Staff of the Brainerd Dispatch and Pineandlakes Echo Journal combined to earn 18 awards in the 2018-19 Better Newspaper Contest.

The awards were presented at a banquet Jan. 30 as part of the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s annual convention. The Dispatch earned eight first-place finishes, the third-most of any newspaper participating in the contest. The Echo Journal received first place for one of its three awards. In addition, two Forum Communications Co. employees based in the Dispatch office also earned awards for other newspapers.

“Our staff, and our community, can be proud of many MNA awards earned by the Brainerd Dispatch,” said Publisher Pete Mohs. “It's a good indication of the quality work that we strive to produce every day — in all of our departments from the newsroom to advertising to marketing/circulation.”

Each year, the Better Newspaper Contest recognizes exceptional work produced by community newspapers in Minnesota. Work produced between September 2018 and August 2019 was eligible for recognition.

Awards earned by Brainerd Dispatch

First place

• Press photographer’s portfolio, all dailies — Steve Kohls .

• Portrait and personality photo, all dailies — Kelly Humphrey, Deerwood splash pad .

• Human interest story, dailies with circulation 10,000 and over — Chelsey Perkins, “When she vanished: 18 years after the disappearance and murder of Rachel Anthony, her killer remains a mystery.”

• Use of color in advertising, all dailies — Sue Stark and Jill Sprague, Northland Arboretum advertisement.

• Advertising campaign, all dailies — Linda Hurst, Schroeder’s Appliance advertisement .

• Sports reporting, dailies 10,000 and over — Dispatch staff .

• Best magazine, all dailies — Her Voice, Dispatch staff .

• Special section, all dailies — Veterans Salute, Dispatch staff .

Second place

• Advertising campaign, all dailies — Linda Hurst, Color Street Nails advertisement.

• Self-promotion or house ad, all dailies — Lisa Henry Morales, “We’ve got exciting news.”

Third place

• Portrait and personality photo, all dailies — Steve Kohls, Sertoma Lift-A-Thon.

• Use of color in advertising, all dailies — Linda Hurst, E.L. Menk Jewelers advertisement.

• Classified ad section, all dailies — Dispatch staff .

• Typography and design, dailies 10,000 and over — Dispatch staff .

• Category X, mental health coverage, all dailies — Dispatch staff .

Awards earned by Echo Journal

First place

• Portrait and personality photo, non-dailies 1,501-3,000 — Travis Grimler, Minnesota Zoomobile at Pine River’s Summerfest.

Second place

• Best use of video, non-dailies up to 3,000 — Travis Grimler, “Solar Schools project complete.”

• Headline writing, non-dailies 1,501-3,000 — Echo Journal staff.

Other awards earned by Brainerd-based employees

Second place

• Design portfolio, all dailies — Becca Clemens, Duluth News Tribune .

• Use of color in advertising, non-dailies 3,001-7,000 — Sue Stark with Connie Klopka of the Detroit Lakes Tribune, Bowling Blast advertisement.

1/9: Brainerd Dispatch photographer Steve Kohls

2/9: Brainerd Dispatch photographer Kelly Humphrey

3/9: Brainerd Dispatch Community Editor Chelsey Perkins

4/9: Brainerd Dispatch media consultant Linda Hurst

5/9: Forum Communications Co. creative production artist Sue Stark (left) and Brainerd Dispatch media consultant Jill (Wasson) Sprague

6/9: Brainerd Dispatch marketing graphic designer Lisa Henry Morales

7/9: Forum Communications Co. page designer Becca Clemens.

8/9: The fall 2019 issue of Her Voice magazine, produced by the Brainerd Dispatch.

9/9: Brainerd Dispatch's Veterans Salute special section, published November 2018.