This award is given by the Montana Newspaper Association to persons, nominated by their peers, who are actively engaged in editing and/or publishing a newspaper which is a member in good standing of the MNA, or to a person who is retired from a MNA newspaper in good standing.
The selection is based upon:
- Contributions to the MNA and the profession of journalism
- Record of service in the profession
- Influence on others in the profession
- Esteem of fellow journalists
- An honorable personal life
| Recipients of the Montana Newspaper Association Master Editor/Publisher Award | ||
| Name | Newspaper | Year |
| Ken Byerly | Lewistown News-Argus | 1991 |
| Frank Burke | Glendive Ranger-Review | 1991 |
| Nathaniel Blumberg | U of M J-School | 1991 |
| Louise Rasmussen | Roundup Record-Tribune | 1991 |
| Hal Stearns | The Times-Clarion | 1991 |
| Mel Ruder | Hungry Horse News | 1991 |
| K.A. Eggensperger | Sanders County Ledger | 1992 |
| John F. Kavanagh | Shelby Promoter | 1992 |
| Brian Kennedy | Hungry Horse News | 1992 |
| Irvin Hutchison | Liberty County Times | 1993 |
| George Remington | Billings Gazette | 1993 |
| Verle Rademacher | Meagher County News | 1993 |
| Harry Downs | The Herald-News | 1994 |
| Bruce K. Smith | Bozeman Daily Chronicle | 1994 |
| John Talbot | Missoulian | 1994 |
| Frank Datta | Wibaux Pioneer-Gazette | 1995 |
| Dean Neitz | Anaconda Leader | 1995 |
| Helen Peterson | Hardin Herald | 1995 |
| Charles W. Walk | Independent Record | 1995 |
| William D. James | Great Falls Tribune | 1996 |
| Wayne E. Schile | Billings Gazette | 1997 |
| Robert C. McGiffert | U of M J-School | 1998 |
| Dwight Tracy | Havre Daily News | 1999 |
| Richard Wesnick | Billings Gazette | 2000 |
| Daniel A. Black | Daily Inter Lake | 2001 |
| Jerry Miller | The Times-Clarion | 2002 |
| John Watson | Miles City Star | 2002 |
| Milt & Gloria Wester | Laurel Outlook | 2002 |
| Don Coe | The Plainsman | 2003 |
| Devon H. Sorlie | High Country Independent Press | 2003 |
| Terry Dwyer | Great Falls Tribune | 2004 |
| Marc & Ginny Wilson | Bigfork Eagle | 2004 |
| Lloyd G. Schermer | Missoulian | 2005 |
| Dale & Beccy Oberly | Big Timber Pioneer | 2005 |
| Robert "Bob" Gilluly | Great Falls Tribune | 2006 |
| Richard C. "Dick" Berger | Cascade Courier | 2007 |
| Sally Campbell | Anaconda Leader | 2007 |
| Brian & LeAnne Kavanagh | Cut Bank Pioneer Press | 2008 |
| Rick Weaver | Bozeman Daily Chronicle | 2008 |
| Dick Crockford | Dillon Tribune | 2009 |
| Jeff & Melody Martinsen | Choteau Acantha | 2010 |
| Janice Anderson | Boulder Monitor | 2011 |
| Tom Kurdy | Daily Inter Lake | 2012 |
| Gary Moseman | Great Falls Tribune | 2012 |
| Dan Killoy | Miles City Star | 2013 |
| Libby Berndt | Sidney Herald | 2013 |
| Jim Strauss | Great Falls Tribune | 2014 |
| Stephanie Pressly | Bozeman Daily Chronicle | 2015 |
| Greg Corr | Whitehall Ledger | 2015 |
| Matt Gibson | Missoula Independent | 2016 |
| Burley & Rozlynn Bowler | Daniels County Leader | 2017 |
| Darla Downs | The Herald-News | 2018 |
| Mike Gulledge | Billings Gazette | 2019 |
| Chad Knudson | Glendive Ranger-Review | 2021 |
| David McCumber | Montana Standard | 2022 |