The annual Better Newspaper Contests foster excellence through competition among like-sized newspapers. Member newspaper submit thousands of entries in news, writing, advertising and digital categories. Judging is performed by other state newspaper associations, with winners announced during the annual convention. Points awarded to the winners of select categories are used to determine the newspaper awarded the coveted title of Newspaper of the Year.

Effective July 1, the public notice advertising rate will increase from 50.3 cents for a 12- pica wide line of eight-point type (or its equivalent) to 52.4 cents per line (35.3 cents per line for subsequent insertions). These rates should be charged for all public notices published on or after July 1, 2021.