Missouri Press Association
Serving Missouri Newspapers Since 1867
In recognition of their journalistic excellence, three reporters have been selected by Missouri Press Association to receive this year’s William E. James Outstanding Young Journalist award.
MPA President Peggy Scott announced Anna Campbell of Jefferson City, Joseph McGraw of Poplar Bluff and Colin Willard of Vienna will receive their awards Saturday, Sept. 13, in Wildwood, Mo., during Missouri Press’ 159th Annual Convention and Trade Show awards luncheon.
“This is the 17th year for Missouri Press to recognize young journalists with this award, and its 13th being named in honor of our late colleague, William E. James,” said Scott, publisher of Leader Publications in Festus. “It is of critical importance that Missouri Press and its member newspapers celebrate young talent and show appreciation for the next generation of journalists in this very demanding profession.”
Winners of the William E. James Outstanding Young Journalist Award have demonstrated excellence in the field of journalism and maintained the quality, ethics and standards of The Journalist’s Creed, written by Walter Williams, founding dean of the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
“While the three individuals we are recognizing this year work in very different communities, they all share a passion for providing the absolute best coverage for their readers,” Scott said. “Journalists can come from all sorts of different backgrounds, but one thing that unites us is a desire to uphold the highest professional standards of the craft.”
Anna Campbell
Anna Campbell joined the Jefferson City News Tribune in 2021, the same year she earned her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. Covering the newspaper’s education beat, she is known for breaking down complex issues or trends and explaining them in easily understandable ways, which has helped readers see the challenges and opportunities that schools and students in Mid-Missouri face.
News Tribune Editor Gary Castor wrote of Campbell that she is a “craftswoman” who “demonstrates a creativity, dedication and passion for the craft she pursues” whether it’s as a turner on a wood lathe, creating wooden works of art such as bowls, pens and other pieces, or at the keyboard, deftly tackling education issues with “strong problem-solving and technical skills, as well as a commitment to quality and continuous improvement.”
“And like any artisan, she seeks to push herself and grow her skills,” Castor wrote. “She has asked to learn and participate in other types of reporting, from general assignment work to covering the courts. Her goal is to challenge and expand her skills.”
Campbell’s work ethic and approach has made her a mentor to her co-workers, and her journalistic methods and integrity have been noted by several others within Jefferson City’s schools and the wider community.
“Anna is such a steady rock on our team,” said Ryan Pivoney, News Tribune assistant city editor. “She’s well organized and has a plan for what she intends to cover each week, which tells me she’s thoroughly ingrained in her beat and has a solid sense of what the community needs to know. She is definitely a role model for our other reporters.”
Joseph McGraw
Joseph McGraw joined the staff of the Daily American Republic (DAR) in Poplar Bluff and Dexter Statesman newspapers in January 2024 as a staff writer. McGraw received his bachelor’s in political science from the United States Naval Academy with a minor in Arabic and served as an administrative and personnel officer in the U.S. Navy after graduating.
“Since joining our staff, Joe has proven adept at writing not only breaking news stories but also features and complex stories that require detailed investigation,” wrote Donna Farley, editor of the DAR and Statesman, in her nomination letter.
Farley said McGraw’s work to inform and educate readers has seen real results for the community. “An article about a tax increase revealed the special district in question had not made any reassessments in approximately a century and did little to inform its taxpayers before an increase of tens of thousands of dollars in some cases. Joe’s coverage helped bring county officials back to the mediation table, although finding a resolution to the situation is ongoing,” Farley wrote.
Through McGraw, the newspapers have expanded their multimedia coverage, including using more video. He also oversees production of the Statesman when Farley is otherwise unavailable.
Repeatedly, McGraw has proven a willingness to meet every deadline and excel at any task that is asked of him.
“Currently, we are without a sports staff and Joe has also taken on new responsibilities to help make sure our sports pages are completed in the interim,” Farley wrote. “This is the one area he specified when interviewed that would be a challenge for him to help with, but he’s taken on the new duties without complaint and proven adept at them.”
Colin Willard
Colin Willard joined Warden Publishing in October 2022, filling the role of the Maries County Advocate’s Vienna reporter position following the retirement of former longtime community journalist, the late Laura Schiermeier. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism the year before.
Advocate Assistant Editor Roxie Murphy wrote in her nomination letter that Willard’s perfect balancing of reporting the news and writing features, along with clean and consistent copy has resulted in his acceptance by the community.
The sole employee working in the Advocate’s Vienna office, Murphy says Willard is responsible for self-directing his beat, which includes everything from city and school boards to county commission meetings, along with crimes and courts. Through it all, he has proven time and again he has his finger on the pulse of the community.
“In a few short years, Colin has inspired the community to call him their local news reporter with pride, even as he reports on divisive subjects such as the removal of the newly-elected county coroner and a local business owner pursuing a criminal complaint against the sheriff’s office following an investigation into his business license,” Murphy wrote.
“Even when Colin writes about the low times in the community, such as the five-year anniversary of a rural county house explosion that injured nearly every member of the volunteer fire protection district, he brings the community together in solidarity.”
In addition to his weekly assignments, Willard always makes sure he is available to help when needed and provide input when asked. “Our newsroom staff value’s Colin’s contributions as a writer and editor and his opinions as a colleague,” Murphy wrote.
About the William E. James Outstanding Young Journalist Award
William E. “Bill” James, the namesake for this award, served as publisher of the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal from November 2007 until his death in November 2013. He was publisher of the Cass County Democrat-Missourian in Harrisonville from 1985 to 2000 and was president of the Missouri Press Association in 1998. He was inducted into the MPA Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2001.
Editors or publishers submit nominations for the awards and nominees must have been younger than 30 years old on Jan. 1, of the award year. The aim of the award is to reinforce the importance of a journalist’s role by recognizing and nurturing talent to further promote quality journalism. The nomination form is online at www.mopress.com.
Stay tuned to Missouri Press emails and our website, www.mopress.com, to receive updates on the 159th Annual Convention and Trade Show, including how to register to attend.
