The Leelanau Enterprise won 46 awards in the annual Michigan Press Association contest including Newspaper of the Year for an eighth-straight year.
The Michigan Press Association announced the winning newspaper during its annual conference Thursday in Frankenmuth.
“We have a talented and committed team at the Enterprise and their tireless efforts have proven fruitful again,” Enterprise Publisher David Thornberry said. “Our biggest reward is in our ability to serve and engage our communities and readers.”
The Enterprise was named Newspaper of the Year for weekly publications with a circulation between 7,001 and 15,000. The newspaper earned this title with 37 news/editorial awards and nine more in advertising — 46 in total. The news staff came home with 11 first-place awards; 14 seconds and 12 third-place finishes.
The paper earned first and secondplace awards in “spot news” and a first and third in government/education reporting. In the business/agriculture, the newspaper earned a first and secondplace award.
Enterprise reporter Meakalia Previch-Liu received top honors for a story about Manoomin Wild Rice and colleague Brian Freiberger had a second for a story about Leelanau Cellars.
In enterprise reporting, Freiberger, earned a third-place award for a story on short-term rentals.
Previch-Liu and Freiberger took second and third place respectively for feature writing. Previch-Liu’s story was about decorations on a bridge in Suttons Bay. Freiberger’s story was about metal Curtis Warnes.
The Enterprise swept the best editorial awards for opinion pieces. One editorial encouraged the county board to choose its next administrator carefully. Another was about raises for county commissioners. Previch-Liu wrote a third-place editorial on Earth Day.
Freiberger and Previch-Liu received first and second-place recognition, respectively, for columns. Freiberger’s column was about fishing with his father. Previch-Liu wrote about living with her mother.
A third column on short-term rentals was also acknowledged by judge.
The news staff also swept the competition in news photos and feature photos. Freiberger took first and third in news photos of an eclipse and a photo of former Leland volleyball coach Laurie Glass.
A second eclipse photo by Previch-Liu took second in this category.
Also in photographs, the Enterprise brought home second and third-place awards — one by Freiberger of a plein air painter near Port Oneida — the other of a Native American dancer by Previch-Liu.
Best photo stories submitted by Freiberger and Previch-Liu were also recognized: Freiberger for stories on Glass and July 4; Previch-Liu on “Twin Flames.”
The Enterprise dominated the field in sports. Freiberger submitted three award-winning photos: one of Glass mentioned above; another about the lack of snow and its impact on athletics; and a third Freiberger also swept the sports feature category for stories about a local Michigan fan who went to the national championship in football; another titled “Not the same ol’ Lions” and a third on Glen Lake wrestling.
In headline writing, the paper won a second for “Don’t be Koi” a story about the discovery of a large koi fish located in Glen Lake.
The newspaper’s special publications were also recognized with first, second and third-place awards for the Leelanau Color Tour, Leelanau Visitors Guide and Silver Source directory.
Best Page or Pages Design was swept by the Enterprise and Mike Anderson, creative director, had a hand in each. He and Enterprise Editor Amy Hubbell earned a first-place with an informative graph on railroads in the annual Looking Back section. Anderson earned a second and a third-place award for the Enterprise Fall Color Tour publication and a page in the Visitor’s Guide on “Leelanau coffee shops.”
In the advertising competition, Enterprise creative staff member Jason Plowman also shined. He earned a second place for “Featured Realtor”, which appears in our classified ad section. He also took first and second for design on entertaining services. One was for TC Tented Events and a second for “Venue Blu.”
In general retail, Anderson earned a second place for “RPM Records.” Best use of color went to Anderson for “Enterprise Printing — Your Complete Printing Solution” and the New Bohemian Cafe/ Omena Bay Country Store. In best in house content promotion, Anderson took first place with “Leelanau Visitors Guide- Beach Weather.” He also took second in best community cause marketing for “Breast Cancer Awareness.”
Best Special Section found the Enterprise in third place with its annual Wedding Guide, printed in February.
“Our readership is expanding which is the quintessential goal and award for a community newspaper,” Thornberry said. “This is an exciting year for the Enterprise and we truly hope our readers will see and enjoy the way the Enterprise evolves in 2025.”
