In late January 2025, the Minnesota Newspaper Association released the results of the annual Better Newspaper Contest.
There are 227 daily and weekly newspapers spanning the 87 counties that make up the State of Minnesota.
Out of the 912 entries from all newspapers in the state, the Fillmore County Journal earned eight awards in the categories of advertising, editorial, and online presence.
•1st Place – Website
Judge’s comments: “Unique format. Haven’t encountered one like this. Stood out to me.”
•1st Place – Advertising Excellence
Judge’s comments: “Plenty of beautiful full page ads. I love the church directory! A great variety of ads in the Tasty Temptations section. Each ad stands out on its own as they should to the reader!”
•1st Place – Special Section (Spring Home & Garden)
•1st Place – Use of Photography as a Whole
Judge’s comments: “Lots of photos throughout including a lot of photo pages to help tell a visual story… good emphasis on visual storytelling and sports photos.”
•2nd Place – Special Section (Wedding)
•3rd Place – Typography and Design
Judge’s comments: “Great typographical hierarchy and overall layout.”
•3rd Place – Sports Reporting
Judge’s comments: “Good prep coverage mix.”
•3rd Place – Headline Writing
This is a shared success, involving the collaboration, communication, and ideas of the entire team at the Fillmore County Journal.
Over the past eight years, the team at the Fillmore County Journal has amassed a combined total of 264 awards from three organizations: Association of Community Publishers, Midwest Free Community Papers, and Minnesota Newspaper Association.
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