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Gazette named best daily for second straight year

JANESVILLE — For the second straight year, The Gazette has been named the Best Daily Newspaper in Wisconsin in its circulation category.

The award was presented Friday night during the Wisconsin Newspaper Association's 159th annual convention at the Marriott Madison West in Middleton.

The Best Daily Newspaper award capped a big evening for the Janesville newspaper, which also took home 22 news and 26 advertising awards in the association's 2012 Better Newspaper Contest.

The Gazette competes with about a dozen other newspapers with circulations between 10,000 and 25,000. The title Best Daily Newspaper is bestowed upon the paper that accumulates the most points based on news and advertising awards in the Better Newspaper Contest.

The 2012 contest included 3,003 total entries, including news entries from 126 newspapers and advertising entries from 64 newspapers. Eligible entries were published between Sept. 1, 2011, and Aug. 31, 2012.

Among The Gazette's 38 total awards was a first place in General Excellence, which is the top award given to the newspaper that judges determine has the highest overall quality in its circulation category. Each newspaper submits three complete editions for the General Excellence competition.

Here's what the judges said about The Gazette:

"Unquestionably the top of its class. Thorough and compelling coverage of the Ryan VP announcement was typical of the fine reporting and care in editing. Design and typography are elegant, clean and readable. The Gazette distinguished itself in every judging criterion."

A full list of The Gazette's winners:

News

First—Gazette staff; General Excellence.

First—Gazette staff; Special Section.

First—Ken Veloskey; Local Sports Column.

First—Jim Leute; Business Coverage.

First—Gina Duwe, Catherine Idzerda and Frank Schultz; Environmental Reporting.

First—Bill Olmsted; Sports Photo.

First—Frank Schultz; Reporting on Local Education.

First—Dave von Falkenstein, Jonathan Lindquist, Kyle Geissler; General Web Excellence.

First—Dave von Falkenstein, Jonathan Lindquist; Continuing Web Coverage.

Second—Greg Peck; Editorials.

Second—Greg Peck; Editorial Pages.

Second—Gazette staff; Breaking News Coverage.

Second—Anna Marie Lux; Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting.

Second—Neil Johnson; Feature Writing.

Second—Neil Johnson; Environmental Reporting.

Second—Bill Olmsted; Feature Photo.

Second—Dan Lassiter; Photo Essay.

Second—Catherine Idzerda; Reporting on Local Government.

Second—Tony DiNicola; Graphics.

Third—Anna Marie Lux; Local Column.

Third—Ann Fiore; Page Design—Feature.

Third—Catherine Idzerda; Reporting on Local Education.

Advertising

First—Michele Richardson, Terry Fleig; Harrison MacDonald Award.

First—Nina Perona, Donna Hanson; Best Advertising Idea—Series.

First—Advertising staff; Best Advertising Special Section.

First—Julie Daun, Donna Hanson; Best Use of Color.

First—Marci McCarten, Diane Braunreiter; Best Use of Art Service.

First—Dan Bothun, Donna Hanson; Best Use of Local Photograph.

First—Terry Fleig, Tom Bradley; Best Advertising Sales Tool.

First—Advertising Staff; Best Newspaper Promotion.

First—Lon Haenel, Sara Miller; Best Circulation Promotion.

First—Kacey Kaderly, Terry Fleig; Best Online Advertising—Single Ad.

Second—Julie Daun, Erin Jones; Bill Payne Award.

Second—Jody Gearhart, Terry Fleig; Harrison MacDonald Award.

Second—Nina Perona, Sara Miller, Lon Haenel; Best Use of Color.

Second—Marci McCarten, Diane Braunreiter; Best Multiple Advertiser Spread.

Second—Marci McCarten, Diane Braunreiter; Best Use of Art Service.

Second—Advertising staff; Best Niche Publication—In Paper.

Second—Marci McCarten, Adam Zellmer; Innovative Online Advertising.

Second—Terry Fleig, Tom Bradley; Best Online Advertising—Single Ad.

Third—Jody Gearhart, Donna Felland; Bill Payne Award.

Third—Advertising staff; Best Advertising Special Section.

Third—Marci McCarten, Diane Braunreiter; Best Multiple Advertiser Spread.

Third—Marci McCarten, Donna Felland, Kacey Kaderly; Best Use of Art Service.

Third—Advertising staff; Best Newspaper Promotion.

Third—Advertising staff; Best Niche Publication—In Paper.

Third—Advertising staff; Online Revenue Builder.

Third—Terry Fleig; Best Online Advertising—Single Ad.