Our winners

To be recognized for excellence by one's peers is among the highest accolades anyone can receive. For the Southeast Missourian, 2006 has been a year of special recognition both on the state and national levels.

• The Missouri Press Foundation, an arm of the Missouri Press Association, named the Southeast Missourian the best newspaper in its class for overall general excellence.

* The National Newspaper Association judged the Missourian's Web site to be the best in the nation.

NNA also gave the Southeast Missourian Jr., the monthly publication for young readers, top honors for general excellence.

* And the Suburban Newspapers of America honored the Missourian with its prestigious Newspaper of the Year award, a designation that is now proudly displayed on the front-page every day. Judging for this award was by the American Press Institute in Reston, Va.

Each of these awards -- and the many others that the newspaper and its staff win every year -- are a tribute to the daily quest for excellence by bright, hard-working individuals who rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in journalism when it comes to professional recognition.

We are proud of these awards, because they recognize the coordinated effort of so many individuals -- an effort that results in fresh daily newspapers and well-received special products throughout the year.

We salute all of those employees.