(21 entries)

Judge: William Carlsen, San Francisco Chronicle
Carlsen was a finalist for the 1999 Pulitzer Prize in explanatory reporting for a series chronicling the epidemic of health risks associated with the reckless use of unsafe hypodermic needles.

First Place
TONY ORTEGA
Phoenix New Times
"Think Tank Warfare"
"The report on the Goldwater Institute is an example of explanatory journalism at its very best. The journalist skillfully examines the complexities of think tanks in Arizona, as well as nationally, and places the Goldwater Institute in perspective through lucid writing and enterprising reporting. The article digs behind the obvious and carefully explores former Senator Goldwater's relationship with his namesake institution. The reporter makes use of the single issues of charter schools to trace the impact of the institute on Arizona public policy."

Second Place
JON KAMMAN
The Arizona Republic
"Pipe bacteria spell doom for fire sprinklers"
"This entry took a small drip of water from a leaking fire sprinkler system and used it to illuminate a potentially serious national problem. In clear, strong writing and thorough reporting the journalist explains how tiny corrosion-causing microbes that grow in sprinkler systems have baffled the experts and may be causing millions of dollars in damages. The article and sidebars never lose sight of the local impact and they explain the legal, financial and life-threatening implications of such corrosion."

Third Place
CHRIS FISCUS
The Arizona Republic
"Kosovo, sweet home"
"With a sensitive eye for detail, this reporter follows a single refugee family in its return from Arizona to Kosovo. The account gives a human face to the tragedy without sentimentalizing it. In the best tradition of explanatory journalism, the reporter uses the family's return to inform the reader of the conditions in post-war Kosovo and the war's devastating impact on people's lives. Excellent sidebars and timelines fill in the historical context and background."

Honorable Mention
EDWARD LEBOW
Phoenix New Times
"Street without hope"
"This is a searing behind-the-scenes account of homeless addicts that makes brilliant use of the efforts of social workers and the police to explain both the hope and hopelessness of their plight. The reporter expertly blends statistics with human characters to shed light on this complex issue."