Northern News Now Wins Big at 2026 Eric Sevareid Awards

Local news station takes home 10 honors, including five first place awards, at prestigious Midwest journalism competition.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:53pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A dynamic, abstract composition of black and white geometric shapes, conceptually representing the idea of excellence in broadcast news reporting.Northern News Now's award-winning journalism is celebrated through a striking, minimalist visual metaphor.Duluth Today

Northern News Now, a news organization based in Duluth, Minnesota, was recognized for excellence in broadcast journalism at the 2026 Eric Sevareid Awards ceremony. The station won a total of 10 awards, including five first place honors, across categories such as general reporting, investigative journalism, and weather coverage.

Why it matters

The Eric Sevareid Awards are a prestigious regional competition that celebrates the best in Midwest broadcast journalism. Northern News Now's strong performance highlights the station's commitment to high-quality reporting and its ability to connect with local audiences across television, radio, and digital platforms.

The details

Northern News Now was awarded first place in five categories: General Reporting for a story on a new housing development fight, Hard Feature for a piece on coastal erosion, Investigative Reporting for an exposé on drug dealers avoiding consequences, Video Journalism for a retrospective on a long-running beat reporter, and Weather Coverage for a story on the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck. The station also received five Awards of Merit, recognizing excellence in areas like broadcast writing, sports coverage, and soft feature reporting.

  • The 2026 Eric Sevareid Awards ceremony took place on Saturday, April 12, 2026.

The players

Northern News Now

A news organization based in Duluth, Minnesota that provides television, radio, and digital news coverage for the region.

Eric Sevareid

The North Dakota-born journalist and University of Minnesota graduate who was best known for his work as a correspondent for CBS Radio and Television. The Eric Sevareid Awards are named in his honor.

Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association

The organization that presents the annual Eric Sevareid Awards, recognizing excellence in broadcast journalism across a six-state region in the Midwest.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We are honored to be recognized by our peers for the hard work and dedication of our talented news team. These awards are a testament to our commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful journalism to the communities we serve.”

— Marisa Ornat, News Director, Northern News Now

The takeaway

Northern News Now's strong performance at the 2026 Eric Sevareid Awards underscores the station's reputation for excellence in local broadcast journalism. The station's ability to excel across a range of reporting categories, from hard news to features and weather, demonstrates its versatility and commitment to serving its audience with compelling, award-winning content.