News Tribune photographer earns company's highest employee honor

News Tribune Chief Photographer Julie Smith earned the W.E. Hussman Employee of the Year Award for WEHCO Media's Palmer Division of newspapers.
News Tribune Chief Photographer Julie Smith earned the W.E. Hussman Employee of the Year Award for WEHCO Media's Palmer Division of newspapers.

News Tribune Chief Photographer Julie Smith became the first Central Missouri Newspapers employee to win the W.E. Hussman Employee of the Year Award for WEHCO Media's Palmer Division of newspapers.

The Palmer Division includes six companies: Central Missouri Newspapers (News Tribune, Jefferson City; Fulton Sun, Fulton; California Democrat, California; and The Lake Today, Lake Ozark); Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, Texas; Sentinel Record, Hot Springs, Arkansas; El Dorado News Times, El Dorado, Arkansas; Camden News, Camden, Arkansas; and Magnolia Banner News, Magnolia, Arkansas.

Smith has worked as a photographer for the News Tribune for 26 years. She was named Central Missouri Newspapers Employee of the Quarter in the third quarter of 2015 and Central Missouri Newspapers Employee of the Year for 2015, which put her in the running for the division-wide honor.

Smith is the senior photographer on staff for the News Tribune, where she focuses on spot news, features, sports, advertising, portraits and enterprise pictures.

Her nomination for the original award was signed by seven newsroom co-workers, who wrote: "More than her day-to-day responsibilities, Julie is an invaluable resource to the reporters, as she spends every day immersed in the community, at events, speaking with people from all segments of Jefferson City. Because of that, she often provides us with the community perspective, bringing new angles to stories we work on and helping us ensure our product represents all sides of any given debate."

The nomination also cited Julie's willingness to assist new employees: "For many who have started in the newsroom, unfamiliar with Jefferson City, Julie often gets our foot in the door with many sources who agree to trust us because they trust Julie."

WEHCO Media owner Walter E. Hussman presented the award to Smith on Tuesday at the News Tribune office in downtown Jefferson City.