The HSPA Foundation has presented the Blue Ribbon Award since 1972.
The Blue Ribbon remains the most coveted award in the Better Newspaper Contest. In the category’s 44-year history, The Corydon Democrat leads in total number of awards with 16 in the nondaily division. The Chronicle-Tribune (Marion) has earned nine awards – the most for any daily newspaper.
DAILIES
1972 – Chronicle-Tribune (Marion)
1973 – Bloomington Courier-Tribune
1974 – Chronicle-Tribune (Marion)
1975 – Herald Telephone (Bloomington)
1976 – Fort Wayne News Sentinel
1977 – Chronicle-Tribune (Marion)
1978 – Chronicle-Tribune (Marion)
1979 – The Shelbyville News
1980 – The Noblesville Ledger
1981 – Palladium-Item (Richmond)
1982 – Chronicle-Tribune (Marion)
1983 – Palladium-Item (Richmond)
1984 – Herald Telephone (Bloomington)
1985 – Fort Wayne News Sentinel
1986 – The Shelbyville News
1987 – Herald-Bulletin (Anderson)
1988 – Chronicle-Tribune (Marion)
1989 – South Bend Tribune
1990 – Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
1991 – Chronicle-Tribune (Marion)
1992 – Fort Wayne News Sentinel
1993 – The Times (Munster)
1994 – The Times (Munster)
1995 – The Times (Munster)
1996 – The Times (Munster)
1997 – The Times (Munster)
1998 – The Indianapolis Star
1999 – Chronicle-Tribune (Marion)
2000 – The Times (Munster)
2001 – Chronicle-Tribune (Marion)
2002 – Evansville Courier & Press
2003 – The Times (Munster)
2004 – Evansville Courier & Press
2005 – The Indianapolis Star
2006 – South Bend Tribune
2007 – The Herald-Times (Bloomington) 2008 – The Noblesville Ledger
2009 – Daily Journal (Franklin)
2010 – The Indianapolis Star
2011 – Evansville Courier & Press
2012 – The Indianapolis Star
2013 – Journal & Courier (Lafayette)
2014 – The Herald-Times (Bloomington)
2015 – Daily Journal (Franklin)
2016 – South Bend Tribune
2017 – Evansville Courier & Press
2018 – South Bend Tribune
NONDAILIES
1972 – Brown County Democrat (Nashville)
1973 – Vevay Reveille-Enterprise
1974 – Vevay Reveille-Enterprise
1975 – The Corydon Democrat
1976 – The Corydon Democrat
1977 – The Corydon Democrat
1978 – The News (Tell City)
1979 – The Corydon Democrat
1980 – The Corydon Democrat
1981 – The News (Tell City)
1982 – Brown County Democrat (Nashville)
1983 – The News (Tell City)
1984 – Brown County Democrat (Nashville)
1985 – The Corydon Democrat
1986 – The Herald Republican (Angola)
1987 – The Spencer County Journal Democrat (Rockport)
1988 – The Corydon Democrat
1989 – The Corydon Democrat
1990 – The Corydon Democrat
1991 – The Corydon Democrat
1992 – Zionsville Times Sentinel
1993 – The Herald Republican (Angola)
1994 – The Corydon Democrat
1995 – The Herald Republican (Angola)
1996 – The Corydon Democrat
1997 – The Herald Republican (Angola)
1998 – The Corydon Democrat
1999 – The Herald Republican (Angola)
2000 – The Corydon Democrat
2001 – Perry County News (Tell City)
2002 – The Spencer Co. Journal Democrat (Rockport)
2003 – Zionsville Times-Sentinel
2004 – The Noblesville Ledger
2005 – Mount Vernon Democrat
2006 – Mount Vernon Democrat
2007 – Brown County Democrat (Nashville)
2008 – Dearborn County Register (Lawrenceburg)
2009 – The Herald-Tribune (Batesville)
2010 – Brown County Democrat (Nashville)
2011 – The Times-Post (Pendleton)
2012 – The Corydon Democrat
2013 – Brown County Democrat (Nashville)
2014 – Hendricks County Flyer (Avon)
2015 – The Corydon Democrat
2016 – Ferdinand News
2017 – Times-Post (Pendleton)
2018 – The Herald-Tribune (Batesville)