CNHI News Service

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In-depth reporting on a dangerous highway lifted The Free Press of Mankato, Minn., to top honors in the Best of CNHI 2010 journalism competition.

Judges named The Free Press the Newspaper of the Year in the contest’s largest circulation category, citing its three-part series about a highway plagued by deadly accidents with no improvement in sight. “Delayed, deferred and deadly” also earned the newspaper a Public Service award.

“Good, detailed enterprise reporting bolsters this newspaper,” judges said in reference to The Free Press’ investigation into problems along Highway 14, as well as a four-part narrative about a police shooting in the small city of Kasota, Minn.

The judges – a panel of seven CNHI editors and one publisher – praised the newspaper’s strong design, compelling photography and interaction with readers.

The Evening News, of Jeffersonville, Ind., won Newspaper of the Year honors among smaller dailies for its initiative, strong presentation and engaging coverage of perennial topics such as elections and redevelopment. The newspaper, which merged with a sister publication earlier this year, is now called the News and Tribune.

The Suwannee Democrat, of Live Oak, Fla., was named Newspaper of the Year among non-dailies. Judges cited its breadth of local coverage, “bold” design and strong sense of community.

“This newspaper is clearly in touch with its readership,” the judges said.

The Times-Tribune of Corbin, Ky., won a Public Service award for its coverage of a county sheriff, which led to his reelection defeat and indictment on 21 corruption charges.

“The highest purpose of a newspaper is to expose wrongdoing,” said the judges. “In doing so, the Times-Tribune brought down a corrupt sheriff.”

Judges selected two Websites of the Year, www.eagletribune.com and www.gloucestertimes.com, published respectively by The Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Mass., and the Gloucester, Mass., Daily Times.

The Andovers, which features lifestyles in North of Boston suburbs, was named Magazine of the Year.

The Princeton Times won the Public Service prize among non-daily newspapers for in-depth reporting on a proposed hospital sale and merger that ignited passions in the community in southern West Virginia.

The Best of CNHI recognizes the work of the journalists who produce 87 daily newspapers, 46 non-daily newspapers, 120 websites and more than 200 community magazines and niche publications. Work considered was published in 2010.