programs to educate people about the First Amendment and media issues.
After testing the audience with First Amendment trivia, Overby said he had good news. “People love newspapers. We have hundreds of visitors at the Newseum every day. Why? Because newspapers are like works of art. Think about it. Every day, every week, there is a blank page to be filled,” he said.
Overby reminded the journalists in attendance that the purpose of a newspaper is to inform, entertain, and inspire. He said community newspapers are needed now more than ever. “Local newspapers invest more than anyone else in collecting, gathering, and providing information to their communities,” said Overby. “Local newspapers are a community’s best resource and for that reason they will continue to thrive.”
Another inspiring speaker was not a newsman, but an amazing entrepreneur— Famous Dave Anderson, “America’s Rib King,” who shared his “recipe for success.” Famous Dave shared tidbits of wisdom that he has learned in his journey from his first restaurant—a family frybread stand at a Powwow in Lac Courte Oreilles, Wisconsin— to his Fortune 500 company, Famous Dave’s BBQ. He talked frankly of his challenges as a student, noting, “I was in the bottom half of the class that made the top half possible.”
He said much later in life, it was realized that he had attention deficit disorder, but he joked, “It works for me.”
Famous Dave recalled that teachers used to scold him for staring out the window. “I was visioning!”
He said he had trouble focusing on one thing at a time. “I was multitasking!”
Famous Dave won the audience over with his self-effacing humor and positive message. He encouraged the newspaper audience to help spread the message to the young people of the country that although life may sometimes be difficult, the human spirit will persevere.
Famous Dave said, “The greatest opportunities come from the greatest challenges… When you hang in there… when you get to the other side, you’ll be stronger, wiser, and you’ll be so much more valuable to your community.”
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