What started just eight years ago as a three-daya- week free community newsletter has grown into a twice-a-week, award-winning newspaper featuring local news, entertainment, features, sports, advertising, special sections and more.
The Community News Brief (President & Publisher Lynne Campbell) recently brought home 12 awards, including two first place finishes, a Sweepstakes finish and a General Excellence placement, from the Illinois Press Association's (IPA) 2025 Convention. Members of the Georgia Press Association judged the IPA entries. The Community News Brief competed against numerous other Illinois newspapers in the Class B division at this year's contest.
General Excellence - 3rd Place Sweepstake Award Placed 2nd - The Harold and Eva White Trophy, Established by SUN Publications, a division of Copley Newspapers, in honor of the White's who were former SUN Publishers, Naperville Design
Best Niche Publication - 4th Place - Guide to the Drive, Morgan Payne & Tabitha Palm Best Garden/AG Designed ad - 3rd - Hart's Nursery Tabitha Palm Editorial
Feature Writing - Personality Profile 1st Place- Darcie Shinberger - The Boy Who Loved Superman 4th Place - Darcie Shinberger - Thrills, Chills & Black Comedy: MHS Grad Heads to Tribeca Film Fest Business/Economic Reporting
2nd Place - Darcie Shinberger - Real Estate Taxes Explained 3rd Place - Lynne Campbell - Marshalltown Series Freedom of Information Award 1st Place- Darcie Shinberger - Shooting death (by police) of four-year-old Terrell Miller 2nd Place - Darcie Shinberger - Suspension & Separation Agreement of Local Hospital CEO.
News Reporting - Series 3rd Place - Lynne Campbell & Darcie Shinberger Coverage of Ousted Hospital CEO 4th Place - Darcie Shinberger - Bullying Awareness Month In 2024, the CNB received 1st Place in the Personality Profile Division for the Fabulous Life of Martha Sweeney, by Lynne Campbell 'I never imagined when I began the Community News Brief that it would become such a successful paper. I knew the need for a local newspaper was out there, but I didn't expect such an overwhelming and positive response from the community. I can't thank our readers and advertisers enough for supporting our family on this venture. As for my staff, what a 'dream team' I have!! I appreciate each and every one of them for their contributions to our little newspaper, each plays a very important part in our success.'
In 2017, after years in newspaper industry management, and witnessing the decimation of local newspapers as they were snatched up by conglomerates and private equity firms, Campbell struck out on her own to create The Community News Brief (CNB) to serve the region where she was born and raised. Four years later, The Community News Brief flourished into a successful weekly newspaper, morphing the Friday free publication into a weekly subscription only paper, while still keeping two free 'newsletter' publications per week, all of which continued to feature local news, events, sports, entertainment and more. The Community News Brief continued its growth and in 2023, expanded into a twice-a-week by-subscription newspaper, while still keeping a free newsletter, now called The MIDWEEK (delivered to area businesses on Wednesdays). And effective June 4th, has expanded the reach of McDonough County's only locally-owned and operated newspaper, to a digital edition at communitynewsmarket. com.
Today, The Community News Brief employs 10 writers, two graphic designers, two delivery drivers and an office manager.
The Community News Brief is truly a family affair: the office manager (Lisa Miller) is Lynne's niece, one of the graphic designers (Tabitha Palm) is Lynne's daughter, her husband, Tony, continues to manage the distribution and helps out daily with whatever may come up, her son, (Tyler) is always willing to help with maintenance and building projects and her oldest daughter (Tiffany) designs an array of items and also makes all the Hometown Tees and Macomb Area Convention Center & Macombopoly t-shirts, magnets and other items for The Community Market.
In addition to the IPA awards, The Community News Brief was recently named 'Business of the Year' by the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce.
