(32 entries)

Judge: Anne Smith, executive features editor, Austin American-Statesman
Smith has been at the Austin American-Statesman for 16 years, the last two as editor of XLent, a weekly entertainment magazine. She has recently been named executive features editor.

First Place
BRIAN SMITH
Phoenix New Times
"Terminal condition," "Black Monday" and "Knight watchman"
"This columnist writes eloquently of people you might not meet in the course of daily living: a bus-station evangelist, a Circle K security guard. You get a clear, detailed picture without heavy handed judgement. Does a wonderful job of bringing characters to life. You don't forget them once you've read about them.

Second Place
JILL BLONDIN
Tucson Citizen
"Abused children now suffering on witness stand," "A missed chance to shake the president's hand" and "Young children need special help when a parent dies"
"Writer does an elegantly balanced job of writing about everyday life, her family and community without falling into the `look at me' trap. Great ability for telling a story in a compelling order. I bet her readers love her ­ she reveals just the right amount about her feelings."

Third Place
BILL GOODYKOONTZ
The Arizona Republic
"Confessions on a brief bikini fling," "You are there -- media circus maximus" and "If you insist, boss, I'll telecommute"
"This is very funny stuff. Humor is so difficult to do well ­ almost no one does a good job. This columnist does. He writes with hilarious self-deprecating wit, but also shows a good sense of self-confidence and awareness. The tele-community column was so perfect. He sees right into the heart of what makes the human condition so silly and funny at times. Would love to read him every day."