spj-logoThe Minnesota Independent will be taking home eight 2009 Society of Professional Journalists Page One Awards, including one first place, according to emails sent by the state chapter of the national organization. Current staffers Paul Demko, Paul Schmelzer and Chris Steller all placed, as did freelancer (and former staffer) Abdi Aynte and former editor Steve Perry. Whether reporters won first-, second- or third-place prizes won’t be revealed until the May 14 Page One banquet, featuring keynote speaker Tom Brokaw. The site will be picking up one first, however: MnIndy swept the category of best single news story for an independent Web site.

A list of winners and categories:

Newsroom Staff
Minnesota Independent
Independent Web site    16A: Best Web site [Online - News Web Sites]

Paul Demko
Minnesota Independent
Independent Web site    16B: Best single news story [Online - News Web Sites]

Abdi Aynte
Minnesota Independent
Independent Web site    16B: Best single news story [Online - News Web Sites]

Chris Steller
Minnesota Independent
Independent Web site    16B: Best single news story [Online - News Web Sites]

Steve Perry
Minnesota Independent
Independent Web site    16C: Best continuing coverage [Online - News Web Sites]

Paul Schmelzer
Minnesota Independent
Independent Web site    16F: Best use of video [Online - News Web Sites]

Newsroom Staff
Minnesota Independent
Independent Web site    16E: Best use of multimedia [Online - News Web Sites]

Newsroom Staff
Minnesota Independent
Independent Web site    16H: Best independent news blog [Online - News Web Sites]

In 2007, MnIndy (then Minnesota Monitor) became the first online-only news operation in Minnesota history to win a Page One. At last year’s banquet, the site won three honors, including a first place for best single news story by an independent site. This year, more than 420 entries were received.