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The Albert Lea Tribune took home 12 awards Thursday night in the Better Newspaper Contest banquet as part of the 157th annual Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention in Brooklyn Park. The awards included second place in General Reporting for multi-day newspapers under 5,000 circulation as well as several awards for its magazine.

“Classic community coverage executed with strong local ties by a skeleton editorial staff,” the judge wrote. “Some strong photography, little enterprise, but overall a valuable presentation of local news for readers.”

The Tribune won first and third place for Magazine General Reporting and second place for Best Magazine Design, both among all multi-day newspapers. Managing Editor Sarah Stultz won third place for Best Magazine Article.

The first-place magazine reporting award was for the November December/2022 issue of Albert Lea Magazine, which featured Albert Lea’s Santa Bob on the cover.

“I want to visit Albert Lea at Christmas,” the judge wrote. “This magazine covers the holidays and beyond — touching on just about every subject you could imagine to keep their readers entertained and informed. I love the dozens of photos from community events that show people’s faces and give their names. Even the book reviews take on a local angle. Great job. I’m sure this one stayed around for a while at most subscriber’s homes.”

Stultz’s third-place magazine article featured the family of Main Street Family Restaurant.

“Great article,” the judge wrote. “Clearly explains how the family migrated, and how they continue to work together. Well written.”

Stultz also won other writing awards for her work in the newspaper, including the following, all among other journalists at multi-day papers under 5,000 circulation:

• First place in the Human Interest category for a story about Albert Lea woman Victoria Lopez, who took part in the Healthy Start Act, which allowed her to be conditionally released from prison to be with her newborn twins.

“A well-written article that humanized a progressive state prison program,” the judge wrote. “Focusing on one woman’s experience helped to demonstrate the program’s effectiveness and take readers beyond the facts about the initiative.”

• First place in the Human Interest: News Feature category for an article after the overdose death of 16-year-old Manny Chavez.

“The best among a field of terrific entries,” the judge wrote. “From the start it pulls the reader through a sad but compelling, well-sourced story.”

• Second place in the Hard News: Courts/Crime Coverage category for her story on the sentencing of Devin Weiland, who was convicted in the shooting at Shady Oaks Apartments.

• Third place for Business Story for an article when Mayo Clinic Health System announced it would take down the original Naeve Hospital building.

Former reporter Alex Guerrero won second place in the Human Interest: Personality/Profile category for a story about the cancer journey of Albert Lean John Lang.

“A well-told accounting of a patient’s battle with cancer,” the judge wrote.

The newspaper also won third place in Advertising Excellence among all multi-day newspapers up to 10,000 circulation and first place for its Classified Advertising Section among all multi-day newspapers up to 5,000 circulation.