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Times named 2020 WNA newspaper of the year
Monroe Times WNA
The Monroe Times was named the Wisconsin Newspaper Association’s top publication in its circulation division in 2020. The 2020 trophy, left, joins the 2018 trophy, right, in the in the Times office. - photo by Adam Krebs

MONROE — The Wisconsin Newspaper Association held its annual awards show virtually Feb. 19. The Monroe Times earned 33 awards, plus was named as the top newspaper in its circulation class, Division E. It is the second time in three years the Times has won its circulation class, joining 2018 in Class C.

“When we won our Best of Division award for the Times in 2018 it spoke volumes to how our renewed commitment to covering local news was viewed by our peers,” Monroe Times Publisher Matt Johnson said. “Such awards are difficult to win and reflect on the whole staff’s effort to produce strong local news and promote local businesses. For our newspaper to have won two of these awards in three years is a testament to the continued of quality of the Times.”

The Times won eight first place awards — six in editorial and two in advertising. Editor Adam Krebs won four first place awards, including Best Sports Pages, Sports Action photo, Local Sports Column and Local Column. Former reporter Kat Cisar won two first-place awards for General News Story and Feature Story Non-Profile. Advertising manager Laura Hughes won a first-place award for Best Small Ad featuring Farm & Fleet, and Lance Ray won Best Color Ad with Bank of New Glarus.

There were 10 second-place awards that went to the Times, with six coming in the editorial department, including for Coronavirus coverage. The advertising department received four second-place awards.

Five third place awards came the way of the Times, one in editorial and four in advertising. The other 10 awards were honorable mention, five in each department. Shannon Rabotski was named honorable mention in the Rookie Reporter category. 

“A newspaper is a reflection of a community and obviously we have thoroughly covered Green County while trying like every other business to survive difficult economic times,” Johnson said. “Our awards in sports and news coverage, and advertising are important to what the community looks to us to provide. Our staff is focused on the reader, whether it’s our circulation department delivering newspapers as soon as they’re off the press to accommodating a customer with a last-second advertisement, we’re making an effort that’s recognized not just locally, but throughout the state.”

2020 WNA Awards

The Monroe Times

First Place, Best Sports Pages, Adam Krebs

First Place, General News Story, Kat Cisar

First Place, Feature Story (Non-profile), Kat Cisar

First Place, Local Column, Adam Krebs

First Place, Local Sports Column, Adam Krebs

First Place, Sports Action Photo, Adam Krebs

First Place, Best Small Ad, Laura Hughes

First Place, Best Use of Color, Lance Ray

Second Place, Best Front Page, Emily Massingill

Second Place, Best Headlines, Adam Krebs

Second Place, Feature Story (Profile), Adam Krebs

Second Place., Localized National Story, Adam Krebs

Second Place, Breaking News Reporting, Kat Cisar

Second Place, Coronavirus Coverage, Kat Cisar

Second Place, Best Small Ad, Tai Ruegsegger

Second Place, Best Use of Color, Laura Hughes

Second Place, Best Multiple Advertiser Spread, Laura Hughes, Diane Albright, Lance Ray, Tai Ruegsegger

Second Place, Best Niche Product, Jaimie Tran, Laura Hughes

Third Place, Reporting on Local Education, Emily Massingill

Third Place, Bill Payne Award, Diane Albright

Third Place, Best Small Ad, Diane Albright

Third Place, Best Multiple Advertiser Spread, Laura Hughes, Diane Albright, Lance Ray, Tai Ruegsegger

Third Place, Best Special Section (Advertising), Laura Hughes, Diane Albright, Lance Ray, Tai Ruegsegger

Honorable Mention, Feature Story (Non-profile), Adam Krebs

Honorable Mention, Feature Story (Profile), Adam Krebs

Honorable Mention, Reporting on Local Government, Kat Cisar

Honorable Mention, Rookie Reporter of the Year, Shannon Rabotski

Honorable Mention, Feature Photo, Brenda Steurer

Honorable Mention, Bill Payne Award, Laura Hughes

Honorable Mention, Best Small Ad, Lance Ray

Honorable Mention, Best Ad Idea (Series), Tai Ruegsegger

Honorable Mention, Best Multiple Advertiser Spread, Laura Hughes, Diane Albright, Lance Ray, Tai Ruegsegger

Honorable Mention, Best Niche Product, Laura Hughes, Diane Albright, Lance Ray, Tai Ruegsegger