Leader Publications brought home 32 awards from the 2026 Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest on Sept. 27.
Leader staff won first place in the best editorial and opinion pages categories; second place in the best overall design and best front page categories; second place in the best online newspaper or website and best headline writing categories; and third place in the general excellence and community service for the Leader Holiday Dinner.
“We appreciate the contest judges’ acknowledgment of the strong journalism produced by the Leader staff,” Editor Gary Castor said of the awards. “The Leader team shares a strong commitment to covering the news of Jefferson County and cherishes the privilege and opportunity it has to inform, engage and entertain our community.”
Reporter Abby Stetina won first place in the best feature category for the story headlined “Training is key” and second place in the multimedia reporting category for the same story.
Reporter Laura Marlow won first place in the best serious columnist category (for columns in the Jan. 23, April 24 and May 29 Jefferson County Leader papers) and in the best story about history category for a story headlined “Farm foundation,” second place in the best health category for a story headlined “Rockin’ the Hope” and third place in the best news or feature obituary category.
Sports editor Russell Korando won first place in the best sports columnist category (for columns in the Feb. 20, July 10 and Aug. 7 Jefferson County Leader papers) and second place for the best sport pages category.
Special sections editor and production artist Lindsay Recar won first place in the best photo illustration category for a farm map overlay in the July 31 edition of the Jefferson County Leader.
Reporter Goldie Lowe won first place in the best business category for a story about Clark’s Barbershop.
Cody Taylor swept the top three awards in the best editorial cartoon category, winning first place for “Where’s the friends,” second place for “Old tech” and third place for “It’s all good.”
Reporter Kevin Carbery won first place in the best reporting using the Sunshine Law for a story headlined “Discord on the board.”
Photographer Ron Rigdon won second place in the best news photograph category for a photograph of the demolition of Immaculate Conception in the Sept. 4 edition of the Jefferson County Leader, second place in the best sports photograph category for a photo headlined “Ruble scores touchdown” in the Sept. 11 edition of the Jefferson County Leader and third place in the best sports photograph category for a photo headlined “Ketcherside at bat” in the June 12 edition of the Jefferson County Leader.
Patty Meyer won second place in the best feature photograph category for a Mardi Gras parade photo in the March 6 edition of the Jefferson County Leader.
Letters editor Kim Robertson won second place in the best investigative reporting category for a story headlined “Big lawsuit.”
Teresa Inserra won second place in the best story about education category for a story headlined “Fast food,” third place in the category best story about rural life or agriculture for a story headlined “Dream Catchers,” third place in the category best story about history for a story headlined “All in the family” and third place in the category best health story for a story headlined “What’s the score?”
Reporter and Eureka Leader editor Tony Krausz won third place in the best news story category for a story headlined “Assistant prosecuting attorney resigns” and third place in the best feature story for a story headlined “Former pro sumo wrestler teaches.”
Leader reporter Abby Stetina was awarded this year’s William E. James Outstanding Young Journalist award. During the Missouri Press’ Annual Convention and Trade Show awards brunch on Sept. 26, Stetina was honored alongside three other recipients. She was given a plaque and a check for $500.
In other trade-related news, Leader Publisher Peggy Scott was elected vice chairwoman of the National Newspaper Association during the association’s 140th annual meeting in Detroit on Sept. 18.