2004 BUSINESS REPORTING
C36. Business deadline reporting
12 entries
Judge: Dave Carpenter is a Chicago-based business writer for The Associated Press and previously was an AP foreign correspondent based in Moscow and Vienna. He won a Lisagor Award for business journalism in 2000 from the Chicago Headline Club and a 2004 Gramling Award from the AP.
First place
Christine L. Romero, The Arizona Republic: “Only 1 in 15 Hired”
“Romero walks the reader through the ups and downs of the Arizona economy by analyzing a simple number — the job applicants at the newest Wal-Mart, the state's largest non-government employer. Well-conceived, reader-friendly and nicely written.”
Second place
John Yantis, Bill Bertolino and Paul Giblin, East Valley Tribune: “A new era for rawhide”
“Thorough, analytical team effort looking at the impact of an acquisition that made the local Indian community a bigger economic player. Covers all angles.”
Third place
Joseph Barrios, Arizona Daily Star: “For home buyers, it's the luck of the draw”
“Well-written chronicle of an example of the new housing lottery trend. Draws the reader in; I found myself rooting for the participant whose eyes Barrios told the story through.”
C37. Business enterprise reporting, under 1,000 words
18 entries
Judge: Richard Mize, real estate editor for the Daily Oklahoman, has won numerous state and regional newspaper writing awards.
First place
Chris Hawley, The Arizona Republic "Poinsettia profit purloined?"
“I'll bet most people in Arizona, even around Phoenix, didn't know the United States had taken over production from Mexico — and that some in Mexico want it back! This is the kind of business story that has general readers reading business news before they know it.”
Second place
Tiana Velez, Arizona Daily Star: “Style counts”
“A fun look at somehing that is so common in the business world it takes an uncommon person to see it as a news feature. Great catch.”
Third place
Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic: "Going Private"
“Great early catch of what may be a big trend. The kind of counterintuitive story that has readers saying to others, ‘Hey, did you see this in the paper?’”
Honorable mention
Thomas Stauffer, Arizona Daily Star: "Unions gain rare toehold ..."
“Great story in a tough field, with excellent context and a hint of historical perspective. A little more history, perhaps some years when copper was king, might have moved this story up a notch.”
Honorable mention
Jonathan J. Higuera, The Arizona Republic: "Smith & Wesson Chief"
“A solid story that seems to have been based either on a tip or a reporter's hunch. “
C38. Business enterprise reporting, more than 1,001 words
37 entries
Judge: Bill White is Business Editor of the Anchorage Daily News. Stories he has edited have won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, the Loeb Award, the Stokes Award for energy reporting, Best in Business from the Society of American Business Editors & Writers, the Society of Environmental Journalists Award and the National Headliner Award.
First place
Robert Nelson, New Times” “The Real Deal – How a Paradise Valley snake-oil salesman sprayed his way to success”
“Nelson afflicts the comfortable in exposing the unethical business practices of a prominent millionaire. Reported through patent, court and corporate records, and enriched with the perspectives of long-ago neighbors and experts, Nelson delivers an energetic read that strips naked not only Joe Diehl, but a whole industry. Well done!”
Second place
Bruce Rushton, New Times” “In God we trust – Big banks and desperate debtors have made an East Valley ministry millions”
“Rushton portrays the rags to riches rise of Richard Ellison and his Help Ministries. He provides a public service disclosing how Ellison, his family and former board members have enriched themselves at the expense of needy and financially distressed people a ministry might be expected to serve.”
Third place
Dawn Gilbertson, The Arizona Republic” “Arizona to China”
“Gilbertson makes China’s amazing economic rise a local story by chronicling the Arizonans positioned to cash in, from chip makers to lawyers to academics. Local readers should now look at the China story with smarter eyes.”
Honorable mention
Becky Pallack, Arizona Daily Star: “Growers’ roots dying as Marana spreads”
“Pallack clearly shows the history and economics emptying the region of farmers. The inclusion of the voices of farmers struggling with change is a real strength.”