The Daily American Republic was recognized Saturday with four awards from the Missouri Press Association.
“The DAR is proud of the work our staff does every day to keep the citizens of our community informed,” said Editor Donna Farley. “We’re also proud to be part of the long history of community journalism that is taking place in every county of Missouri, serving as a watchdog for government activities, a champion for local news and sports and a permanent record for the successes and challenges our communities face every day.”
Sports editor D’Courtland Christian received two first place wins, for Best Sport Feature Photograph and Best Sports Columnist. Judges noted on the photograph, a Mules player at a September 2023 football game, that the timing offered “golden hour lighting,” while the image captured the “emotion of the moment and composition of the player silhouetted with the break in the trees.” Christian’s column, The Daily Grind, was recognized.
Farley received a second place win for Best History Story for the “The Grand Metz Mansion,” which appeared in the 2023 Progress edition.
Farley and Assistant Editor Samantha Tucker received second place for Best Special Section for the 2023 Salute to Veterans, which featured World War I veterans and history from the area.
Newspapers from across the state were recognized at the 158th Annual Missouri Press Association Convention, which was held Sept. 19-21 in Springfield.
Since 2020, the DAR and its staff have been recognized with first place in Best Page Design, Best Special Section, Best Sports Story and Best COVID-19 coverage, as well as multiple second and third places for Best Health Story, Best Military Story and Best Special Section. Missouri journalism may be dated from July 12, 1808, according to the MPA. It was on this day that Joseph Charles pulled from his Ramage press the first issue of the Missouri Gazette, which has the distinction of being the first newspaper published west of the Mississippi River. The Gazette, published in St. Louis, later became famous as the Missouri Republican.
Missouri also spawned the first “wilderness” newspaper west of the Mississippi River. The newspaper, called the Missouri Intelligencer and Boon’s Lick Advertiser, was started by Nathaniel Patten in 1819 at Franklin in what is now Howard County.
Missouri Press Association was organized at a meeting held May 17, 1867, in Temperance Hall, in St. Louis. It included representatives from 38 newspapers and 31 counties.
The Daily American Republic dates back to 1869.