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