FARGO, N.D. - Forum Communications Co. newspapers received more than 90 awards, ranging in categories from “Best Local Breaking News Story” to “Best Website” during the 2010-2011 Better Newspaper Contest sponsored by the Minnesota Newspaper Association. The awards were bestowed during the organization’s annual awards banquet held Jan. 26 in Bloomington, Minn.

Detroit Lakes (Minn.) Tribune Publisher Dennis Winskowski accepts the Mills Trophy, awarded to Minnesota’s best weekly newspaper each year, during the Minnesota Newspaper Association convention Jan. 26 in Bloomington, Minn.

The Better Newspaper Contest is held annually to recognize the state’s newspapers’ efforts to improve their print and digital products.
Forum Communications Co. received 94 of the nearly 370 awards that were bestowed, and topped its accomplishments with the Detroit Lakes (Minn.) Tribune being awarded The Mills Trophy, which is awarded yearly to the state’s best weekly newspaper. Also, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead finished second in the competition for The Vance Trophy, awarded to the state’s best daily newspaper each year.
In addition to numerous honors received by the newspapers, many Forum Communications Co. employees were recognized for their own accomplishments. Reporters, photographers, editors, designers and sales representatives received some of the contest’s top awards.
Following is a list of the awards received by Forum Communications Co. newspapers:

Most of the Detroit Lakes (Minn.) Tribune pose with the Mills Trophy back at the newspaper office.

Detroit Lakes (Minn.) Tribune:
- Mills Trophy, awarded to the state’s best weekly of the year.
- Use of photography as a whole; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; first place.
- Advertising excellence; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; second place.
- Best website; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; second place.
- Advertising campaign; all individuals; Dave Aune; second place.
- Institutional advertisement; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; Mary Brenk; first place.
- Institutional advertisement; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; Mary Brenk and Luanna Lake; second place.

Members of the Detroit Lakes (Minn.) Tribune staff pose with the Mills Trophy and many of their individual awards after the convention banquet. One is the staff who attended the convention with some of our awards. Shown from left are: Paula Quam, reporter; Dennis Winskowski, publisher; Sara Leitheiser, production; Nathan Bowe, editor; Mary Brenk, ad manager; Connie Klopka, telemarketing; and Brian Basham, photo editor.

- Best advertisement; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; staff; first place.
- Best advertisement; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Connie Klopka and Luanna Lake; second place.
- Human interest story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Wierima; first place.
- Human interest story; weeklies 2,501-5000 circulation; Brian Basham; second place.
- Sports story; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; Brian Wierima; first place.
- Sports photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Wierima; second place.
- Photo story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Basham; first place.
- Best use of video; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; second place.
- Best use of multimedia; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; first place.
- Best use of social media; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; second place.
- Government/public affairs reporting; all weeklies; Paula Quam; first place.
- Category X (diversity); weeklies over 2,500 circulation; first place.

The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead:
- Press Photographer’s Portfolio; all dailies; David Samson; second place.
- Typography and design; dailies 10,000 circulation and over; second place.
- Editorial page as a whole; dailies over 10,000 circulation and over; second place.
- Sports reporting; dailies 10,000 circulation and over; first place.
- Use of photography as a whole; dailies 10,000 circulation and over; first place.
- Headline writing; all dailies; first place.
- Advertising excellence; dailies 10,000 circulation and over; first place.
- Human interest story; dailies 10,000 circulation and over; Mila Koumpilova; first place.
- Sports story; all dailies; Ryan Clark; honorable mention.
- Business story; all dailies; Marino Eccher; second place.
- Arts and entertainment story; all dailies; Shane Mercer; second place.
- News photos; all dailies; David Samson; first place.
- Use of information graphics and graphic illustrations; all dailies; Troy Becker; second place.
- Design portfolio; all dailies; Erin Crommett; first place.
- Best use of social media; all dailies; second place.
- Herman Roe Editorial Writing Award; all newspapers; Jack Zaleski.
- Freedom of Information Award; all newspapers; second place.
- Category X (diversity reporting); all dailies; first place.

Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune:
- Editorial page as a whole; dailies over 10,000 circulation and over; first place.
- Use of photography as a whole; dailies 10,000 circulation and over; second place.
- Headline writing; all dailies; second place.
- Best website; all dailies; first place.
- Human interest story; dailies 10,000 circulation and over; Jana Hollingsworth; second place.
- Social issues story; all dailies; Brandon Stahl; first place.
- Local breaking news coverage; all dailies; Jana Hollingsworth; first place.
- Investigative reporting; all dailies; Brandon Stahl and Mark Stodghill, first place.
- Best columnist; all dailies; Sam Cook; first place.
- Sports photo; all dailies; Bob King; honorable mention.
- Feature photo; all dailies; Clint Austin; first place.
- Feature photo; all dailies; Clint Austin; honorable mention.
- Editorial portfolio; all dailies; second place.
- Government/public affairs reporting; all dailies; John Myers; second place.

The staff of the Alexandria (Minn.) Echo Press and The Osakis (Minn.) Review pose with their awards after the Minnesota Newspaper Associations annual banquet Jan. 26. Shown are: back row left to right, Nichole Roell, Stacy Haaven, Shelly Beaulieu, Rich Aber, Jody Hanson, Al Edenloff, Izzy Rusch and Deb Zens; and front row left to right, Amy Chaffins (Osakis Review) and Karla Mikkelson.

Alexandria (Minn.) Echo Press:
- Editorial page as a whole; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; second place.
- Headline writing; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; first place.
- Best website; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; first place.
- Advertising campaign; all individuals; Nichole Roell and Stacy Haaven; first place.
- Institutional advertisement; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; Deb Zens, Karla Mikkelson and Izzy Rusch; honorable mention.
- Best advertisement; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Deb Zens, Karla Mikkelson and Izzy Rusch; first place.
- Best advertisement; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Nicholas Roell and Izzy Rusch; second place.
- Innovative online advertising; all weeklies; Jenny Wagner and Shelly Beaulieu; first place.
- Innovative online advertising; all weeklies; Nichole Roell and Jody Hanson; second place.
- Design portfolio; all weeklies; Karla Mikkelson; second place.

Lake County News Chronicle, Two Harbors, Minn.:
- Typography and design; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; first place.
- Sports story; weeklies up to 2,500 circulation; Mike Creger, first place.
- Business story; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; Mike Creger; honorable mention.
- Arts and entertainment story; all dailies; Christa Lawler; honorable mention.
- News photo; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; Brittany Berrens; honorable mention.
- Photo story; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; Mike Creger; second place.
- Use of information graphics and graphic illustrations; weeklies up to 2,500 circulation; Matt Suoja; first place.

Steve Wagner, editor of The Pioneer of Bemidji, Minn., accepts an award for arts and entertainment reporting on behalf of staff member Laurie Swenson during the annual Better Newspaper Contest awards ceremony Jan. 26 in Bloomington, Minn.

The Pioneer in Bemidji, Minn:
- Typography and design; dailies under 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Editorial page as a whole; dailies under 10,000 circulation; second place.
- General reporting; dailies under 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Sports reporting; dailies under 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Arts and entertainment story; all dailies; Laurie Swenson; first place.

Red Wing (Minn.) Republican Eagle:
- Editorial page as a whole; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; first place.
- Investigative reporting; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; first place.
- Photo story; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Stacy Bengs; second place.
- Special section; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; second place.

Hastings (Minn.) Star Gazette:
- News photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Chad Richardson; second place.
- Portrait and personality photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Chad Richardson; first place.
- Explanation of news operations/newspaper ethics; all newspapers; second place.

Farmington (Minn.) Independent:
- General excellence; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; first place.
- General reporting; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; first place.
- Best website; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; first place.

Park Rapids (Minn.) Enterprise:
- Local breaking news coverage; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Sarah Smith; second place.
- News photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Connie Carmichael; first place.

West Central Tribune in Willmar, Minn.:
- General reporting; dailies 10,000 circulation and over; second place.
- Special section; all dailies; honorable mention.

Becker County Record, Detroit Lakes, Minn.:
- Sports story; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; Brian Basham; honorable mention.
- Goverment/public affairs reporting; all weeklies; Nate Bowe; second place.

The Osakis (Minn.) Review:
- General reporting; weeklies up to 1,500 circulation; honorable mention.

Woodbury (Minn.) Bulletin:
- General excellence, weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation, second place.

Daily Globe in Worthington, Minn.:
- News photo; all dailies; Brian Korthals; second place.

South Washington County Bulletin, Cottage Grove, Minn.:
- General reporting; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; second place.

Morris (Minn.) Sun Tribune:
- Sports photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Nancy Woodke; first place.