Fun News in A Bleak Week

Hey! Today we bring you some fun news (we think it's fun) in an otherwise bleak week (month? year? era? epoch? what is the difference between an era and an epoch?):

Jen's columns won some national awards!

The National Newspaper Association Foundation announced their annual Better Newspaper Awards on June 30th.

Best Serious Column Daily & Non-daily Division, circ. 6,000-11,999

1. First place: Jennifer M Simon | Wyoming Tribune Eagle | "Toxic masculinity a big reason for the spread of COVID-19"

2. Second place: Paul Ruffins | Hyattsville (Maryland) Life & Times | "The science of the city: skate parks, the paradoxical safety in danger"

3. Third place: Jennifer M Simon | Jackson Hole News & Guide | "Equity state column: Shift from philanthropy to policy on hygiene"

First *and* third??? Almost a clean sweep of the podium! Pretty exciting, if we do say so.

Here's what the judges had to say:

And, as always, we encourage you to subscribe to your local newspaper! It has never been more important than it is now. Local newspapers are a path to a stronger democracy.