Award winners in the Missouri Press Association's annual Better Newspaper Contest were announced Sept. 10 during the 145th annual Missouri Press Association Convention at Branson Convention Center. Neighbor News brought home 37 awards from the contest, which recognizes excellence in news, feature and column writing, editorials, design, advertising, photography and other newspaper skills. Each newspaper's individual awards are listed below.
Christian County Headliner News
Staff at the Headliner won a Gold Medal Plaque in the Weeklies, Class 2 category. It also won first in the General Excellence category; first in Best Front-to-Back Newspaper Design; first in Best Front Page; second and an honorable mention in Best Feature Story; first in Best News or Feature Series; second for Tilghman Cloud Memorial Editorial category; second in Best Columnist-Humorous; third in Best Columnist-Serious; first in Best Feature Photograph; first in Best Photo Illustration; second in Best News Photograph; an honorable mention in Best Sports Photograph; first in Best News Content; second for Best Special Section; first, second and third places for Best Investigative Reporting; first for Best Business Story; first for Best Story About Rural Life/Agriculture; second for Best Story About Education; second and third for Best Story About the Outdoors; third in Best Story About History; first for Best Page Design; and first for Best Information Graphic.
Nixa Xpress
In the Class 3 Weeklies category, Nixa Xpress won first in the Best Columnist-Serious category; third for Best Ad Idea/Newspaper; and second for Best Special Section.
Republic Monitor
in the Class 1 Weeklies category, staff at the Republic Monitor won a Gold Medal Plaque. It also won first for Best Front Page and both first and second places for Best Photo Illustration. It won third place for Best News Photograph; first for Best Sports Photograph; first for Best Sports Feature Story; first for Best Sports Columnist; first and second for Best Special Section; an honorable mention for Best Coverage of Government; first for Best Outdoors Story; and second for Best Information Graphic.
Marshfield Mail
In the Class 3 Weeklies category, Marshfield Mail placed second in Best Front Page; first in the Tilghman Cloud Memorial Editorial category; third in Best Sports News Story or Package; second in Best Coverage of Government; and first for Best Rural Life/Ag Story.
Bolivar Herald-Free Press
In the Class 3 Weeklies category, the BH-FP placed second in Best Feature Story; third for Best Ad Idea/Advertiser; an honorable mention for Best Ad Idea/Newspaper; third for Best News Content; first for Best Editorial Page; second for Best Sports News Story or Package; first for Best Special Section; an honorable mention in Best Coverage of Government; second for Best Rural Life/Ag Story; first for Best Story About Religion; second for Best Story About the Outdoors; second for Best Coverage of Family Living; second for Best Coverage of Young People; and third for Best Information Graphic.
Cedar County Republican
In the Class 3 Weeklies category, staff at the Republican won second for Best Sports News Story or Package; second for Best Sports Feature Story; first for Best Special Section; and first for Best Story About Young People.
Buffalo Reflex
In the Class 3 Weeklies category, staff at the Reflex won first for Best Coverage of Rural Life/Agriculture.