Wyoming wins ‘Best of NNA’ award for fifth consecutive year
Wyoming journalism is the “best.” Yet again.
The Wyoming Press Association won the National Newspaper Association Foundation’s “Best of NNA” Award for the fifth consecutive year and sixth time in seven years. The top honor was announced Tuesday as part of the unveiling of awards in the 2026 Better Newspaper Contest and Better Newspaper Advertising Contest.
Ten Wyoming newspapers totaled 114 awards, easily beating Texas with 69 wins and California with 67 wins for national excellence in editorial and advertising. The Riverton Ranger (32 awards, 11 first place), the Jackson Hole News&Guide (28, with 16 firsts) and Cheyenne’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle (19, with seven firsts) led the Cowboy State contingent.
The Green River Star (eight awards), Newcastle News Letter Journal (seven), Powell Tribune (four) and Glenrock Independent also claimed first-place awards. The Douglas Budget, Lander Journal and Pinedale Roundup won five awards apiece.
“Congratulations to Wyoming’s newspapers for being awarded the Best of NNA for another year. Newspapers like the Jackson Hole News&Guide, the Riverton Ranger and the Wyoming Tribune Eagle show the high-level of quality journalism and newspapers in our state,” said WPA Board President Joshua Wood. “Wyoming is home to strong newspapers which serve their often-rural communities with passion and dedication and awards such as this show we are still going strong.”
The 2026 contests included 3,350 entries from 93 newspapers in 32 states, according to the NNAF. The winners will be recognized at the foundation’s 140th annual convention and trade show on Sept. 18 in Detroit.
Judges handed out 724 awards in all.
For editorial, Sarah Squires, the managing editor of The Ranger, Lander Journal and Wind River News, won 10 individual awards. Green River Star Editor Hannah Romero, also a member of the WPA Board of Directors, won seven reporting awards. Riverton and Lander reporter Marit Gookin captured six awards and Pinedale Roundup Editor Cali O’Hare claimed five awards.
Anita Duran, a graphic designer in Riverton, won five editorial awards and six advertising awards.
“These awards reflect the dedication, professionalism, and passion of our local newspapers from one end of the state to the other that work every day to serve the people of Wyoming,” said WPA Executive Director Steve Kiggins. “Our communities are better, more connected and more informed thanks to local journalism, and I’m thrilled to see our members’ commitment rewarded at the highest level.”
He added, “Five years in a row. That’s truly an incredible accomplishment.”
Wyoming won the inaugural “Best of NNA” award in 2020 and placed second in 2021 before winning each of the last five years.
The NNA, established in 1885, is the voice of America’s community newspapers and one of the largest newspaper associations in the country. The NNAF, its educational arm, works to promote news literacy, protect the First Amendment, and enhance the quality, role and capabilities of community newspapers and community journalists.