The Daily Inter Lake was named the state's best daily newspaper for the second consecutive year after earning top honors across a range of categories in the annual statewide newspaper contest. 

From vital political coverage to innovative digital content and standout visuals, the Inter Lake team brought home more than 40 awards for journalism and advertising, including the prestigious General Excellence and Sam Gilluly awards for Montana's best daily newspaper. 

The awards were presented Saturday, June 21 at the Montana Newspaper Association's convention held at the historic Finlen Hotel in Uptown Butte. 

In editorial categories, standout reporting included Daily Inter Lake Deputy Editor Heidi Desch’s first-place win for political coverage with her story about a ballot error with Montana's absentee voting system, and education reporter Hilary Matheson’s feature on Kalispell eighth graders exploring mining history. Sports Editor Fritz Neighbor earned recognition for his feature on Grizzly football player Henry Nuce. 

Design and photography excellence was a major highlight, with Daily Inter Lake News Editor Derrick Perkins placing first and third in the Best Front Page category, and sports reporter Jon Allen taking first for sports page layout. The newspaper also swept the feature page design category.  

Photojournalist Casey Kreider captured multiple honors in sports, feature and portrait photography. 

Podcast host Josh Amick dominated the digital sports video category with a trio of wins, including a first-place award for the Big Sky Now show. Meanwhile, Taylor Inman, Melissa Wells and Jessica Tullos were honored with a first-place award for their video production work on the Press Play concert series. 

Led by Advertising Director Whitney Spencer, the Inter Lake made a strong showing with first place wins for online ads and marketing campaigns, and multiple placements for creative use of local photography and service promotions. 

The Best of the Flathead magazine captured first place, while the popular Destination Guide took second. 

Digital innovation was also on full display with Kate Heston, Tullos and Wells earning first place for their multimedia series on endangered species. The Inter Lake’s social media and website teams also received top honors for their engaging and timely content. 

Hagadone Media Montana's weekly newspapers were also well represented at the awards ceremony. The Whitefish Pilot, The Western News, Hungry Horse News and Lake County Leader all earned recognition for journalism and advertising. 

This year’s contest was judged by the North Dakota Newspaper Association. 

The Monitor of Boulder, Montana earned the Thomas Dimsdale Award for the best weekly newspaper, and the Flathead Beacon was named the best online newspaper. Larry Mayer of the Billings Gazette won the Mel Ruder Award for photograph of the year. 

Also at the newspaper association's convention, Hagadone Media Montana Regional Publisher Anton Kaufer was honored with the Master Editor/Publisher Award for his distinguished newspaper career and service on the association board. 

John Talbot, a former publisher of the Missoulian, was inducted into the Montana Newspaper Association Hall of Fame, Choteau Acantha's Melody Martinsen was recognized with the John Kuglin Open Government Award, while Lee Enterprise's Missy Robertson and the Acantha's Vonnie Jacobson were recognized with Dick Crockford Distinguished Service Awards.