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www.johnsonpublications.zenfolio.com Russ Pankonin | Johnson Publications

Samantha Goff receives the runner-up plaque for the Outstanding Young Journalist Award from Tory Duncan (left), NPAS president and Jeff Carney, award sponsor. 

Goff named runner-up of Outstanding Young Journalist Award

Samantha Goff , production manager of the Grant Tribune-Sentinel, was named runner-up of the Outstanding Young Nebraska Journalist Award at Nebraska Press Association’s 144th annual convention in Lincoln on Friday, April 20.

The award is presented to four nominees from the weekly and daily categories. The nominees must be reporters, editors, photographers, graphic designers, production or advertising professionals who have worked for at least one year with a legal Nebraska newspaper.

Goff began working for the Tribune in 2012 as the office manager. She began her own cleaning business in 2013 and returned to the Tribune as production manager in 2015. 

In her nomination letter, Russ Pankonin, co-publisher of Johnson Publications and the Tribune-Sentinel said, “Samantha represents one of those home-grown talents who has stepped up to the challenges as a key individual in the operation of the Grant Tribune-Sentinel. You could call her one of those people who really makes the newspaper tick. She sees a challenge and steps up to meet it.”

Goff stated, “In a world where we must compete with the likes of the internet and social media, I want to keep the newspaper alive, and something people don’t want to miss. I’d like to think that what we are doing today would make those who preceded us proud, and that the core values and principles of the newspaper are being carried out through my work on a regular and continued basis, and we can hold fast as the cornerstone of our community.”

A select panel of judges appointed by the executive director of NPA/NPAS considered among other items, the nominee’s professionalism, creativity, comments or statements on goals, impact of their work on print journalism and the community of journalistic excellence. 

Receiving first place in the weekly category was Emily Hemphill of the Seward Newspaper Group. A tie led to two first-place winners in the daily category: Derek Noehren of the North Platte Telegraph and Spike Jordan of the Scottsbluff Star-Herald. 

The award was created and funded by Zean and Marilyn Carney, former publishers of the Wahoo Newspaper, Waverly News, Ashland Gazette, and David City Banner-Press and Past President of the Nebraska Press Association. 

 

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