General Excellence ( 5,000 - 10,000 Dailies,Under 5,000 Dailies)Back
Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Willmar - West Central Tribune Entry Title: Dec. 24, Feb. 8, May 31 Entry Credit: Staff Judge Comment: Top notch local coverage, sharp photos and advertising. Head and shoulders over the other newspapers in this category in every way.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Albert Lea Tribune Entry Title: General Excellence-Albert Lea Tribune Entry Credit: Albert Lea Tribune Judge Comment: Clean, very readable and easy to follow. Nice variety of local stories plus localization of national stories. Editorial pages full of local columns, including managing editor's column on her own family's COVID-19 scare.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Bemidji - The Bemidji Pioneer Entry Title: General Excellence Entry Credit: Bemidji Pioneer Judge Comment: Big, grabbing headlines and artwork. I liked the "What's Up" on Page 2, where community submitted event briefs are easily found.