Red Oak Express wins NNA award

Judging results have been processed and winners of the National Newspaper Association Foundation’s 2025 Better Newspaper Contest and Better Newspaper Advertising Contest have been announced.
Winners will be recognized at the awards ceremony held Friday, Oct. 10, during the NNAF’s 139th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Minneapolis, Minn. \
There were 1,546 entries in the Better Newspaper Editorial Contest and 196 entries in the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest for a total of 1,743 entries. There were 712 awards won by 102 newspapers in 33 states. The Red Oak Express submitted entries to the editorial contest and received a fourth place honorable mention in the Non-daily Division, circulation less than 2,000 for the article “Polish community honors WWII vet Sunberg,” a story highlighting the monument erected in Mosina, Poland to honor Red Oak airman John Linder Sunberg, whose plane was shot down by Russians on his 23rd mission during World War II and who was mistaken for a German troop and shot and killed by Russian soldiers.
Judging was performed primarily by active community newspaper editors and publishers, as well as retired university journalism professors and retired or former newspaper professionals.
Judges praised the publications for engaging their community, keeping them informed, and providing commentary that keeps a paper at the heart of the community. Many expressed the wish to grant all entries in their category a placement, because every single one was worth it.
Established in 1885, the National Newspaper Association (NNA) is the voice of America’s community newspapers and is one of the largest newspaper associations in the country.