C1 Investigative reporting — Don Bolles Award

Judge: Bob Porterfield is a founder of IRE and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner.

"The Kids Are Not Alright"

"If Children are our future something is terribly amiss in Arizona. This was a powerfully effective examination of governmental corruption in its most basic form — the corruption of responsibility to care for those least able to care for themselves. The package is a good example of how you approach a subject when public officials stand mute and obstruct access. It should be required bedtime reading for the Arizona State Legislature."

"A Permanent Crisis"

"With a growing trend in America to privatize what should be basic governmental services, this series is a good example of the major pitfall in allowing private enterprise to perform public services —- profit over performance. It highlights for the reader one of the most egregious obstacles faced by journalists today — public officials hiding behind the old privacy excuse to cover their own shortcomings."

"Still a United Way?"

"Just when you thought United Way had cleaned up its act on the national level, we find that apparently nothing has changed in many local operations. This series should give any contributor pause before pulling out their checkbook. The effective use of documents to support the newspaper's findings made the series especially strong."

C2 John Kolbe Politics and Government Reporting Award

Judge: David Postman, chief political reporter for The Seattle Times, is a National Headliner award winner.

"Primary Colors

"Great job handling a tough issue. Race in politics is often under-covered, and too often sensationalized when it is covered. As one candidate said in the story, "There's not a lot of honesty about this." But this story, helped by strong writing and thorough reporting, tells the story in an honest and engaging fashion."

"How Lobbyists steer Arizona’s Course"

"Lobbyists are sometimes easy pickings for political reporters. But this thorough story showed how average citizens are pitted against big-buck professionals. A look at campaign donations by lobbyists analyzed not just how much was given, but when, and found the bulk of the money coming right before the Legislature convenes."

"East Valley Waits as Road Funding Goes West"

and Chris Fiscus

The Arizona Republic

"State, Cities Spending Big on PR"

"Both these were good examples of stories to be found in public information kept by governments. Both showed a good balance between facts and figures and the voices and anecdotes that keep the stories moving."

C3 News column
writing

Judge: Derrick Z. Jackson is a columnist for the Boston Globe. He was a finalist for the 2001 Pulitzer Prize in commentary for his columns on subjects ranging from politics to education to race.

"You Say You Want a Resolution," "Foreign Aid" and "Everybody’s Fine"

"Foreign Aid" powerfully dramatizes the struggle of seniors to afford prescription drugs through the journey of Cathy Meadows across the Mexican border. The author nicely bolsters a clear sense of personal outrage by delivering a wellspring of background facts and a meticulous rendition of Meadows's ailment. It was by far the best blend of all the entrants of a personal point of view and illustrating the point by reporting out someone else’s story. "

"Technology Gets in Your Face," "Keep an Eye on Your Rights," and "Inalienable, Not Expendable"

"Inalienable, not expendable" was the most thoughtful effort of any entrant in probing a piece of the American psyche. Using a very nice variety of ancedotes, particularly ones from the military and police, the author challenges readers to consider just how much we consider the innocent dead, "collateral damage." "Technology gets in your face" was a compelling effort to warn readers that even as they use their cell phones, go on the Internet or even go to a football game, a new world of surveillance is enveloping us. By pulling together many examples, the author makes you wonder if we are living with the very "Big Brother" foretold by Orwell.

"Ignoring Aryans’ Vile Beliefs Only Allows the Sore to Foster," "A Marshall Plan for Mexico" and "President Polk Deserves a Holiday for Mistakes"

"A Marshall Plan for Mexico" walks the reader through a well-informed argument that Americans cannot forever view and use Mexico merely for cheap labor. The author’s passion for more equitable economic relations between the US and Mexico is grounded not in heated rhetoric but in a persuasive reading of history and judicious use of experts."

C4 Deadline news reporting

Judge: Ken Retherferd, weekend editor at The Decatur Daily, won a Pulitzer Gold Medal for Public Service for exposing a corrupt sheriff in Panama City, Florida.

"Mayor Falls at the Polls"

"Showed significant initiative by the reporter and got dramatic results."

"Sky Harbor Buzzes East Valley Stadium Site"

"Good, but a weak lede and doesn’t explain the safety concerns as well as it might have. The officials’ failure to get clear FAA approval deserved more prominence."

"Death in the Desert’

"Showed a lot of hard work through the night, but doesn’t contain as much description of the scene as you would hope to get from a reporter who was there. The background material at the end of the story cluttered it, and perhaps should have been a sidebar."

C5 Non-deadline reporting

Judge: Don Johnson is an assistant managing editor for The Fresno Bee, supervising the metro and business departments. He also edits special projects at the newspaper. He has received numerous regional and national awards for his work, including the Benjamin Fine award for education reporting, the Institute for Southern Studies award for environmental reporting, a Dallas Press Club award, Green Eyeshade award and Mid-South SPJ award for Whitewater coverage and California Newspaper Publishers Association awards for breaking news reporting and best writing.

"Buzz Kill"

"Crop dusters spray pesticides on home, animals and people while the Arizona Department of Agriculture does little to stop them. An excellent example of in-depth reporting on an important environmental topic. New Times reviewed five years of compliance and worker protection files revealing that regulators were failing in their efforts to protect the public. This story had everything: great investigative reporting, solid writing and a compelling issue."

"Trauma System at Risk"

"A fine report on an important issue for the community — the potential loss of two trauma centers. A good public service piece with a strong sidebar on possible solutions to the problem."

"Man Battles Obesity, HMO in
Fight for Life"

"An interesting story on an emerging issue in the medical community: the most drastic step in weight reduction surgery called gastric bypass. Fine writing that focused the story quickly for the reader. The sidebar on the patient success story produced a nice package."

"DPS Probe Into Crash Marred
By Errors"

C6 Sustained beat reporting

Judge: David Cay Johnston covers taxes and pensions for the New York Times and won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for beat reporting. He previously worked for the Philaqdelphia Inquirer, the Los Angeles Times, the Detroit Free Press and the San Jose Mercury News.

"The UA Beat"

"Among several entries that took a good skeptical look at education issues, these Tucson Citizen stories showed initiative and skillfully demonstrated an appreciation of nuance and an eye for significance. That the University of Arizona's funding formula is tied to growth, the best of the bunch, was a superb story of how poorly conceived government policies will create havoc for taxpayers and, in this case, students. That the university operates from half-baked policies in other areas raises grave doubts about the competency of its administration and, worse, the degree to which its regents have their heads in football instead of academics."

"Fire"

"New Times’ extensive and, I am sure, locally controversial coverage of the urban sprawl arsonist displayed skill in fitting together small details to craft a larger story. Significantly, it gave a sympathetic voice to some of the loony thinking of those inclined toward such criminal acts or their perpetrators, helping all of us better understand another element of our diverse world that is too often dismissed by the press as too loony to listen to. Once the arsonist came forth the reporter handled the opportunity with skill and initiative and also let readers in enough on the reporting process to appreciate some important subtleties. The articles were also impressive for integrity in acknowledging, and dealing with, the paper’s own flaws in its coverage."

"Mesa Playing Favorites"

"Government’s necessary power of eminent-domain can also be used to favor friends and soak taxpayers and in these articles the reporter got right down into the issues in a way all to rare while keeping an eye on the larger issues."

"The Education Beat"

"The power and pay of the new football coach at the University of Arizona and the surprisingly successful academic achievements of scholarship students under his fired predecessor is a classic example of important stories that while fascinating and significant, could with more development of each of the many important issues raised in the stories easily won first place."

and Dorine Goss

The Daily Courier

"Annexation"

"The stories on Chino Valley’s proposed annexation of land that would double its size is obviously from a much smaller paper than the other entries and were there a separate beat reporting category for small papers, would have been a winner."

C7 Project reporting

Judges: Willy Stern and Nancy Amons. Stern, investigative reporter with the alternative weekly Nashville Scene, was a staff writer at Forbes and Business Week. Amons, an investigative reporter with WSMV-TV in Nashville, has won four Emmy awards, the AP Broadcaster of the Year for Tennessee, and a National Headliner award.

"Ploys in the ‘Hood"

"Cracker-jack digging into a city’s foibles. A thorough and well-documented probe of a difficult topic with good on-the-record quotes. These pieces build a compelling investigation, using the long-story format to its fullest potential."

"Prisoners of Their Minds"

"Wow. Gritty and eye-opening, with compelling photos and great personal perspectives. These pieces gave us access to something we would not be able to witness for ourselves."

"Reversal of Misfortune"

"Thorough, sensitive, balanced. Good use of the long form."

Karina Bland

The Arizona Republic

"Battle to Breathe"

"An expansive series with unforgettable personal profiles which made a lasting impression. Nice leads, overall writing, excellent photos, and useful consumer information."

"Ivy League Dreams Elude Arizonans"

"A different twist on an education story. Great illumination of a topic I haven’t seen covered before. Nice
writing."

C8 Environmental reporting

Judge: Mike Dunne is the environmental reporter for the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate. He is a two-time winner of the Scripps-Howard Edward Meeman Award and was a finalist for the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences Science Writing Award and the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel.

"Arizona’s Worst Neighbor

"The writer weaves a haunting tale about the impacts of possible pollution from a product — auto air bags — that most people would equate with saving lives. Good job of telling the story through the life of one person fighting the uphill battle against a giant corporation and a bureaucracy that seem incapable of fostering change."

"Barely a River"

"The lead — "More Water" says it all. Good job of breaking a complex story into bite-size pieces that vividly explain the impacts on nature of diverting most of the Colorado River to man's use. The idea that backers just ask for 1 percent more water to preserve a little of the remaining delta ecosystem somehow doesn’t seem ridiculous."

"Bye Bye Birdie"

"Most good stories have a classic central theme and this one days — man versus nature. The story illustrates how the quest for water has endangered a species and how the effort to protect the species might slow man’s efforts to control nature to his benefit."

"Dairy Dilemma Raises a Stink"

"Man moves into dairy country and wonders why it stinks and now wants the cows to move. Classic land use conflict story told in an entertaining way and explains some of how the system failed to stop the conflict from happening."

C9 Science, technology and medicine reporting

Judge: Jon Franklin holds inaugural Pulitzer prizes in both feature writing and explanatory journalism. He is author of the field’s most successful book on narrative nonfiction, Writing for Story. He is now Philip Merrill Professor of Journalism at the University of Maryland."

"Screwing the Pooch"

"An extraordinarily coherent presentation of an important, but emotional, conflict in modern society."

"Lasik Letdown"

"News you can use presented in a factual, easy-to-absorb fashion. It should have an impact, in that it will make people think more deeply before submitting to such surgery."

"Who’s Fit to Become a Mother?"

"Nice use of a hot-button issue to bring the reader's mind to bear on the disconnect between the freedom to have children and the responsibility to care for them."

Judge: Lisa Ryckman, an enterprise reporter for the Rocky Mountain News, is a former New York-based national writer for the Associated Press. In 2000, she won the national SPJ deadline reporting award for her coverage of the Columbine tragedy and was named non-deadline Writer of the Year by the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain.

"Bedside Manner"

"The writer did an exceptional reporting job, both balanced and sensitive. This story was the clear winner despite stiff competition."

"Growing Up In Prison"

"A very intimate, well-written piece about an unfamiliar rite of passage. Thoughtful attention to detail throughout."

"El Mirage Court Gets Overhaul"

"A really fun read. The writer made something special out of a story that otherwise might have ended up as a brief."

"Girl Lived in Forgotten Corner
of City"

"Had the promise of the first three paragraphs been fulfilled, this piece could have been a first-place winner."

C11 Religion, faith or ethics reporting

Judge: Beth McMurtrie covers religious colleges and religion on campus for the Chronicle of Higher Education. She was a finalist for the Religion Newswriters Association 2001 Cornell Award.

"The Devil and Mr. Hernandez"

"Stands out for its vivid writing, avoiding the boilerplate language of standard newspaper prose. Some writers might have poked fun at the unusual topic, exorcism, but this author created a balanced and sensitive portrait of a complicated man and the little-understood religious subculture he inhabits.

"Where Has God Gone?"

"Through a deft blend of statistics, expert commentary and the voices of ordinary people, the author helps shed light on the superficialities of modern spirituality."

Tuscon’s Bishop-to-be ‘Has a Vision’ and a Way With People"

"The author uses telling anecdotes to create a strong portrait of a multi-faceted person, allowing readers to better understand the man who will someday become one of the most powerful religious leaders in the community."

C12 Diversity reporting

Judge: Mark Bixler, who writes about immigrants and immigration for The Atlanta Journal-Constitutions, was a finalist for the 2001 ASNE diversity reporting award.

"Same Continent, Worlds Apart"

"The reporter got great access to one family whose story illustrates a larger truth. The reporter used telling details and clear, unadorned writing to tell the story."

"Deaf and Proud"

"The reporter does a great job here of introducing readers to a world that would otherwise remain hidden except to those who inhabit it. It was a delightful read that challenged the common misunderstanding that deaf people would automatically choose hearing if they could."

"Strangers in Their Own Land"

"An intriguing look at the artificial divisions a border create. The writer does does a great job of focusing attention on people with a unique dilemma. The story succeeds also because it offers a fair assessment of the prospects for change."

C13 Explanatory
reporting

Judge: Louise Kiernan writes for the Chicago Tribune's projects team and metropolitan news desk. She wrote the lead article in a four-part series about problems with air travel that won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting and she was a finalist in the same category for an individual project she reported about a woman killed by glass that fell from a Chicago skyscraper.

"Lab Rats"

"A sharp, sophisticated examination of questionable financial practices at the University of Arizona."

"Shock Treatment"

"Clarity and vigor distinguish this analysis of the rush to build power plants in Arizona."

"Picking up the Growth Tab"

"Provides context and depth to what could have been a routine story of suburban sprawl."

C14 Education
reporting

Judge: William Graves has been covering education 16 years, the last 12 at The Oregonian in Portland, Ore. He is a past president of the national Education Writers Association and co-author of "Poisoned Apple," a book on education.

"Measuring Charters: Schools’ Success Still Unknown"

"A fresh, probing and startling look at Arizona’s ambitious charter school movement and its incredibly lax oversight of student performance. Good examples of shoddy charter schools that are allowed to operate with impunity. Useful sidebars give examples of virtues and drawbacks of charters and how they are regulated elsewhere."

"Lives Lost and Found"

"This is a well-written, clear and compelling story of one class of students from a poor neighborhood who were given a shot at college through the incredible generosity of two Phoenix sisters. The story is poignant and enterprising, vividly revealing how poverty undercuts the best ambitions of our youth with tragic and costly consequences for us all."

"Fighting Bullies"

"A fair, straightforward, aggressive expose of Arizona’s Safe Schools, Safe Students program. The story debunks most of the exaggerated claims made by the bankrupt directors of the program and raises questions about the rest. Good, thorough reporting that properly and convincingly discredits a scam."

"Arizona to Help Run Bad Schools"

"A clear, critical, enterprising challenge of Arizona’s Proposition 301, showing the little-known law could force the state to label half of Arizona’s schools ‘under performing’ at a cost as high as $14 million. Good sidebars, including one that shows even a model school could fall short under the law’s murky standards."

C15 Spotlight on
terrorism

Judge: Neal Pattison, assistant managing editor for projects and design at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, edited a series about human testing that won a Pulitzer Prize.

"The Face of E.V.’s Terror Suspect"

"Hijacker lived in E. Valley"

"E.V. Muslims Keep Guard Up With
the FBI"

"Unraveling the Web of Terror"

"British question Ex-Valley Resident"

"All of us at hometown newspapers tried to energetically localize last September'’ national tragedy. Our words were intended to be dramatic, emphatic and, even, reassuring. But reading them six months later, some of those perspectives and insights now seem gassy and simplistic. The winning entry in this category focused on doing what newspaper reporters do best: gathering the threads of a story and piecing together facts. In a timely and complete way, it told readers in Arizona how closely their state was connected to terrorist acts that occurred 2000 miles away."

"Hijacker Lived Here in Early ‘90s"

"Agony and Resolve"

"No Easy Answers From Grandma"

"Southern Arizona Military Set to Do Its Part"

"Young Panelists Grapple With Terrorism’s Impact"

"The selections in this entry were a good combination of news stories and graceful essays that blended local feelings and activities into a recap of an international crisis."

"Phoenix Firefighters to Help"

"There’s No Sense to Any of It"

"NYC Fierfighters Toil On Through Grief"

"Arizona Volunteers Aiding Relief Efforts"

"You could throw a little cold water on this prose, but these are good slices of life, grounded in authentic experiences."

C16 Feature column writing - Don Schellie Award

Judge: Thomas Kunkel is dean of the University of Maryland College of Journalism and president and publisher of the American Journalism Review.

"Not In the Market," "Brought to Injustice" and "Mis-Judged?"

"These columns were meaty, edgy, well-reported and yet still very personal. I should think they would be "must reading" for anyone seriously interested in the community’s public affairs."

"Field of Dreams Yields Grand Crop,"

"Nothin’ Sweet in Just Desserts" and "Dad, Disease Go Mano a Mano"

"This is a strong columnist, conveying a lot of wit and emotion within the built-in challenges of the newpaper column format. The writer has a confident and unique voice, and wide range."

"Fight to the Finish"

"The writer has expressed a point of view on the Sept. 11 tragedy that’s free from didactic tone and unencumbered by political rhetoric. In describing the photo of trapped men and women perched in the windows of the World Trade Center, the writer says, ‘Its power is not in its art — there's nothing artistic about it — but in its brutal truth.’ The power of this piece lies in the direct way the writer asks readers to consider their own brutal truths: ‘Can you remember the day you stopped caring?’"

"Between the desert floor and the
Milky Way"

"The writer takes readers on a tour of a place that they are unlikely to visit — even though ‘it’s just a dozen miles away as the raptor flies.’ The journalistic trek to Manning Camp, a ‘sky island’ high in the Rincon Mountains, is the next best way to experience this biogeographical gem."

"Green Christmas"

"The writer brings to life funny visions of Christmas trees atop elephant heads, lions stalking pine trees and other boughs of folly at the Zoo. This charming piece is proof that good stories don’t have to be long and holiday stories don’t have to be trite."

"They’ll Test Anything!"

"Anxious Arizonans sent everything from a basket of laundry to the November issue of Playboy to the state’s anthrax testing lab. This nicely paced account with well-chosen quotes is amusing without trivializing the underlying seriousness of the issue."

Judge: Judy Thomas is a projects reporter for The Kansas City Star. She is a recipient of the Society of Professional Journalists 2000 Sigma Delta Chi Award for Excellence in Journalism in the non-deadline category and is co-author of, "Wrath of Angels: The American Abortion War."

"A Child Drowns"

"This piece is powerfully written and full of rich detail, putting the reader in the midst of the action. Gripping, disturbing and thought-provoking, the story is one that all parents should read so they won’t have to suffer through a similar tragedy. Kudos to the reporter for getting such rare access on this sensitive topic."

"A Matter of Life"

"A shocking tale that puts human faces on the failure of a troubled system. Well-researched, descriptive writing and useful statistics sprinkled throughout.

"AIDS and Abetting"

"A fresh angle on an age-old practice. Extensive reporting and documentation that expose outrageous flaws in the criminal and mental health systems."

"For the Love of Jamie"

"Strong reporting and writing. A compelling and tragic story of love and commitment."

C19 Lifestyle reporting, short form

Judge: Sheila Toomey, a senior general assignment reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, won a Blethen for feature writing and was part of the Daily News team that won a 1989 Pulitzer for "People in Peril," a series on the ravages of alcoholism and forced acculturation in Alaska’s indigenous communities.

"Encanto Pool Reflects the Past"

"This story does everything a good feature should. It sets a scene, lets us meet the people, gives us some history, and wraps it all in telling context. There’s some very nice writing in this piece, although it could have been tightened up a bit."

"Anthony’s Christmas Miracle"

"These are powerful facts and a writer is probably wise to mostly get out of their way. This writer worked to carry the reader through the events as the family experienced them. I thought the choice of detail was well handled and, in general, he prose resisted becoming overheated (not counting "dance of death"). All in all, a very compelling presentation."

"Liar, Lawyer"

"I really liked this story, but felt the incredible hypocrisy and all-around sleaziness of the scam was underplayed. The writing was tight and had good voice. Perhaps this should have been a straight news story?"

"Haiku Finds Niche on Web"

"This writer taught me a lot about both the web and recreational haiku. A visit to someone else’s world is always a good feature subject. I did feel it was too long."

C20 Lifestyle reporting, long form

Judge: Ken Fuson was a feature writer for The Baltimore Sun when he won the American Society of Newspaper Editors award for non-deadline writing in 1998, for a series of stories about a high school play. Before that, he was three times an ASNE finalist, for stories that appeared in The Des Moines Register, where he now works as a feature writer.

"Hook, Line and Sinner"

"This is a fascinating, shocking and gripping (in more ways than one) look inside the Church of Body Modification, whose adherents occasionally allow an "artist" to implant shark hooks into their backs and then hang them suspended from the ceiling. Ouch. What's so impressive about this piece is that the writer neither indicts nor endorses this strange subculture of tattoos and piercings; enough information is presented, skillfully so, that readers can reach their own conclusions. The church members become people, not caricatures, and the final result is a great example of journalism that takes us to places we likely wouldn't venture to on our own."

"Kodiak Moment"

"The question of how a stuffed, 10-foot-tall bear traveled from Kodiak Island in Alaska to a strip joint in Phoenix provides the narrative fuel for this engaging saga. But the story is less a mystery than the profile of an obsessed man for whom the bear has come to represent Moby Dick. Fully reported and well told, this is a very satisfying read."

"The Journey"

"A tender and moving visit to a hospice, told by a reporter who understands how to use scenes to tell a story. By the end of the piece, readers must have felt that they, like the reporter, knew Charlie Klotz, the 82-year-old central figure, as well as the selfless people who cared for him. Story has a you-are-there feel to it as Charlie enters his final days. The tone is sad, but not maudlin, and the overall effect ultimately proves uplifting."

C21 Personality profile

Judge: Aly Colon is head of the diversity faculty for the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. He is a former reporter, coach and assistant metro editor for The Seattle Times.

"The Musica Man"

"Raul Monreal offers a profile of a cross-cultural version of an old-time favorite: The Music Man. The full score of Monreal’s accomplishments became evident in the sounds, sights and songs that the writer tuned into. The reader hears this story loud and clear."

"Uncommon Lawman"

"The profile of Larry Hammond examined the man at the juxtaposition of law and history. We are a country of men and women as well as laws and this profile fleshed out the humanity of one individual, and integrated it with the swirl of history that surrounded him."

"Turning the Tables"

"The profile of Scottsdale chef Robert McGrath served up the face behind the menu. The writer seasoned the story with personal details and vivid descriptions that made you hungry for more."

C22 Food reviews

Judge: Michael Bauer, food editor for the San Francisco Chronicle, won the restaurant criticism category for large-circulation papers at the 2001 Association of Food Journalists Award competition.

"Pappadeaux Has Pace Problems"

"This review was an effortless read that truly serves the reader. A measured, roll-up-your sleeves approach to restaurant criticism that avoids flowery language, fawning praise or petty negative comment. Barbs, however, were well placed and, apparently, well deserved."

"From Hand to Mouth"

"Offered a detailed, lyrically told look at a dining experience most readers will never be able to afford. A good voyeuristic effort marred only by a lack of any criticism at all."

"International Food Bizarre"

"The closeness of the contenders in this category is evident by the quality of the third place winner. The writer has a distinct voice and can be very funny. The story does go on way too long, however. A good, tight edit would have helped."

C23 Arts criticism

Judge: Elizabeth Maupin is arts writer and theater critic for The Orlando Sentinel.

"First Rate Second Rate Novelist
Being Reprinted"

"For a review of a collection of Mickey Spillane mysteries. This writer recreates the snappy, old-fashioned language of a potboiler and at the same time makes the interesting point that Spillane wrote as crisply as the best of his literary betters. It’s a pleasure to read such a bright, funny and seemingly effortless review.

"Open Spaces, Intimate Places"

"For a review of artworks by Greg Benson and Cynthia Miller. This art critic writes beautifully specific descriptions of the works themselves and combines that with pertinent background information and intelligent commentary. What’s more, the prose is light and refreshingly free of the smartass attitudinizing that weighs a lot of the other entries down."

"Atlantis’ Plot Sinks, Too"

"A fresh, highly creative way to review a film while using humor and the animation genre itself to educate readers and distinguish between production and content."

"Tawdry Memories: Bergman Examines His ‘Faithless’ Life"

"An intelligent critique that, in the process of reviewing a movie, strips back the layers to reveal some inner truths about one of filmdom’s most celebrated directors."

"Putting A Human Face On Tragedy"

"In a very few, well-chosen words, the writer celebrates a life snuffed out by terror by describing how television removed it from the category of abstraction."

C25 Sports column writing

Judge: Ralph Routon, editor of the Northwest Florida Daily News, was a long-time sports columnist (and at times sports editor) for the Colorado Springs Gazette.

"Lower New Stadium Until It’s Out of Sight," "It May Pay Off to Update Your Employment Resume" and "So, Do You Feel Like a Champ?"

"Excellent variety, awareness of national issues but obviously strong relationship with audience and issues that matter to the market area. Able to mix serious topics and dramatic moments with light or forceful approaches."

"Dead Can Dribble," "Ball Bearings" and "Home Team Wins"

"Superb storytelling, clearly willing to tackle prominent people as well as the oft-overlooked personalities and angles."

"Bobbi Olson Leaves Special Legacy," "It

Ain't Easy Being Me" and "This Series Will Be Used to Judge All Series"

"Personal emotion comes through in eulogizing Bobbi Olson as well as using

personal experience to reflect on World Series."

"Casey’s Win a Benefit," "It’s All About the Money" and "Push for Harder Practice"

"Imaginative, topical. Able to take larger issues and relate them to the local
reader."

C26 Sports deadline reporting

Judge: Barb Reichert, Page 1 Editor for the Muskegon (Mich.) Chronicle, went to Michigan from an editing position with the Chicago Tribune. She was one of the country's few women sports editors when she was at the Colorado Springs Gazette. She also holds the distinction of catching Sammy Sosa's 58th home run ball during the first run at breaking Lou Gherig's record.

"They Play Ball, Too"

"This reporter did his homework, and it shows. This piece is very well sourced, hitting the usual suspects (players, league officials, fans) and, more importantly, those in the peripheral. In this case it’s Bally’s Johnny Avello and NBC’s Dick Ebersol, two men whose behind-the-scenes influence would ultimately help determine the fate of this fledgling league. The reporter’s use of supplementary information, such as the breakdown of player salaries, makes this much more than the "rah-rah, we all had fun" piece. And speaking of fun, the reporter appropriately has some without being too cute. Well written. An entertaining, yet solid, read."

"Tragic End at Daytona: Joy Turns to Sorrow On Final Lap"

"Another day at the racetrack turned out to be one this reporter will tell his grandkids about. Dale Earnhardt’s death stunned more than just the sports world, yet this reporter kept his focus — all the way through to deadline. The organization and lack of repetition tells me he and his Sunday night desk had strong communication. The result? The reader got the facts, the drama and the overall impact. Tough assignment for the lone guy there. Good hustle. Sidebar on Michael Waltrip was the strongest of the three-piece entry."

"Tender Is the Knight"

"Kudos on three levels here: 1. Great story idea. Bobby Knight facing Lou Henson far from the Big Ten spotlight, "smack in the middle of nowhere" (which happens to be this judge’s hometown of Las Cruces, N.M.). 2. Good writing from the go. Reporter sets the tone by attending the game-day booster luncheon and uses it as a scene-setter to provide the history needed to understand this moment. 3. Focuses on his subject — Knight — not the basketball game. Weaves pieces of the game into his feature, but — gasp! — chooses not to report the final score. Sacrilege! And it works."

C27 Sports reporting, non-deadline writing

Judge: Mike Spence, who now works for the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association magazine, was a long-time sports reporter at the Colorado Springs Gazette, where he won national sports writer of the year for his coverage of the U.S. Olympic Committee, which included breaking stories on the bribery associated with Salt Lake's effort to land the games.

"Greatest Game Ever"

"A fun story. This well-written piece was thoroughly researched with great sources. A great package, a great read."

"Focusing on Family"

"A very moving, emotional story. This piece clearly illustrated the emotional pain and turmoil suffered by Lute Olson after the death of his wife. It showed the softer side of one of America’s greatest basketball coaches through the eyes of assistants, players and family. Excellent work."

"D-Backs Still Out Big Bucks"

"A thorough, well-researched look at how the Diamondbacks built their team for the 2001 season. As it turned out, the story was prescient, too."

"A Moving Friendship"

"A feel-good story about the relationship of a man and a physically challenged boy that surely stirred its readers. Great work."

C28 Business column writing

Judge: Rex Seline, Managing Editor-News for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, worked his way up through business sections at the now-deceased Dallas Times Herald, the New York Times and Miami Herald before returning to Texas and eventually becoming ME.

Judge’s note: "Good columns mix solid reporting with a particular point of view. The best columns also offer fresh insight, or context that might not be readily apparent. Some of these entries reflected fresh reporting, while others offered opinion. But not many combined the two with a distinctive voice."

"Urban Austin Powers," "Business is a Snake Pit" and "Crisis of the Old Order"

"These columns have a distinctive point of view with solid analysis. For instance, the columnist offers fresh economic perspective by comparing Phoenix with Seattle. The writer also argues forcefully that the local economy is sick and won’t get better unless officials spend money on education and efforts to stimulate business. The third column in the entry offers useful advice for corporate executives. You might disagree with the conclusions, but at least there’s something to debate."

"Making a Change at AmWest," "Death Takes Wife’s Social Security Check" and "Excuse Us, But It Belongs In the East Valley"

"This entry offers a very readable mix of topics and approaches. One column sympathetically chronicles the plight of a widower who must send his wife’s final Social Security check back to the government. Another takes a critical and authoritative look at the leadership of a local corporation. The third proudly makes the case for building an NFL stadium in the East Valley. Readers surely applaud the versatility and variety."

"Del Webb Being Bought by Pulte"

"Clearly and concisely written and, to judge from the story’s construction, a scoop on a local business story of considerable importance. The sidebars helped flesh out the package nicely."

"Motorola Shrinks Mesa Plant"

"Big job cuts are all too common in the telecom industry right now. But this story concisely explained what was going on as those layoffs rolled through the newspaper’s hometown."

"$15 Million Will Buy Largest
Tucson Home"

"Good digging to pull out some interesting nuggets about Tucson’s would-be $15 million home."

C30 Business non-deadline reporting

Judge: Bob Shallitt is executive business editor of the Sacramento Bee.

"One-Way Beepers A Dying Breed"

"This was just a terrific reporting and writing job that examined the life and death of the beeper, "yesterday’s icon of techno-coolness." This had a great lead, crisp writing throughout and good reporting. It’s the kind of story that just engages the reader and makes you read to the very end."

"Security Pinching Border Businesses"

"This story about how heightened national security is pinching border businesses was a terrific reporting and writing job. The reporter talked with a lot of companies and wove together a compelling and very timely story."

"Money Pit"

"A thoroughly documented, well-told story of how numerous Arizonans have been victimized by a log builder. Excellent reporting and fine writing."

C31 Editorial writing

Judge: Larry C. Levy, a columnist and editorial writer at Newsday, was a 1999 Pulitzer finalist for editorial writing. He also hosts the PBS public affairs debate show Face-Off.

"People’s Court Deserves Better," "Picking JPs on Merit is the Only Sane Approach" and "Salary Structure for JPs is Messy, Ripe for Abuse"

"An exhaustive and clearly written series on Justices of the Peace that blended sound policy prescriptions with colorful and thoroughly reported examples of abuses and abusers."

"Tale of Domestic Abuse Begins as a Love Story," "Warning Signs in Abusive Person Often Go Unheeded" and "One Helping Hand Gave the Power to Change"

"Part of a powerful and poignant series about domestic abuse that offered not just sound "consumer" advice about how to recognize and report incidents but illustrated them compelling personal examples."

"Immigration Reform"

"Strongly-reported series on wrong-headed immigration policies that have caused hardships for people on both sides of the border."

Bright, Shining Promise," "Impasse" and "Pardons"

"Particularly for the sophisticated and pointed look at state legislative politics and education reform."

C32 Headlines

Judge: Mia C. Bush is news editor for the Des Moines Register. She has held several positions at the paper, including page designer, assistant metro editor and assistant news editor.

"It’s A Hale Storm," "Start Spreading the Blues" and "A Giant Leap"

"These are headlines that appeal and read clearly to both sports fans and to those who aren't faithful readers of the sports section. The headline "Start spreadin’ the blues" not only captures the emotion in the photo, but it also is a clever play on the well-known Sinatra song, eliminating the need to put New York in the headline."

"It’s an Untangled Web Municipalities Weave," "Book Full of Arizona Prep Football Facts Has Dozens of Titles," and "Tenants Triumph Over Tenents"

"The purpose of a headline is to get readers to stop and read a story, and these headlines do just that. They use a clever play on words (...an untangled Web...) and alliteration (Tenants triumph over tenets) to draw readers. The headline writer was able to tell a story in four short words, and yet when faced with a wordy headline count, not waste a single count (Book full of Arizona prep football facts has dozens of titles)."

"Color Us Soaked," "Judge Buys Argument of Shopping Addiction" and "The Height of Cleanliness"

"’The height of cleanliness,’ which by itself might seem cliche, is a perfect headline for the story when paired with the photo of a window washer scaling a building."

C33 Feature headlines

Judge: Jeff Britt is a copy editor at the Chicago Sun-Times. Before he decided to slow down, he was the copy desk chief and previously held the same position at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"100 Grand," "Who’s Your Caddie?" and "Sister Act"

"Outstanding headlines. It’s hard to imagine how someone can see display type as lively as this and not want to read the story."

"Fronds in High Places," "Erin Go Brew" and "Mayo My, A Taco Party!"

"Clever plays on words. Special effort was made to ensure the headlines go well with the art."

"I Love You — Truss Me," "Sedimental Journey" and "A Firm Grip On Life"

"Bright and interesting. These headlines give the idea that the reader is going along for the ride."