2026
LINCOLN — The Nance County Journal was among the newspapers recognized Saturday night in the Nebraska Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.
The contest awards capped a multi-day event where journalists from around the state of Nebraska gather to network and learn new tricks to the trade. First, second and third place winners were announced Saturday night at an Awards Banquet at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln. There were 2,051 separate entries judged by members of the North Dakota Newspaper Association.
“There are a lot of talented journalists in Nebraska, and it is an honor to be recognized for producing quality work,” NCJ co-owner Rick Holtz said.
The Nance County Journal team won three first place awards in the categories of General Excellence, Classified Section, and Editorial Page.
The newspaper was recognized with three second place awards in the categories of Best Sports Video for our Fullerton football coverage, Reader Interaction/Contest for our annual football contest, and Breaking News for coverage of the Kennedi DeMuth murder.
The NCJ team won two third place awards in the categories of Online Coverage of Breaking News for coverage of the former First United Methodist Church demolition, and Best Digital Ad Idea.
The other newspaper in the Sparrow Publications media group (the parent company of the NCJ) — the Polk County News — earned one first place (Best Sports Video), one second place (Breaking News Photo) and six third place awards (Best Sports Video/Sports Page/Sports Column/Breaking News Photo/ Single Section/Best Use of Social Media).