Publishers of:
At the January 2026 Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention, TMC Publication CO accepted 25 awards during the Better Newspaper Contest Awards banquet. Accepting them in person were (left to right) Eric Erickson, Tesha M. Christensen (owner), Amy Holmberg and Jill Boogren. Our woman-owned, family-run newspaper group includes the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, Midway Como Frogtown Monitor and Southwest Connector (now Southwest Voices following a fall 2025 merger).
1) General Excellence, 1st place: Southwest Connector/Voices
NEWS
2) General Reporting, 3rd place: Midway Como Frogtown Monitor
3) Freedom of Information Award, 2nd place: Tesha M. Christensen, “Journalists under fire here in America,” and “Racism takes aim at community members in newspaper,” Midway Como Frogtown Monitor
4) Social issues story, 1st place: Jill Boogren, “More trans Americans are calling Minnesota home”
5) Local Breaking News Coverage, 1st place: Jane McClure, “Midway Cub Foods closing,” Midway Como Frogtown Monitor;
6) Local Breaking News Coverage, 3rd place: Tesha M. Christensen, “Brandon Long leaves NENA, interim director appointed,” Longfellow Nokomis Messenger
7) Investigative Reporting, 1st place: Amy Holmberg, “AI and education;”
8) Investigative Reporting, 2nd place: Tesha M. Christensen, “Who get’s career training in high school?”
9) Investigative Reporting, 3rd place: Tesha M. Christensen, “What’s the future look like for independent pharmacies?”
10) Sports feature story, 2nd place: Eric Erickson, “Como wrestler earns second in state,” Midway Como Frogtown Monitor
11) Human Interest Story, 2nd place: Margie O’Loughlin, “Food equals love,” Longfellow Nokomis Messenger
12) Human interest, personality feature/profile: 3rd place, Allie Johnson, “Gift of warmth, Southwest Connector
13) Business profile, 3rd place: Danielle Fraser, “Two co-ops, same block,” Longfellow Nokomis Messenger
14) Hard news, 3rd place: Jane McClure, Matthew Johnson, Aurora Pass, “Will shelter guests be safe?” “Loon lands at Allianz Field,” and “Can Snelling-University area be fixed?” Midway Como Frogtown Monitor
PHOTOGRAPHY
15) Use of Photography as a Whole, 1st place: Southwest Connector
16) Use of Photography as a Whole, 3rd place: Longfellow Nokomis Messenger
17) Photography Feature photo, 1st place: Terry Faust, kids looking at bug
18) Photography Portrait and Personality, 2nd place: Tesha M. Christensen, “Bull’s Horn’s chef Doug”
DESIGN
19) Typography and Design, 1st place: Longfellow Nokomis Messenger
20) Typography and Design, 2nd place: Southwest Connector
21) Typography and Design, 3rd place: Midway Como Frogtown Monitor
22) Use of color in advertising, 1st place: Berry Farm
23) Use of color in advertising, 2nd place: Alexander’s Auto
24) Use of color in advertising, 3rd place Como Connects, designer Tesha M. Christensen
25) Use of Information Graphics and Graphic Illustrations, 1st place: Tesha M. Christensen, “Towerside graphic,” Midway Como Frogtown Monitor
TMC Publications CO has been honored as the 2026 recipient of the Midway Chamber Small Business of the Year award. TMC Publications CO publishes the Midway Como Frogtown Monitor, Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, and Southwest Voices.
From the nomination:
In an ever-changing and challenging media landscape, independent, local journalism is increasingly rare. Every month, TMC Publications publishes three papers – Midway Monitor, Longfellow Nokomis Messenger and Southwest Voices – each of which covers a comprehensive range of topics important to their respective neighborhoods and businesses. Serving the Midway, Como and Frogtown areas, the Monitor continues to provide insight into both top-of-mind and lesser-known issues through thoughtful and unbiased writing, interviews and photos. The publication continues to be widely respected, reliable and well-read in the community and is one of the only ways to consistently reach residents and businesses that make up the Midway area.
Because of TMC journalists’ engagement in the community, the newspaper encapsulates a wide range of perspectives and topics. This knowledge has benefited the Midway Chamber by connecting us with prospective members and program topics and speakers. Every month, the Monitor includes a column written by Chad on a timely and pressing topic – enabling us to reach the Midway community, which would otherwise be difficult to do. As a reader, I use the Monitor as a community resource for information, insight and perspective; there’s isn’t a better way to have a finger on the pulse of what’s important to the Midway community – from education, business and local government to health & wellness, community events and more.
TMC relies on advertising income, as a for-profit business, yet publication representatives have a non-invasive sales approach to selling ad space. I have also appreciated that the newspaper issues are available for public viewing without a paywall, which has made it very easy to share articles. In addition to the Midway Chamber, TMC is also a member of the Minnesota Newspaper Association, Midwest Free Community Papers, and Association of Community Publishers. Finally, last year, through a Midway silent auction, I was the lucky winner of a donation from TMC that included items from local businesses and a T-shirt with the saying “Free Thought – Free Speech – Free Press” in a basket made of repurposed newspapers!
At the 158th annual Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention in January 2025, TMC Publications earned 11 awards. Accepting them in person were (left to right) Tesha M. Christensen, Jan Willms and Terbuto Ochothow. Our woman-owned, family-run newspaper group includes the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, Midway Como Frogtown Monitor and the Southwest Connector.
• Business Profile, 2nd place: Tesha M. Christensen for "South Lyndale Liquor triples size"
• Columnist, 2nd place: Eric Ortiz
• Human Interest Story - Personality, 3rd place: Jan Willms for "The Sign Painter"
• Social Issues Story, 3rd place: Jan Willms for "Helping youth succeed"
• Photography News Photo, 1st place: Tesha M. Christensen for Slice Pizza ribbon cutting
• Photography News Photo, 2nd place; Terbuto Ochothow for "African Fest"
• Photography Portrait and Personality, 2nd place: Terbuto Ochothow for "Brewery owner"
• Typography and Design, 1st Place: Southwest Connector
• Advertising Excellence, 2nd place: Southwest Connector
• Use of Photography as a Whole, 3rd place: Southwest Connector
• Use of Information Graphics and Graphic Illustrations, 3rd place: Intersection of ideas on I-94
The Midwest Free Community Papers (MFCP) announced on April 3, 2025 that TMC Publications CO had earned 5 awards:
• General Excellence: Southwest Connector, 1st Place
• Best Website: Midway Como Frogtown Monitor, 2nd Place
• Best Website: Southwest Connector, 3rd Place
• Best Holiday Ad (other than Christmas): Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, Chocolat Celeste, Honorable Mention
• Best Editorial Photography: Southwest Connector, Lake Harriet Lower Campus Principal, Terry Faust, 2nd Place
The owner and editor of the Monitor, Messenger, and Connector, Tesha M. Christensen, was named the 2025 Midway Chamber Volunteer of the Year. "Tesha does a lot for the Midway Chamber, including taking photographs at many events and promoting our work and programming through the newspaper," said Chamber Executive Director Chad Kulas. "She is also our Ambassador Committee Chair and sits on the board of directors and our communications committee. Her dedication to the Midway Chamber is also a sign of her dedication to the Midway community in general, and has helped her become an expert on what’s happening around the neighborhood."
TMC Publication CO earned 4 awards at the 2024 Midwest Free Community Papers annual contest.
• Best Website: Midway Como Frogtown Monitor, 3rd place
• Best Original News Story: Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, "Residents Speak Up to Say 'No'" by Tesha M. Christensen, 3rd place
• Best Original Editorial: Southwest Connector, "Jumping In" by J.D. Fratzke, 1st place
• Best Original Photography: Southwest Connector, "Lighting Up A Winter Night" by Tesha M. Christensen, 3rd place
1st place awards: 9
2nd place awards: 5
3rd place awards: 6
Southwest Connector (only 1 year old!): 9
Longfellow Nokomis Messenger (40th anniversary year): 8
Midway Como Frogtown Monitor: 3
TMC Publication's three newspapers earned a total of 20 awards at this year's Better Newspaper Contest through the Minnesota Newspaper Association. They were presented in January 2023. Congrats to the winners!
NEWS
1) First Place, Sports Story - Eric Erickson, “Unforgettable dream come true,” Midway Como Frogtown Monitor, October 2021. Judge’s comment: Great use of photographs put this entry in first place. Great writing and what a day for those athletes! It is like we were there!
2) First Place, Investigative Journalism - Jill Boogren, “Did city mislead, downplay public input on 38th and Chicago survey?” Southwest Connector, Dec. 2, 2021 (also ran in the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger). Judge’s comment: The information from the survey was very enlightening on this issue. Comments from the postcards didn’t match public officials’ comments. Information was displayed attractively which helped with understanding the content.
3) First Place, Hard News - Tesha M. Christensen, “A new Dale Street bridge,” Midway Como Frogtown Monitor, September 2021
4) Second Place, Hard News - Tesha M. Christensen, “It’s Cheatham Avenue now,” Longfellow Nokomis Messenger
5) Third Place, Hard News - Tesha M. Christensen, “Should 3rd Precinct stay in Longfellow?” Longfellow Nokomis Messenger
PHOTOS
6) First Place, Photography Portrait and Personality - Terry Faust, “Affordable housing architect,” Southwest Connector, March 3, 2022. Judge’s comment: Good composition, fill flash, and posing of the subject, each of which is a skill of its own.
7) First Place, Photography News Photo - Tesha M. Christensen, “Art on the Edge,” Southwest Connector, Aug. 4, 2022.
8) Third Place, Photography Feature Photo - Tesha M. Christensen, “Blindfolded clay throw down,” Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, September 2022. Judge’s comment: Liked the composition of the photo and the story line. Good composition with great lines of focus down the potters’ line.
INFOGRAPHIC
9) Second Place, Use of Information Graphics and Graphic Illustrations - Tesha M. Christensen, “Lake Street 2 years later,” Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, July 2022. Judge’s comment: Nice pictures
DESIGN
10) Third Place, Typography and Design - Andoni Aldasoro and Tesha M. Christensen, Southwest Connector. Judge’s comment: Good design. A great entry in a crowded field.
ADS
11) First Place, Advertising Campaign - Tesha M. Christensen, “Henry W. Anderson Mortuary,” Longfellow Nokomis Messenger
12) First Place, Use of Color in Advertising - Sandra Mikulsky and Tesha M. Christensen, “Roadrunner Records,” Southwest Connector. Judge’s comment: I like the orange for an ad for a record company. It harkens back to a time when harvest golds and earthy shades were all the rage but the shade you choose doesn’t scream 70s.
13) First Place, Best Advertisement - Sandra Mikulsky and Tesha M. Christensen, “Village Shores,” Southwest Connector. Judge’s comment: Winner has the best balance, use of white space, accurate photo (doesn’t look like stock image, even if it is) and large text to grab the eye.
14) First Place, Institutional Advertisement - Sandra Mikulsky and Tesha M. Christensen, “Yinghua Academy,” Southwest Connector.
15) Second Place, Use of Color in Advertising - Sandra Mikulsky and Tesha M. Christensen, “United Noodles,” Longfellow Nokomis Messenger. Judge’s comment: You did a good job pulling the red and green from the photo into the words - it ties it together.
16) Second Place, Best Advertisement - Sandra Mikulsky and Tesha M. Christensen, “ReUse Center,” Longfellow Nokomis Messenger.
17) Second Place, Institutional Advertisement - Denis Woulfe and Tesha M. Christensen, “Elmhurst Cemetery,” Midway Como Frogtown Monitor.
18) Third Place, Use of Color in Advertising - Denis Woulfe and Tesha M. Christensen, “Fun City Dogs,” Southwest Connector. Judge’s comment: There was just the right amount of different colors to tie everything together and draw the eye, without overdoing it.
19) Third Place, Best Advertisement - Tesha M. Christensen, “Longfellow Business Association,” Longfellow Nokomis Messenger.
20) Third Place, Self-promotion or House Ad - Tesha M. Christensen, “Looking for carriers,” Southwest Connector.
We are proud to have won the following awards from the Minnesota Newspaper Association that were presented in January 2022:
1) Iric Nathanson, 2nd Place, hard news, Messenger, "Redesign saves Coliseum from wrecking ball"
2) Chloe Peter, Margie O’Loughlin and Tesha M. Christensen, 2nd Place, Category X, for five articles about COVID-19 in the Messenger: “Pregnant and parenting during COVID-19," “People and Pets keeps families from giving up on animals,” “TSA agent, Longfellow man dies of COVID-19,” “Up close with three coffee shops,” and “Up close with local families: glimpse into their lives as they juggle work and online schooling during COVID-19 pandemic.”
3) Tesha M. Christensen, 3rd place, Social Issues, Monitor, “She must have done something wrong," part of the Voices Against Violence series.
We are proud to have won the following award from the Minnesota Newspaper Association that were presented in January 2021:
1) Tesha M. Christensen, 2nd place, Social Issues, Messenger - “Jennifer's ex tired to convince her, others she was crazy," "No one will believe you," and "It should never have happened," 3 stories in the Voices Against Violence series.
