The Monroe Times, EagleHerald named 2021 Newspapers of the Year

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, Wis.

[Click to download Awards Tab]

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 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.

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 – 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
(Left to right) Gregg Walker, past president of the WNA and publisher of The Lakeland Times (Minocqua); Tricia Hurley, advertising sales and marketing manager for the (Marinette) EagleHerald; Pat Reilly, president elect of the WNA; Dan Kitkowski, editor of the EagleHerald; Todd Colling, publisher of the EagleHerald; Orestes Baez, regional president of Adams Publishing Group of Southern Wisconsin; and Scott Peterson, president of the WNA Foundation pose for a photo during the 2021 WNAF Awards Banquet on Friday, June 24, in Madison, Wis. The EagleHerald was named Best Daily Newspaper of the Year. (Photo by Julia Hunter, WNA)

The entire list of winners and judges’ comments is available by accessing the online version of the Better Newspaper Contest Awards Tab. (A list of awards by newspaper can be found on Page 26.)

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.

(Left to right) Gregg Walker, past president of the WNA and publisher of The Lakeland Times (Minocqua); Kathy Pierce, business manager for The Monroe Times; Adam Krebs, editor of The Monroe Times; Tai Ruegsegger, media consultant for The Monroe Times; Pat Reilly, president elect of the WNA; John Ingebritsen, publisher of The Monroe Times; and Scott Peterson, president of the WNA Foundation pose for a photo during the 2021 WNAF Awards Banquet on Friday, June 24, in Madison, Wis. The Monroe Times was named Best Weekly Newspaper of the Year. (Photo by Julia Hunter, WNA)

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. Special thanks to the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, for printing the awards tab.

For Winners

Duplicate awards

Need to order duplicate awards? Submit your requests here by July 21. Duplicate certificates are available for $6, and duplicate plaques can be ordered for $60.

2021 BNC winner logo

Newspapers wishing to use this year’s WNA contest winner logo can download it here


Salute to Wisconsin Photographers


In Memoriam


Best of Division Winners


About the WNA Foundation

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 our state.



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