2004 COMMENTARY/CRITICISM
2004 EDITORIAL
2004 EDITORIAL CARTOONING
Small newspapers
A7. Commentary/analyis
47 entries
Judge: J. Peder Zane is the Book Review Editor and books columnist for The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C. His column, which is syndicated by the Scripps Howard News Service, has received several national honors including the Distinguished Writing Award for Commentary from the American Society of Newspaper Editors.
First place
Ursula Redendo, College Times: “Living in Iraq, Sept. 9”
“In describing her decision to pull up stakes and move to war-torn Baghdad, Ms. Redendo offers readers a rare, first person look at someone who has decided — through intent and whimsy — to insert herself into history. Though deeply personal, her column rises above her specific topic, becoming a commentary on young adulthood.”
Second place
Caroline Bodkin, College Times: “Finding Thanksgiving at your table”
“In the aftermath of the bitter presidential election, Ms. Bodkin was one of the few commentators able to see beyond the red state/blue state divide. Using the Thanksgiving holiday to great effect, she urged readers not to pigeonhole one another, reminding them in heartfelt prose of our complicated, common humanity.”
Third place
Alan Levine, Casa Grande Dispatch: “Don’t look for Kerry-McCain”
“Drawing on his knowledge of national and local politics, Mr. Levine threw cold water on the ‘Kerry-McCain ticket pipe dream’ that had Democrats and the national media in its grip last May. Through lucid, persuasive prose he pulled off a trifecta, illuminating the minds of politcians, their supporters and the people who cover them.”
Mid-sized publications
B7. Commentary/analysis
28 entries
Judge: Frank Gerjevic, a columnist and editorial writer for the Anchorage Daily News, was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team on a series about alcohol abuse and violence among Alaska natives.
First place
Cary S. Hines, West Valley View, "Love, not DNA, defines fatherhood"
“This short piece combines writing from the heart with mastery of the craft. It's brief, but not rushed, and stronger for the brevity.”
Second place
Jana Bommersbach, Phoenix Magazine: "The House That Bonnie Built"
“First person account of holding a sleepy girl's hand takes the reader right into the story, right into the home for abused, neglected children. Read this and have a little hope restored.”
Third place
Mike Burkett, West Valley View: "Daughters Dancing, Daddies Dreaming"
“This one captures elements of both fatherhood and adolescent girlhood, with an assist from the Temptations. Writer here is smart enough to let the music do some of the work, and that gets the reader on the dance floor.”
Honorable mention
Jeff Ostedahl, Echo Magazine, "Sittin on the dock of the gay ..."
“He takes a human moment of gossip and speculation about a gay couple to try take on a stereotype. Nicely done.”
Any publication
C3. News column writing
26 entries
Judge: Chris Christoff is a reporter and columnist for the Detroit Free Press. He recently won first place for commentary and analysis from the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors.
First place
Michael Lacy, Phoenix New Times: “What was he thinking?” “The divine sociopath” and “Jesus wouldn't do that”
“This is unusual, long form commentary. The irreverence might make some readers uncomfortable. But Lacey constructs powerful cases against powerful people, pulling the reader along with rich detail and creativity, while keeping the focus on a point of view. The depth of reporting is impressive, and makes this commentary a cut above the rest.”
Second place
Linda Valdez, The Arizona Republic : “From the simplest ingredients springs young life enriched,” “Go ahead, make my day — call me liberal” and “Once vibrant nation becomes scared shut-in”
“A fluid storyteller, Valdez turns serious issues into plain-spoken, lively conversations with the reader. She displays an open heart with hard facts and biting common sense. The kind of writing that draws readers to see what she has to say next.”
Third place
Jim Kiser, Arizona Daily Star: “Anti-war poster puts focus on free speech,” “Open up TUSD choices” and “ Free speech can be costly”
“Off-the-path subject matter that speaks to larger issues. Kiser's clear writing is at once conversational and thoughtful, objective and sensitive to his subjects.”
Honorable mention
Bob Schuster, East Valley Tribune: “Bless the United (quarrelsome) States of America.” “Restraining expression isn't the same as killing it” and “In war, much is suffered, much forgiven”
C18. Feature column writing – Don Schellie Award
35 entries
Judge: Julie Sullivan, an enterprise reporter at The Oregonian in
Portland, shared the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for exposing flaws in the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Her 2001 report on the families of children with autism won the national Sigma Delta Chi Award for Excellence in Journalism. She also has won the American Society of Newspaper Editors Best Newspaper Writing award, four first place Blethen Awards, and dozens of others including Best of the West and American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors.
First place
E. J. Montini, Arizona Republic
“Wry, funny, wise and restrained, E. J. Montini consistently delivers voice and perspective. His take on the world creates ‘talkers’ that illuminate and sound exactly right.”
Second place
Michael Grady, East Valley Tribune
“A laugh riot, Michael Grady mines the oft-discussed but rarely insightful ground around the American male with suprising —
and highly rewarding — authenticity.”
Third place
Laurie Roberts, The Arizona Republic.
“In the avalanche of newspaper obituaries on fallen soldiers this year, Laurie Roberts’ take on a young Arizonan rises with carefully chosen detail and beautiful timing. A warm, conversational writer.”
C27. Food reviews
25 entries
Judge: Kim Severson, a food writer at The New York Times, has won several regional and national awards for news and feature writing, including the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism for her work on childhood obesity in 2002 and four James Beard awards for food writing. Her second cookbook, “The Trans Fat Solution: Cooking and Shopping to Eliminate the Deadliest Fat from Your Diet,” was published in September.
First place
Howard Seftel, The Arizona Republic: "Careless Carefree Station dashes great expectations."
“Here's an entertaining review that doubles as a great example of service journalism. The writer gores a big culinary bull in such a clever way I laughed out loud.”
Second place
Stephen Lemons, Phoenix New Times: "Noodle noshin'"
“The writer works hard to create a larger-than-life persona. The fact that he knows his groceries so well makes his work both entertaining and informative.”
Third place
Nikki Buchanan, Phoenix Magazine: "This place is great"
“Magazine writers get the luxury of time and space, and this writer uses hers to luxuriate in a restaurant the reader will immediately want to call for a reservation.”
Honorable mention
Paul Morris, Valley Guide: "Chopsticks optional"
“The sheer number of restaurants covered in this piece makes it worth a nod. Any writer who puts in so many miles searching for good noodles deserves kudos.”
C28. Visual and performing arts criticism
31 entries
Judge: Joe Rassenfoss is Entertainment Editor at the Rocky Mountain News.
First place
Robrt L. Pela, Phoenix New Times: “The time warp, again”
“A rare example when a first-person review is not only warranted, but a good way to explain the different perspectives an audience member might bring to ‘Rocky Horror.’ Funny and telling.”
Second place
Margaret Regan, Tucson Weekly: “Rhetoric/reality gap”
“The writer does an excellent job immersing the reader in the scope of this work, while making just enough plays on words to keep readers entertained without rotting their teeth.”
Third place
Kenneth LaFave, The Arizona Republic: “Ballet’s mosaic is daring leap forward”
“Critiquing dance is an elusive pursuit: it’s difficult to capture the movement and emotion in language. But the writer does a great job not only describing the movement of the performers, but also the significance of that movement.”
C29. Music criticism
21 entries
Judge: David Stabler is The Oregonian's classical music critic. He was a 2003 Pulitzer prize finalist for a story about a troubled cello prodigy.
First place
Larry Rodgers, The Arizona Republic: “Beyonce, Alicia, Missy deliver”
“Crisp, energetic writing combined with musical authority breathe life into pop music personalities.”
Second place
Thomas Bond, East Valley Tribune’s “Get Out”: “Free spirit”
“Bond deconstructs a best-selling singer's talent with acute observations and a graceful style.”
Third place
Kenneth LaFave, The Arizona Republic: "Avant-garde composer breaks with tradition"
“LaFave writes about a slice of contemporary classical music with passion and historical context.”
C30. Film, video and television criticism
37 entries
Judge: Susan White, writing coach for the San Diego Union-Tribune, is a two-time Pulitzer Prize judge. Stories she has edited have been finalists for the Pulitzer Prize and the Loeb award and won Headliner awards, ASNE awards and AP national awards.
First place
Bill Muller, The Arizona Republic: "Catwoman" review
“A review so fresh and clever that it's worth reading to the end, even knowing that the movie is a dog.”
Second place
Craig Outhier, East Valley Tribune’s “Get Out”: "Ray" review
“Insightful. Enhances the movie rather than just repeating the plot.”
Third place
James DiGiovanna, Tucson Weekly: "The Passion of the Christ" review
“Funny. Clever. A bit outrageous. But also thought-provoking.”
C31. Sports column writing
9 entries
Judge: Gordon Edes is Senior Baseball Writer for the Boston Globe.
First place
Dan Bickley, The Arizona Republic
“Afghan teen column far and away the best entry submitted. Great detail, empathy, sense of the moment. Nice call on Schilling's recovery. Fresh idea on the unhappy Greeks, wished he'd found more voices to support his premise. But good mix of columns, well
executed.”
Second place
John Dougherty, Phoenix New Times
“Angry, passionate, righteous persuasive columns, written with an outsider's fearlessness and what appears to be a mastery of the material he presents.”
No third place.
C35. Business column writing
9 entries
Judge: Bob Shallit, business columnist for the Sacramento Bee, is former editor of the Bee’s business section.
First place
Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic
“This is just what a business column should be — clearly written, right to the point, thoughtful. Most important, it brings some business and financial expertise that sets it apart from a column you'd expect to read elsewhere in a paper. Really excellent.”
Second place
Jon Talton, The Arizona Republic
“Talton's column has an edge — which is what makes it so readable. He he doesn't hesitate to take on the boomer types. The column offering translations from Booster to English was hilarious.”
Third place
John Dougherty, Phoenix New Times
“Jerry Colangelo must hate reading this column. But I suspect a lot of Arizonans love it. I wish more cities had alternative weeklies offering this kind of hard-hitting analysis.”
C39. Editorial writing
31 entries
Judge: Colbert I. King, deputy editor of the Washington Post’s editorial page, writes editorial commentary on national, local and international topics, as well as a weekly column under his own byline. He was awarded the 2003 Pulitzer Prize commentary, and was a finalist for both the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for commentary and the 2000 ASNE Distinguished Writing Award for commentary/column writing.
First place
Steve Auslander, Arizona Daily Star: "No to Prop. 200," "Prop. 200, the cost" and "A complex issue"
“A series of editorials that took on a tough, controversial issue without waffling. A newspaper's voice used at its best.”
Second place
Joel Nilsson, The Arizona Republic: "Take a ride to the future," "A balanced proposition" and "Let's finish the job”
“Persuasive commentaries on transportation that left no question
unanswered, and few opponents standing.”
Third place
Linda Valdez, The Arizona Republic: "Ethnic profiling," "Where's justice in pro tem bill?" and "Public be damned"
“Separate issues that command attention because of the editorial's
strong voice.”
F3. Editorial cartooning
30 entries
Judge: Matt Davies of The Journal News in White Plains, NY won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning.
First place
Steve Benson, The Arizona Republic: “White house torture”
“Poignant, sarcastic and jarring. Weighing in on the Abu Ghraib scandal, this take on the use of the widely published image of Lynndie England holding an Iraqi prisoner on a leash, left the reader with no doubt as to whom the artist angrily assigned ultimate blame.”
Second place
David Fitzsimmons, Arizona Daily Star: “Foreign Invaders”
“The artist performed a valuable public service with this quietly crafted reminder of the historical perspective of Prop. 200.”
Third place
Mike Ritter, East Valley Tribune: “Horsemen”
“Beautifully rendered apocalyptic perspective on the old ‘changing horses in midstream’ presidential phraseology. A very strong image.”