MADISON — The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation honored the work of newspapers across the state during the WNA Foundation Better Newspaper Contest Awards Banquet on Friday, June 24, at The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club in downtown Madison.

Recipients of 2021 Newspaper of the Year Awards were Publisher Todd Colling and the EagleHerald, Marinette, (Daily Division) and Publisher John Ingebritsen and The Monroe Times (Weekly Division).

The Times received 42 total awards, including 12 first-place awards — eight in news coverage, and four in advertising. Thirteen second-place awards went to the Times, with eight entires finishing third-place and another nine receiving honorable mention nods. This marks the third time in four years the Times was named the best newspaper in its circulation division.

The 2021 WNAF Better Newspaper Contest received 2,117 entries from 98 newspapers. Eligible entries were published between Sept. 1, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2021, and were judged by members of the West Virginia Press Association.

“Being recognized so highly by our peers in West Virginia is an honor. To be named the top non-daily newspaper in the state means a lot to our entire staff,” said editor Adam Krebs. “We’ve all put in countless hours and come up with many creative ways to present our product to our readers.”

Krebs was awarded 12 times: four first-places, two seconds, three thirds and three honorable mentions. 

Angie Maag won two first place awards, two seconds and three honorable mentions. She finished second place in the Rookie Reporter of the Year category.

Kat Cisar took home two first place awards for local reporting on the coronavirus pandemic.

In advertising, longtime sales representative Diane Albright brought home four first-place awards — including the highly respected Bill Payne Award. Albright also finished with three second place awards; a third; and three honorable mentions.

Laura Hughes had seven second-place finishes, two third and an honorable mention. Lance Ray had three seconds, a third and an honorable mention, while Tai Ruegsegger had two seconds and an honorable mention. 

“I’m very proud of our team; they are very dedicated to producing a quality newspaper for Monroe and the surrounding communities,” Advertising Sales Manager Laura Hughes said. “Thank you to our readers, advertisers and the community support that we receive on a daily basis. Congratulations to everyone on the team for their success.”

Best in Division winners were: 

●  Division E (non-daily circulation of 2,249 or less): Grant County Herald Independent, Lancaster

●  Division D (non-daily circulation of 2,250 to 4,499): The Monroe Times

●  Division C (non-daily circulation of at least 4,500): Peninsula Pulse, Baileys Harbor

●  Division B (daily circulation of less than 9,999): EagleHerald, Marinette

●  Division A (daily circulation of at least 10,000): The Gazette, Janesville

Several college journalists were also honored during the event. The 2021 WNAF Collegiate Better Newspaper Contest received 262 submissions across 20 categories from 11 campus newspapers. A detailed breakdown of college awards, high school awards and judges’ comments on these submissions also is included in the Awards Tab.

Top honors in the college contest — the first place General Excellence award — went to Marquette University’s Marquette Tribune. The award for Collegiate Journalist of the Year went to John Leuzzi, who will be a senior next year at Marquette University. Leuzzi serves as executive sports editor of the student newspaper.

This year’s awards banquet was sponsored by Tecnavia Press, Coda, Godfrey & Kahn, Our Hometown and Wisconsin News Tracker.

The WNA Foundation is a not-for-profit organization created in 1980 that works to improve the quality and future of Wisconsin’s newspaper enterprises, the industry and the communities they serve. It solicits, manages and disburses funds and other resources for the benefit of Wisconsin’s newspaper industry and, ultimately, the citizens of Wisconsin.