Northwoods River News WNA’s Best in Division for 3rd straight year

The Northwoods River News has won the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation’s award for Best in Division for 2025, closing out an impressive year with 25 total awards and five first-place finishes in the association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest.

The River News won Best in Division E, which includes non-daily newspapers with circulations of up to 2,249. The awards were announced March 6 during the WNA Foundation’s annual banquet at the Madison Concourse Hotel.

River News publisher Gregg Walker said the recognition reflects the daily work of the newsroom, photographers, advertising staff, and designers who produce the paper each week.

“It’s always nice to get recognition from your peers for the work you do,” Walker said. “I’m very proud of my staff, and I appreciate the hard work they put in every day to keep our readers informed with accurate and meaningful information.” 

Walker said the awards won by the River News and its sister newspaper, The Lakeland Times (which won Best in State for weekly newspapers and Best in Division C), carry particular meaning during a period when the information environment has become increasingly crowded and confusing.

“Now more than ever, relaying accurate information is critical,” he said. “Between the misinformation on social media and the AI revolution, one thing is clear: integrity in newspaper journalism is paramount.” 

Walker said he believes the future of journalism will continue to depend on journalists who remain deeply engaged in the communities they serve.

“I encourage young journalists to physically get out in their communities,” he said. “Talk to people. Take photos. Seek the truth, no matter how difficult it may seem. Don’t allow AI or social media to take away the basic principles of journalism: who, what, where, when, and why. It’s just that simple.” 

Lakeland Times editor Dean Hall acknowledged the talent and hard work of staff at both the River News and the Times.

“It’s tremendously gratifying to see both of our papers earn top honors in their divisions,” Hall said. “Our staff works tirelessly to produce journalism that serves and strengthens our community, and it’s rewarding to see their dedication reflected in such prestigious recognition.”

Individual honors

The River News’s best in division performance was driven by five first-place finishes in editorial and advertising categories, reflecting the paper’s broad range of talent and skill.

The newspaper won first place in its division for general excellence, as well as for ongoing/extended coverage and best special section in the editorial categories. 

In winning for general excellence, an award going to the entire staff, the judges were impressed by the overall quality of the newspaper’s production: “Great reporting, photographs and layout,” the judges wrote. “Easy to read, extensive community coverage. Offers something to every reader. Congratulations!”

Jeremy Mayo, Brett LaBore, and Bob Mainhardt took home first place for their production of an editorial special section, with the judges opining: “Good job of documenting a sad but important event. People will treasure this history.”

In addition, Brian Jopek earned first place for ongoing/extended coverage for his work: “Local journalism at its best informs in the present and records history for future generations,” the judges wrote. “Nailed it!”

In advertising, Heather Holmes won for Best Newspaper Promotion and Madeline De Fore earned top honors for Best Use of Color, with De Fore earning extra praise from the judges: “Good use of color to draw the eye from the headline through the ad to the business logo. The use of the ice cream bar and the three circles featuring product gave my eyes a place to rest and break up the block of red. Very holiday feel! Nice work.”

Beyond the first-place awards, the River News earned 11 second-place finishes and six third-place awards, helping launch the newspaper to the top overall score in its division. 

Second-place finishes included Best Use of Color, Best Large Ad, Photo Essay, Artistic Photo, Sports Feature Photo, Sports Action Photo, General News Photo, Reporting on Local Government, Health Coverage, and Breaking News Reporting.

Brian Jopek, who won first place for ongoing extended coverage, said that being able to watch the different steps a local government entity may take, or in some instances, neglect to take, as it works to try and resolve an issue can be really interesting.

“I know it interests others because I’ll be in a grocery store and I’ll get taken aside by someone and they’ll ask, ‘So, I saw your article about that water well issue. What are your thoughts on that?’” Jopek said. “To have them not only ask me what I might happen to think about a certain issue is nice, but to know they’re actually keeping up with the issue by reading the newspaper, by reading articles I wrote, that’s where it can be really rewarding.”

Statewide recognition

Organized by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, the annual Better Newspaper Contest recognizes excellence in journalism. This year’s contest attracted 2,493 entries from 103 newspapers, with entries judged by members of the Colorado Press Association. Eligible work was published between Sept. 1, 2024, and Aug. 31, 2025. 

During the awards ceremony, WNA president Jeff Patterson emphasized the continued importance of local journalism.

“Thank you to all for your continued commitment to local journalism and to the Wisconsin Newspaper Association,” Patterson said. “We are grateful for your engagement and your belief in the essential role of a free, strong, and responsible press.” 

Scott Peterson, president of the WNA Foundation, echoed that sentiment.

“Local journalism plays a vital role in democracy, accountability, and community life,” Peterson said. “It is demanding work, but it is meaningful work.” 

Established in 1980, the WNA Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting programs that foster excellence in journalism and strengthen newspapers. The foundation manages funds and resources to support training, education, and professional development within the industry. 

The organization’s annual convention includes journalism awards presentations, panel discussions on the future of the newspaper industry, and the induction ceremony for the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame.

For the staff of The Northwoods River News, the awards serve both as recognition of past work and as encouragement for the future. As Walker noted, the mission remains pretty simple.

“Seek the truth,” he said. “Tell the story of your community. And never forget the fundamentals of journalism.”

Richard Moore is the author of “Dark State” and may be reached at richardd3d.substack.com.