2025 MPA Awards
Munising Beacon earns second place for Newspaper of the Year; co-publisher Steve Stiffler also honored with top statewide award
Recognized at the Michigan Press Association Awards in Lansing, the Beacon’s honors reflect newsroom excellence across reporting, writing, design and photography.
Munising (April 27, 2026) – The Munising Beacon was awarded second place by the Michigan Press Association for Newspaper of the Year in the Class D Weekly category, recognizing the publication’s continued commitment to high-quality local journalism and community storytelling.
Newspapers from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula swept the top three spots in the Class D Weekly category, with the Newberry News placing first, the Munising Beacon second and the St. Ignace News third.
The honor reflects the leadership of co-publishers Jennifer Champagne and Steve Stiffler, as well as the strength of The Beacon’s core editorial team: Michael Murray, editor in chief; Kristy Basolo, senior editor; Champagne, managing editor; and Melissa Wentarmini, associate editor.
In addition to The Beacon’s recognition, Stiffler earned first place for Newspaper of the Year with the Newberry News, marking his fourth consecutive win since purchasing the paper six years ago. Stiffler founded The Munising Beacon in 2022 and has since returned as co-publisher alongside current owner Champagne after ownership transitions in 2023 and 2024, continuing his leadership in community journalism across the region.
“This recognition reflects the work of an entire team that believes deeply in local news,” Champagne said. “Every story, every photo and every page is built around serving this community — and it means a lot to see that work acknowledged.”
The Munising Beacon’s second-place finish was supported by strong individual performances across multiple categories:
- Michael Murray earned first place in Sports Writing for “U.P. Finals: ‘I’m proud of both teams’” and third place in Best Page or Pages Design for the Feb. 7 front page.
- Jennifer Champagne earned first place in Education/School News for the “Spotlight on Schools” series, second place in Business News for “U.P. roots, global reach,” second place in Feature Story for “Remembering a quiet hero” and an honorable mention in News Enterprise Reporting for “Navigating the waters.”
- Melissa Wentarmini received first place in Feature Story for “Rediscovering true north” and second place in Sports Feature for “Tracks through the wilderness.”
- Rachael Gurski was recognized across multiple photography categories, earning second place in Photo Story for “Munising Middle School basketball,” second place in Sports Photograph for “Lindquist scrambles for the ball,” and third place finishes in both Sports Photograph (“Kienitz’s headlock”) and News Photo (Lt. Gov. Gilchrist visits Michigan Ice Fest).
- Ana-Marija Dolaskie placed third in Best Columnist.
Together, the awards reflect a news team that continues to grow in both reach and impact, balancing breaking news, feature storytelling, sports coverage and visual journalism.
“In a rapidly changing media landscape, with newspaper closures common and corporate ownership always expanding, we believe there’s still room for excellent community journalism — in print and digital formats,” Murray said. “Our goal is to provide best-in-state coverage, and this is a great start.”
The Munising Beacon is published weekly and serves readers across Alger County, with a focus on local government, schools, business, community events and human-interest features. Champagne acquired the publication in August 2025 from former owners Jill and Dustin Denkins, following a period of prior ownership before its return to local leadership.
About the Munising Beacon:
The Munising Beacon is a locally owned weekly newspaper serving Alger County, Michigan, with a focus on community-centered journalism. Coverage includes local government, schools, business, public safety, sports and feature storytelling, with an emphasis on accuracy, transparency and meaningful connection to the community. The Beacon is committed to telling the stories that matter most to the people who live and work in the region.
