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