Since we've been doing this for four years now, you might say we finally have our own "Top 40" list of hit-makers. But as we observe annually in this space, we are not honoring what we'd call the Ten Best newspapers but ten papers that have made great strides, and can serve as a model, in one (or several) important areas: Attractive design. Community awareness. News generated by staff initiative, not recycled wire copy. Interesting marketing ideas. Even, this year, compelling obits. Once again, we found much to like across the U.S.A., and so did many newspaper readers, so let the hits keep on comin'. -- Greg Mitchell

The Times-Picayune

New Orleans Tourists looking to experience New Orleans like the locals do should pick up a copy of