Local Media Association honors Joplin Globe

The Joplin Globe's comprehensive coverage, thoughtful design and modern advertising earned the Local Media Association's Newspaper of the Year award for 2012. The Globe competed against daily newspapers with circulations less than 30,000.

"The Joplin Globe serves its readers well with a comprehensive news report coupled with in-depth articles and features," wrote the judges. They praised the Globe's coverage of a May 2011 tornado that devastated the city, and especially the Globe's compilation of biographies and photos of storm victims. The EF-5 tornado killed 158 people.

"Thoughtful design continues throughout the sections, and the advertising is modern and inviting," judges wrote. "Headlines are appropriate in size and design and accurately written. This is a newspaper that is paying attention to its readers and its community."

The contest was judged by the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism. The Sioux City Journal, of Sioux City, Iowa, was named the Newspaper of the Year among dailies with circulations greater than 30,000. Winners also were named in five categories of non-daily newspapers.

Earlier this year, the Local Media Association honored Joplin Globe Editor Carol Stark as Editor of the Year for daily newspapers, citing her leadership of the news staff in the aftermath of the tornado.

The Globe is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc., of Montgomery Ala.