Rasmussen Family Fairness Award
NEWS COUNCIL ANNOUNCES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RASMUSSEN FAMILY FAIRNESS AWARD
Award to honor fair and trusted journalism in Minnesota
In an effort to encourage and promote fairness in journalism, the Minnesota News Council is pleased to announce the establishment of the Rasmussen Family Fairness Award.
This prize, which will be awarded annually in January at the Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention, honors fair and trusted reporting on serious social, governmental, political issues or other subjects of on-going, in-depth coverage.
Duane A. Rasmussen, connected with Minnesota daily and weekly newspapers for 53 years, finished his career as publisher of the Forest Lake Times and owner of Sell Publishing Company for 25 years in 1993. The Rasmussen family has over 100 years in the newspaper business in Minnesota beginning with Harry and Geraldine Rasmussen, former owners of the Austin Daily Herald with over 40 years, and Duane’s son, Leif, who is still in the printing business. Duane and his family including four children sought to reward fair and trusted journalism in Minnesota at a time when the profession is held in much ill repute by news consumers.
“I recall a time when journalists were called upon to present the news fairly from all points of view without taking a side visibly in their stories,” Rasmussen said. ”Somewhere along the line, some journalists have forgotten that challenge and have succumbed to the temptation to allow their opinions to distort their presentation of the news.”
The Minnesota News Council will accept nominations and administer the award annually. The first award will be presented at the 2010 Minnesota Newspaper Convention in January 2010. The News Council will begin immediately accepting nominations. Any story, or series of stories, including pictures and artwork, published in a Minnesota community newspaper January 2008 – November 2009 will be eligible for the award. Nominators must explain why the nomination exemplifies fairness in journalism and explain how the work was developed, reported and presented to news consumers in the context of fairness.
“At the News Council our mission is to promote fair and trusted journalism,” said News Council Executive Director Sarah Bauer. ”We are so pleased to be presented with the opportunity to help reward great journalism in our state, and at the same time work with a family with such deep roots in our journalism community.”
Up to two prizes will be awarded each year. One award will go to a newspaper, the other to an individual journalist for a single article or editorial or a series of stories or editorials that exemplify fairness. Winners will receive a cash prize and commemorative plaque.