Last week, the Michigan Press Association (MPA) informed us that The Oxford Leader is in the running for Newspaper of the Year in its circulation class.

The winner will be announced during the MPA’s annual gala and awards dinner Thursday, May 10 at the Kellogg Hotel and Convention Center in East Lansing.

Founded in 1898 and owned by the Sherman family since 1955, the Leader is one of three finalists in the Weekly D circulation class. The other two are the State Line Observer and The Boyne City Gazette.

“This is a great honor for us. It’s nice to be appreciated,” said Jim Sherman, Jr., publisher of the Leader since 1993.

“Every week, the staff works hard covering local events and government meetings, snapping photos of cute kids that end up filling family scrapbooks and refrigerator doors, and chronicling the achievements, deeds and milestones of folks of all ages. We’re committed to telling the story of our community and the people in it. Being a finalist for Newspaper of the Year shows our 120-year commitment to the community is paying off and our work is being recognized around the state. It’s the icing on the cake for us.”

The Newspaper of the Year Award honors the publication that earns the most points in its circulation class as part of the MPA’s annual Better Newspaper Contest (BNC).

BNC judges evaluate entries in 17 categories including reporting, opinion writing, photography, page design, etc. Entries are submitted by weekly and daily newspapers from around the state.

Each entry that’s awarded a place in the BNC earns its publication a certain amount of points toward the Newspaper of the Year Award. First place receives 100 points, second place 70 points and third place 40 points.