Winners in the 2016 contest were announced Sunday, with Hautamaki taking the top three spots in the Best Illustration or Graphic category among Division II competitors, and third place in the Best Digital Presence category.

“I didn’t expect to sweep the Best Illustration or Graphic category,” Hautamaki said. “Any awards are positive affirmations of my skills as a graphic designer and illustrator. I appreciate the accolades I am given.”

Hautamaki’s first place award in the category was for the cover image of the Oct. 12 special section called “Fire Prevention.” She also won second place for the Superiorland Magazine cover, which was published Oct. 13, called “Settling Superiorland,” and third place for the graphic “Mining Exploration,” which accompanied a front page story on May 8 called “Mineral rights to 3,000 acres sought.”

Hautamaki has also been an integral part of the Journal’s online and social media presence, something she has helped the newspaper make great strides in improving over recent years.

Selena Hautamaki's front page illustration for the Superiorland Magazine "Settling Superiorland", published Oct. 13 for The Mining Journal, received a second place award in the annual Michigan Associated Press Media Editors newspaper competition. (Graphic provided by Selena Hautamaki)

“I’ve been working harder than ever to change the way The Mining Journal’s social media and website are perceived,” Hautamaki said. “Integrating high-quality video and interactive slideshows are new to our digital platforms. Studying public interaction and continuously growing with new technology is important to our digital fan base.”

Journal Managing Editor Bud Sargent applauded Hautamaki’s accomplishments.

“These awards are especially gratifying, given the competition we face,” he said. “Our competition bracket includes newspapers that are much larger than us. That fact alone should underscore the high quality of Selena’s work.”

The Mining Journal competed in Division II, which covers newspapers with circulations of 10,000 to 39,999, and includes organizations such as the Lansing State Journal, the Traverse City Record-Eagle, The Ann Arbor News, The Muskegon Chronicle and the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Twenty-eight newspapers submitted 978 entries in the APME contest, which featured news, sports and weather reporting, as well as features, documentaries and photography from 2016.

Hautamaki

Division II entries were judged by editors from the Troy (Ohio) Daily News and The Chronicle Telegram, of Elyria, Ohio.

Division III entries, which includes papers with circulations of more than 40,000, were judged by editors from the San Diego Union Tribune, and The Vindicator; while Division I entries, which covers organizations with circulations under 10,000, were judged by editors from the Abilene (Texas) News and the Chillicothe (Ohio) Gazette.

Selena Hautamaki's graphic "Mining Exploration", published May 8 for The Mining Journal, received a third place award in the annual Michigan Associated Press Media Editors newspaper competition. The graphic accompanied a front page story titled "Mineral rights to 3,000 acres sought". (Graphic provided by Selena Hautamaki)