Paynesville Press
The community's information source for 135 years.


The Paynesville Press has won numerous awards
for its editorial coverage over the past 40 years,
including the inaugural Mills Family Trophy in 1983
as the best weekly newspaper in Minnesota,


  • National Newspaper Association's Better Newspaper Contest

    2019
    1st Place - Best Local Breaking News Coverage

    2016
    2nd Place - Best Local Breaking News Coverage

    2014
    1st Place - Best Use of Color in Advertising
    3rd Place - Best Government/Public Affairs Reporting

    2013
    2nd Place - BestInvestigative Reporting

    2012
    2nd Place - Best Arts & Entertainment Story

    2011
    2nd Place - Best Business Feature Story
    2nd Place - Best Environmental Story
    2nd Place - Best Investigative Story or Series
    2nd Place - Best Sports Photo
    3rd Place - Best Health Story
    Honorable Mention - Best Feature Story

    2008
    3rd Place - Best Breaking News Story

    2004
    2nd Place - Best Agricultural Story
    3rd Place - Best Environmental Story

    2008
    3rd Place - Best Breaking News Story

    2004
    2nd Place - Best Agricultural Story
    3rd Place - Best Environmental Story

    2002
    2nd Place - Best Investigative or In-Depth Story or Series

    1983
    Honorable Mention - Best Investigative News Story
    Honorable Mention - Best Picture Series in One Issue (Weekly)

    1982
    3rd Place - Excellence in Typography
    Honorable Mention - General Excellence

    1979
    National Blue Ribbon Newspaper


  • Other Awards

    2003
    Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts:
    Media Award

    1996
    Minnesota Special Olympics:
    Outstanding Media Coverage

    1981
    Minnesota Education Association
    School Bell Awards:

    Sustained Education Coverage
    Hearing Impaired Story

  •  
  • Minnesota Newspaper Association's Better Newspaper Contest
    Weeklies - 2501 to 5000 circulation

    2019
    2nd Place - Best Breaking News Story, Michael Jacobson

    2011
    1st Place - Investigative Reporting, Michael Jacobson
    1st Place - Best Sports Photo, Michael Jacobson

    2010
    1st Place - Investigative Reporting, Ellarry Prentice

    2005
    2nd Place - Best Explaination of News Operations

    2003
    2nd Place - Best Sports Feature Story, Michael Jacobson

    2002
    1st Place - Best Human Interest Feature Story, Michael Jacobson

    2001
    2nd Place - Sports Photo, Michael Jacobson

    1999
    2nd Place - Photo Story, Linda Stelling
    2nd Place - Advertising Excellence
    Honorable Mention - Best Institutional Advertisement, Ann Johnson
    Honorable Mention - Photo Story, Linda Stelling

    1998
    2nd Place - Best Explanation of Newspapers

    1996
    1st Place - Photo Story, Peter Jacobson
    2nd Place - Portrait and Personality Photo, Michael Jacobson

    1993
    1st Place - Best Social Issue Feature Story, Linda Stelling

    1989
    1st Place - Best Human Interest Feature Story, Tim Douglass
    2nd Place - Best Human Interest Feature Story, Tim Douglass
    2nd Place - Excellence in Investigative Reporting, Darlene Thyen
    2nd Place - Best Columnist, Tim Douglass

    1988
    2nd Place - Best Human Interest Feature Story, Darlene Thyen

    1986
    2nd Place - News Photo, Denise Kuntz

    1985
    2nd Place - Editorial Page as a Whole
    2nd Place - Best Local News Story, Tim Douglass

    1983
    Winner - Mills Family Trophy for Best Weekly Newspaper in Minnesota
    1st Place - General Excellence
    1st Place - Excellence in Investigative Reporting, John Mikes
    2nd Place - Typography and Design
    2nd Place - Editorial Page as a Whole
    2nd Place - Herman Roe Memorial Award for Editorial Excellence
    2nd Place (2) - Excellence in Investigative Reporting, John/Mary Mikes

    1982
    2nd Place - Portriat and Personality Photo, John Mikes
    2nd Place - Excellence in Sports Reporting
    2nd Place - Sports Photo, Mary Roberts-Mikes

    1981
    2nd Place - General Excellence

    1979
    1st Place - Excellence in Columns, Larry Windom
    1st Place - Typography and Design
    2nd Place - Spot News Photo - Peter Jacobson

    1978
    1st Place - Editorial Page as a Whole
    2nd Place - Excellence in Sport Reporting
    2nd Place - Excellence in General Reporting
    2nd Place - Feature Photo, Larry Windom

    1977:
    Honorable Mention - General Excellence


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    Paynesville Press
    211 Washburne Ave. - P.O. Box 54
    Paynesville, MN 56362
    Phone: 320-243-3772 or 1-888-223-1371