CITY OF OTTAWA'S MAT SIMONSON WINS EXCELLENCE AWARD AT BEST OF THE MIDWEST MEDIA FEST

City of Ottawa's Mat Simonson Wins Excellence Award at Best of the Midwest Media Fest

Ottawa, Kansas (April 8, 2024): The City of Ottawa is pleased to announce that Mat Simonson, Multi-Media Specialist, has been awarded the Excellence Award at the prestigious Best of the Midwest Media Fest.

Simonson's entry, "Be In The Know Episode 2 - County Government," received the coveted Excellence Award, signifying it as one of the very best programs submitted in the entire competition. The City of Ottawa extends its heartfelt gratitude to Mat for his dedication and contributions to both the community and the field of media communications.

This year's competition boasted an impressive 179 entries from across the Midwest, rigorously reviewed by a panel of 56 judges, with additional in-depth evaluation from a team of four for the most exceptional programs.

The Best of the Midwest Media Fest encompasses media professionals from Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The annual banquet celebrates freedom of expression, diversity of ideas, and the vital role of electronic media in fostering strong communities throughout the Midwest region.

Mat Simonson joined the City of Ottawa team in 2006, bringing with him valuable experience from WIBW and a degree in film from the University of Kansas.

The City of Ottawa is incredibly proud of Mat's accomplishment and the positive impact his work has on our community.

The "In The Know" video series is a collaborative effort between the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce, the Legislative Action Committee, and the City of Ottawa.

You can view the award-winning video here: https://youtu.be/5pH_Ha9nkN4?si=B-LwMeXeKRJTpkRu