––––––––––––––– Awards & Accomplishments ––––––––––––––
Sym-bi-osis
“A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence”

The North Dallas Gazette was founded in 1991 in the southern sector of Dallas, under the name of Minority Opportunity News, with the concept of providing symbiosis within the African American community at its core.

Recognizing the lack of opportunity for the dissemination of news and information relevant to the minority community, Jim Bochum and Thurman Jones founded Minority Opportunity News. Since its inception, it has fostered an informed and involved readership by covering local initiatives, national and international topics, and highlighting the concerns of people of color.

In October 2000, the paper relocated to Plano and changed its name to MON-The Gazette, to service an underserved minority community in the northern sector of Dallas. We have grown with the community, and our awareness of the changing needs of the minority community in the north Dallas sector has provided us with the opportunity to serve it better.

And to serve you better we have changed our name to The North Dallas Gazette, which reflects our territorial coverage of the north Dallas sector and the people we serve.

Our readers are our community, and we are still dedicated to providing symbiosis within the African American community. We continue to inform you of the varying perspectives on local, national and international issues, and keep you abreast of economic and business opportunities.

Symbiosis: it really does define what makes The North Dallas Gazette “The Paper of Choice” for the whole community.

Minority Opportunity News Honored at Black Press 60th Anniversary:
Received Prestigious Messenger Award (2000)
Chicago- The National Newspaper Publishers Association's (NNPA) Messenger Awrds presented four black publications with top journalism awards recently. The Messenger Awards recognize African American publishers and writers for excellence in news story, commentary and editorial writing. More than 200 NNPA members gathered for the ceremony during the group's 60th Anniversary at its annual convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel/McCormick Place.
Top honors for best civil rights news story went to the Minority Opportunity News of Dallas, Texas. Taking first place in the education category for the second year was The Houston Defender. Recognition awards for editorial and commentary writing were picked up by NOKOA of Austin, Texas and the The Virgin Islands Daily News of St. Thomas. The awards are named for the African American "Messenger" magazine founded by civil rights leader, A. Philip Randolph in 1917.
The Messenger Awrds program was established and sponsored by Miller Brewing Company and is given annually to the publisher and writer of the best overall news article in each category of Civil Rights and Education. Along with custom-made awards, the two top winning newspapers receive $1000 each for their non-profit organization of choice. Each top writer takes home a $1500 cash prize.

MON-The Gazette Receives National Award at the NNPA Convention (2002)
Jacksonville, FL - Recently, Miller Brewing Company, sponsor of the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s (NNPA) Messenger Awards, presented four African American publications with top journalism awards. African American publications were recognized with Messenger Awards for excellence in news, commentary and editorial writing. More than 400 gathered for the ceremony at the Omni Jackson Hotel in Jacksonville, FL, marking the tenth anniversary of the sponsorship. The Messenger Awards is named from the African American “Messenger Magazine” founded by civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph in 1917. The Messenger Awards program was established by Miller in 1992 and is given annually to the publisher and writer of the best overall news article in each category of Civil Rights and Education. Along with the awards, the two top winning newspapers receive $1,000 each from a non-profit organization of their choice. Each top writer receives a $1,500 cash prize. Top honors for best civil rights and education news story went to the Capital Outlook of Tallahassee, FL. It was the first time in the history of the Messenger awards where one newspaper takes first place in both primary categories. MON-The Gazette out of Plano, Texas and Youngstown, Ohio’s The Buckeye Review picked up recognition awards for editorial and commentary writing. Belinda G. Alexander, a writer for MON-The Gazette, received an award for outstanding journalism in the area of educational editorial and commentary. Thurman Jones, publisher of MON-The Gazette, said “I’m humbled to receive such a reward given the level of competition from fine publications around the nation.” For the second time in the last four years, Mon-The Gazette received an award for excellence in news story. In 1999, Mon-The Gazette was awarded with top honors for best civil rights news story. “The Miller Brewing Company is proud to support excellence and celebrate achievement in African American communities,” said Tina Walls, VP of Corporate Affairs. “We feel a strong commitment in our partnership with the NNPA and the important goals they support.

Awards

2005 Texas Publishers Association (TPA)
• 1st Place Best Religion Section
• 2nd Place Best Newspaper
• 2nd Place Best Use of Color
• 2nd Place Best Design & Layout
• 2nd Place Best Photography
• 2nd Place Best News Story

2002 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)
• Messenger Award

2001 Texas Publishers Association
• 1st Place Best Editorial
• 3rd Place Best Sports Event

2000 Prestigious A. Philip Randolph Messenger Awards
• Finalist - Outstanding Journalism in the area of Civil Rights
National Newspaper Publishers Association
• 3rd Place Best Editorial

1999 Texas Publishers Association
• 1st Place Best Editorial
• 2nd Place Best Use of Color

1998 Texas Publishers Association
• 1st Place Best Monthly
• 1st Place Best Educational Feature
• 1st Place Best Education Column
• 1st Place Best Religion Column
• 1st Place Best Entertainment

1997 National Association of Black Journalists Region 7 MAAT Awards
• Special Sections: Mon II

1997 Dallas/Fort Worth Association of Black Communicators Griot Awards
• Best Communicators
• Best Arts and Entertainment

1997 Texas Publishers Association
• Newspaper of the Year
• 1st Place Best Editorial
• 1st Place Best Sports News Feature
• 2nd Place Best News Story
• 2nd Place Most Community Involvement
• Recognition Best Layout & Design

1995 Texas Publishers Association
• 1st Place Editorial
• 1st Place Feature
• 2nd Place Sports News Feature
• 2nd Place News Story
• 3rd Newspaper of the Year