July 2, 2025 | Melody Hoffman, left, and Azhae’la Hanson at last week’s Minnesota SPJ Awards. Photo by J.D. Duggan

“Bringing home hardware

The staff of the North News received several industry honors at an awards banquet sponsored by the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists on Thursday.

Azhae’la Hanson received first-place awards for feature and news photography. Her story on the closing of JJ Legacy School won for news, while a portfolio of her work from 2024, published in the December issue, won for feature.

Melody Hoffman, who recently joined Hanson to teach journalism to high school interns, was recognized for Best Newsletter for her work with Southwest Voices. Hoffman was instrumental in helping North News start the newsletter that you are currently reading.

Editor David Pierini received an honorable mention in the Journalist of the Year category. Pierini also placed second in feature writing for a story on the opening of the V3 Center and its mission to teach Northside youth how to swim.

North News would like to thank our readers for sharing their stories and trusting us to chronicle life in North Minneapolis. “

July 2, 2025 | North News is an Enterprise of Pillsbury United Communities