NEWS REPORTING AND WRITING
Small newspapers
A1. General reporting
42 entries
Judge: Rob Thornberry, features editor at the Idaho Falls Post Register, won a National Headliner award for his series, "One in every classroom," which showed the impact of severely emotionally disturbed children on students and teachers in the local
schools.
First place
Georgann Yara, Ahwatukee Foothills News: "Ex-cop's testimony"
“Quick read. Concise. Makes me want to know if the cop was found guilty. Very objective. Nice.”
Second place
Katy O'Grady, Daily News-Sun: "Judge orders SCG woman to repay donors"
“Good feature lead on a multi-faceted news story. As a reader, I hope Wilson is cooling her heels in the big house.”
Third place
Annie Karstens Boon, Daily News-Sun: "Roofer jilts condos"
“Nice job tracing down the contractor. His quote says it all.”
A5. Sustained coverage
24 entries
Judge: Ellen Barry, Atlanta bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times, was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in the feature category in 2002 and 2004, contributed to the Globe's Pulitzer-winning sex abuse series in 2003 and won first place awards from the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 2002 and 2004.
First place
Larry Hendricks, Arizona Daily Sun: “Street crime standoff”
“This series is a thorough examination of a part of the urban landscape that is often overlooked. I was particularly impressed by the reporter's calculation of the price-tag of revolving-door emergency care for street alcoholics, which became a powerful springboard for the fifth day's call for reform. This series had clear writing, creative sidebars, and a clear arc of argument.”
Second place
Cindy Barks, The Daily Courier: “Quenching progress”
“This series gives context for an important local decision involving water rights, and breaks news on day five, revealing that the cost of building a pipeline is four times greater than expected. The reporter presents dense material in a clear, fluent and engaging way, and had a direct impact on a major decision.”
Third place
Michael Sullivan, Bisbee Daily Review: “One man's trash”
“In three enterprising articles, this reporter presents and analyzes a local proposal to break down solid waste with an experimental heating process. In a comprehensive Nov. 21 piece, the reporter uncovers a wealth of important information, including charges of fraud brought against the CEO of the company proposing the project. By the reporter's third piece, the community's barometer has swung toward skepticism.”
A6. Beat reporting
16 entries
Judge: Lilia O'Hara is a writer and editor for Enlace, the Spanish weekly publication of the San Diego Union-Tribune. She is a co-author of the NAHJ Spanish Stylebook.
First place
Betsey Brunner, Arizona Daily Sun.
“Her stories are lively and informative. She complements her explanations with a lot of community voices. There is also a lot of heart in her work.”
Second place
Susan Randall, Tri-Valley Dispatch.
“She goes to the substantial matters of the community. The information she provides is often stuffed with practical and useful information for the reader.”
Third place
Michael Sullivan, Sierra Vista Herald.
“His stories have a depth that helps the reader to see beyond the mere news. He provides good context and explanations.”
Honorable Mention
Mike Padgett, The Business Journal
“To write about business and keep it easy to read is a real challenge. This writer not only knows his subject, but his writing is also agreeable, including the numbers and beyond.”
Mid-sized publications
B1. General reporting
17 entries
Judge: Rob Thornberry, features editor at the Idaho Falls Post Register, won a National Headliner award for his series, "One in every classroom," which showed the impact of severely emotionally disturbed children on students and teachers in the local
schools.
First place
Margaret Regan, Tucson Weekly: "Friends with water and food"
“A rare story that answers the readers questions as they come to mind. Great ending. Weakest part of the story is flowery lead “
Second place
Chris Limberis, Tucson Weekly: "Fallen star"
“One of the best reads in the category. Nice details and interesting facts. Story hurt by slow introduction and delay mentioning the extent and exact nature of Kay's injuries.”
No third place
B5-6. Sustained/beat reporting
6 entries
Judge: Lauren Ritchie, the columnist for the Lake edition of the Orlando Sentinel, is former editor of the section and regional editor of the Sentinel. She has covered law enforcement, courts, government and social services.
First place
Laura Marble, Explorer Newspaper
“For her stories about school officials who delayed reporting to police allegations that a bus driver molested a student on his bus. The stories that came from Marble’s tenacious reporting resulted in a state investigation of school officials’ conduct.”
Second place
Christina Vanoverbeke, Explorer Newspaper
“For her stories covering local government in Oro Valley. Her wide-ranging topics included everything from the struggle of new council members to learn the ropes of local government to a well-balanced piece about the conflict inherent in trying to keep town council meetings from running into the wee hours while also giving citizens the chance to air their grievances.”
No third place
Spanish-language publications
D1. General reporting
30 entries
Judge: Marilia T. Gutiérrez is Managing Editor of Reflejos Bilingual Journal in Chicago.
First place
Valeria Fernández, La Voz: "Detrás del muro de la justicia"
Second place
Samuel Murillo, Prensa Hispana: "Ponen a sus hijos en las manos de la muerte"
Third place
Librada Martínez, Prensa Hispana: "Una utopía para los latinos"
Honorable mention
Lourdes Medrano, La Estella de Tucson: "Elija bien su tarjeta telefónica"
D2. Breaking news reporting
20 entries
Judge: Pilar Marrero is Metropolitan News Editor for La Opinion Newspaper in Los Angeles, overseeing coverage of local and political news for the paper. She's a contributor to BBC Mundo, Pacific News Service and a syndicated columnist. Her political columns and articles have earned several awards from the Interamerican Press Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
First place
Chakris Kussalanant, La Voz: “Lealtad Inquebrantable”
“A very moving piece, it tells a human story that powerfully ilustrates a bigger issue: undocumented migration; the struggle to cross the Arizona desert and the many who end up dying in the process. Well written, but above all, it tells a side of the story that most of the time never reaches the mass media.”
Second place
Chakris Kussalanant, La Voz: “¿La Policia Ayudo a deportarlos?
“A very complete look at an incident that shook the community and strained relations between lLtinos in Phoenix and the police department.”
Third place
Chakris Kussalanant, La Voz: “Legisladores buscan controlar poderes de la cuidad”
“Well-rounded story. A balanced look at the issue of how eminent domain is used to create public projects and who is affected.”
Any publication
C1. Investigative reporting — Don Bolles Award
7 entries
Judge: Debbie Cenziper, an investigative reporter for the Miami Herald, won the 2004 IRE award for large daily newspaper for her year-long series on Miami's botched, multi-billion dollar school construction program. She has twice been a finalist in the Livingston Awards for Young Journalists and has won awards from the SPJ Green Eyeshade, National Headliner, Education Writers Association and Unity competitions, among others.
First place
Mark Flatten, East Valley Tribune: “The Body Market”
“This was far and away the strongest investigative package of the year, mixing beautiful writing with clear and important conclusions — a public service project written with a powerful clarity.”
Second place
Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic: “Taser safety”
“Dogged reporting. The writer gets credit for keeping at the story and peeling back the layers of this important issue.”
Third place
Bruce Rushton, Phoenix New Times: “Hope I die before I get old”
“This was an ambitious and powerfully worded project with compelling findings.”
C2. John Kolbe Politics and Government Reporting Award
17 entries
Judge: Mark Z. Barabak is a political writer for the Los Angeles Times. He has covered campaigns and elections in 48 of the 50 states, including the last six presidential contests.
First place
Garin Groff, East Valley Tribune: “Proposition 400”
“Mr. Groff's series of articles provided a lucid and comprehensive look at a proposed half-cent county tax measure and the practical impact its passage — or failure — would have for many years on the lives of his readers. The package, including graphics and photographs, truly showed where the proverbial rubber hit the road.”
Second place
Amanda J. Crawford, The Arizona Republic: “State strains to aid consumers”
“Ms. Crawford presented a revealing look at the unintended but unmistakeable consequence of budget cuts on one of government's most important functions: protecting its citizens, in this case from commercial fraud and abuse.”
Third place
Christina Leonard and Ginger D. Richardson, The Arizona Republic: “Dissent unseen in city, county”
“Together, Ms. Leonard and Ms. Richardson shined a light on a system of local government reminiscent of the old Soviet Union in its opaque operation and lock step implentation of public policies.”
C4. Deadline news reporting
12 entries
Judge: Sam Enriquez is narrative editor and former city editor of the Los Angeles Times. He directed coverage of the North Hollywood bank shoot-out that won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news in 1998, and helped direct coverage and edited stories of the Southern California wildfires, which won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news in 2004.
First place
A.J. Flick, Irene Hsiao, David L. Teibel, Eric Sagara, Joyesha Chesnick, Tucson Citizen: “Everybody saw it coming”
“A hands-down winner. The reporters crafted a comprehensive and compelling package that detailed a tragic tale of twisted love that left three dead. Add the hostage account and it reads like a treatment for a Quentin Tarantino film.”
Second place
Billy House, The Arizona Republic: “Tillman killed by friendly fire”
“Terrific work turning a late afternoon rumor into a first-rate A-1 story for the morning.”
No third place.
C5. Sustained reporting, individual
35 entries
Judge: Diana Griego Erwin is a news columnist for The Sacramento Bee. Besides winning the Pulitzers’ Gold Medal for Public Service Journalism, Griego Erwin also has won the George Polk Award for national reporting, ASNE's Distinguished Writing Award for commentary and has been named California's top columnist four times by the California Newspaper Publishers Association.
First Place (tie)
Judy Nichols, The Arizona Republic: “War losses”
“This entry rose to the top of the heap because of the writer's very able narrative skills. In short, Ms. Nichols can write the hell out of a story. More so, the reporting gave readers a close-up glimpse of the actual and very disturbing casualties of war. No one could read these stories and miss how a distant conflict touches Arizona families, its military sons and daughters — a reality often missing from the national coverage. I mean, who covers the absence of ‘joy’ (Marine's home, but mom misses his laugh)? Judy Nichols does.
And
Joseph A. Reaves, The Arizona Republic: “Mandate from heaven or hell on Earth: Polygamy in our midst”
“This was a fascinating collection on a difficult-to-report subject: a secretive religious sect. What made this a winner, though, was the reporter's ability to pack a lot of great, informative detail into each sentence without weighing the narrative down. Mr. Reaves always choses the right word; his storytelling skills appear effortless. What clinched it was that the government finally moved into Colorado City. I couldn't help but believe the writer's coverage had something to do with that.”
Third place
Michael Marizco, Arizona Daily Star: “Border deaths”
This isn't a new topic, but Mr. Marizco made it relevant by showing readers how government policies do have human fallout, in this case record deaths of immigrants trying to cross the border to a better life. The writer had just the right touch in weaving illuminating factual information with compelling narratives of the real people behind this tragedy.”
Honorable Mention
Alia Beard Rau, The Arizona Republic: “Roof rats”
“OK, so there were many more ‘important’ entries in this category than the story of teen rat-proofer Christian Alf, stories that aren't getting any awards at all. This judge loved this story, though, because it's exactly the kind of ‘talker’ story newspapers should pursue more often. I love the way the community rallied around this boy as a result of the newspaper's coverage of how business people and the government tried to kill his business. This is a story the reporter easily could have passed on. The community's readers have to be glad Alia Beard Rau didn't.”
C6. Sustained reporting, team
9 entries
Judge: Mary Pat Flaherty, an investigative reporter for the Washington Post, has won numerous national awards including the Pulitzer Prize.
First place
Patricia Biggs and Justin Juozapavicius, The Arizona Republic: “Educators charged with not reporting abuse”
“The reporters brought added value to their stories by showing good common sense and asking how personnel files on the athletic director in particular could have been pristine when he had prior, well-publicized problems over not disciplining his athletes. The
reporters' basic question when they got his clean file — not who, what, when or why, but HUH? — forced the district to release information it had previously omitted and provided the reporters not only with the inevitable cover-up story but also a chance to gauge whether the athletic director had made good on a pledge to closely track parent and student concerns. Surprise: he hadn't.”
Second place
Amanda J. Crawford, Yvonne Wingett and Elvia Diaz, The Arizona Republic: “Immigration reform”
“This Proposition 200 package not only laid out the elements of the change, but gave readers a look at the financial interests backing and opposing it, and followed on with its impact, including the added value story of how the vote was being explained in the Spanish-language press, a turn that likely helped bridge the political gap between many readers who literally don't speak each other's language.”
Third place
Enric Volante, Joe Burchell, Michael Marizco, Carla McClain and Patty Machelor, Arizona Daily Star: “Drug thefts at Kino Community Hospital”
“The reporters followed the natural path of the story as it unfolded telling readers how much was missing, what lax security measures were discovered and what penalties would be imposed. The little extras? Calling a convicted thief who'd done a similar robbery for his take on how this could happen. And getting the original police report in which a hospital pharmacist passed along a tip that hospital employees were dealing out the back door, undercutting the hospital's position that they hadn't had any indication of a problem and that once they became aware had been vigilant.”
C7: Beat reporting
52 entries
Judge: Karen Dillon, an environmental and investigative reporter
for the Kansas City Star, has won numerous awards including
the Goldsmith Prize for investigative reporting and the George Polk award.
First place
Michael Marizco, Arizona Daily Star: “The border beat”
“All stories submitted were superb, good hard-news edge. Using sources and documents, Michael transports the reader to the grittiness — and sometimes horror — of life in the desert surrounding Tuscon.”
Second place
L. Anne Newell, Arizona Daily Star: “The cops beat”
“Excellent reporting. L. Anne has a wonderful eye for detail, i.e. carton of Revenge cigarettes. She weaves those details into stories that give the reader insight into the situations people can find themselves in.”
Third place
Daryl James, East Valley Tribune: “The education beat”
“Good solid beat reporting. Excellent digging combined with just say no when officials refuse to give up records. Also civil rights story is a really good service to readers, and something many newspapers should be writing about.”
Honorable mention
Kristina Davis, East Valley Tribune: “The crime beat”
“Kristina has a knack for getting people to talk to her, and that ability
translates into good stories. For example, in one story she brings the culture of prostitution on Main Street to the reader. In another, we learn of the little girl locked in her bedroom for years, speaking to her only friend through a hole in the wall.”
C8. Project reporting
17 entries
Judge: Mitch Weiss, The (Toledo) Blade's state editor, won — with colleague Michael D. Sallah the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism for their series "Buried Secrets, Brutal Truths.” The series also won several other awards, including the Investigative Reporters and Editors gold medal.
First place:
Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic: “Journey Down a Troubled River”
“McKinnon’s exhaustive reporting and skillful writing painted a vivid picture of problems facing the Colorado River. The series was accompanied by sharp graphics. Overall, an exceptional package.”
Second place
Karina Bland, The Arizona Republic: “Sowing the Seeds of Reading”
“An ambitious project that tracked the reading progress of first-graders in a Phoenix school. Bland’s colorful writing put readers inside the classroom of Creighton Elementary School.”
Third place
Michael Marizco, Arizona Daily Star: “Smuggling Children”
“Marizco captured the harrowing journey of two brothers who crossed the border to rejoin their mother in the United States. Excellent writing.”
C9. Environmental reporting
17 entries
Judge: Mark Grossi, environmental writer for the Fresno Bee, wrote a natural history and guide book on the Sierra Nevada and most recently won awards in Best of the West, Investigative Reporters and Editors and the National Press Club.
First place
Bruce Rushton, Phoenix New Times: "Something besides the dump stinks in Mobile"
“Laced with equal parts irony and outrage, this story rakes muck in the proud tradition of environmental journalism. Bruce Rushton captures a perfect storm of environmental issues — the dumping of society's waste, a community of color caught in the middle of a power struggle and a twist on corporate greed involving the biggest garbage company in the country. I couldn't put this story down. It truly demands the attention of the public.”
Second place
Luke Turf. Tucson Citizen: "Sea of Cortez: Disappearing underwater world"
“What a wonderful way to raise Arizona's awareness of the declining ocean fish populations. The nearby Sea of Cortez is such a legitimate story in this state, and Luke Turf spins a tale of devastation that has long gripped the fishing industry and the ecosystem. Turf's rendering is ambitious, enlightening and on point. I consider this required reading for anyone in Arizona.”
Third place
Robert Nelson, Phoenix New Times: "Big bad developer: George Johnson is quickly becoming the most notorious developer on Arizona"
“The hard work is evident all over this piece. Robert Nelson comes up with the documents and the nuance to raise questions about a developer who obviously manipulates the system. This developer is on everyone's radar now, and Nelson gives us good reason to support the idea of a full criminal investigation of his practices.”
C10. Science, technology and medicine reporting
16 entries
Judge: Seth Borenstein, national correspondent for Knight Ridder
Newspapers, covers the environment, science, medicine and contracting fraud. He is the 2004 winner of the Outstanding Beat Reporting Award from the Society of Environmental Journalists and was a finalist, with colleagues from the Miami Herald, for a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the 2003 space shuttle Columbia disaster.
First place (tie)
Paul Rubin, Phoenix New Times: “Indian givers”
“A thoroughly reported science-legal piece in the classic
muckraking tradition. Instead of just reporting from testimony or
depositions, Rubin got behind the story in ways reporters don't usually do in science conflicts. The writing and, more importantly, the reporting, made the main characters in this tragic conflict come to life as more multi-dimensional people than the usual he-said, she-said. This story literally invaded my dreams the night after I read it."
And
Mary K. Reinhart, East Valley Tribune: “Care to the end”
“A superb combination of understanding, reporting, empathy, and most of all, vivid writing. This had the potential to be yet another woe-is-us worsening disease series, but Reinhart got into areas
rarely explored, yet perfectly peppered numbers and science throughout. What truly lifts this series is a delicate sense for the victims of end-stage Alzheimers that avoided sappiness and the maudlin, yet somehow conveyed what it's like. Once I read Reinhart's column, it explained how she could subtly paint what it's like, yet admirably she did so without ever injecting herself and her family's plight in the main series."
Third place
Carla McCain, Arizona Daily Star: “Southern Arizona: Epicenter of an epidemic”
“Written with authority and yet also in TV colloquial style. Strongly reported and user friendly. Powerful.”
Honorable mention
Joe Bavier, Tucson Weekly: “Head games”
C11. Law and order reporting
22 entries
Judge: Jack Kresnak, a criminal justice reporter with the Detroit Free Press, has won numerous national journalism awards including
the Anna Quindlen Award from the Child Welfare League of America ('97), the Knight Ridder Excellence in Journalism Award ('03) and Journalist of the Year award from Metro Detroit SPJ ('97).
First place:
Judi Villa, The Arizona Republic: "Adult Prisons Harden Teens''
“My mouth dropped at Villa's revelations about what Arizona is doing to its youngest criminals. It's clear from her reporting that the ‘get tough’ attitude toward wayward teenagers is going to result in hardened adult criminals with no education, no job skills and no hope of becoming productive, tax-paying, law-abiding citizens. ‘A mad scientist couldn't have invented a worse approach,’ Villa quotes a juvenile justice expert as saying. The personal stories of these young inmates were heart breaking. This is a piece that blended thorough reporting with passionate advocacy. Well done.”
Second place
Carla McClain, Arizona Daily Star: "Alliance Gone Bad''
“This two-part series hits full speed from the starting gate, engaging the reader early in a fascinating tale of a drug-addicted pediatric eye doctor whose anger and insecurity apparently led to a murder conspiracy and the bludgeoning death of his partner, another eye doctor who truly cared about the kids he served. The reporter did some terrific digging in the ‘bad' doctor's past, including problems in other states, while contrasting it with the life and work of the ‘good' doctor who had the respect of many kids, parents and colleagues. McClain's getting the bad doc's former (married) girlfriend to discuss him candidly was a real treat. As good a murder story as you can get.”
Third place
Paul Rubin, New Times: "Lord of the Lies”
“The story of Robert Owens, an ex-con and private investigator for some of the area's biggest defense attorneys as well as a law enforcement snitch This is a complex story with multiple characters and Rubin does a fine job of laying out his carefully collected evidence against a man who apparently plays both sides of the street to the point where he has hoodwinked both the good guys and the bad guys. A lot of solid reporting makes it work. The people involved are not easy to keep track of and it would have been helpful to have a separate box with a cast of characters listed. But, I enjoyed it thoroughly.”
C12. Religion, faith or ethics reporting
16 entries
Judge: David Crumm has written about the impact of religion on American life for nearly two decades for the Detroit Free Press. Crumm has won six national Wilbur Awards for excellence in religion writing and is a co-author of several books, including (1997) "The Suicide Machine,'' an investigation of Dr. Jack Kevorkian's campaign for assisted suicide, and (2005) "Quoting God: How Media Shape Ideas about Religion and Culture."
First place
Stephanie Innes, Arizona Daily Star: “Easter’s new look in Tucson: Hispanics’ customs on rise”
“The toughest challenge in religion writing today is looking at a multi-faceted culture that is rapidly changing across the United States — and spotting specific points at which religion is re-shaping parts of that culture. While it’s obvious that America’s Hispanic-Catholic population is growing, Stephanie Innes spotted one fascinating, easily overlooked way that this growth is changing American life: In predominantly Hispanic communities, a fascinating series of customs surrounding Holy Week are turning out to be more popular than the Easter holiday itself. That’s a smart piece of journalistic analysis and Stephanie followed up with reporting that linked national data to local conditions— and that showcased the experiences of real people in their everyday lives. Excellent work.”
Second place
John Dougherty, Phoenix New Times: “Polygamy in Arizona: blasphemous backlash”
“Sometimes, the impact of religion on a community is negative – and it’s our task as journalists to vigorously dig out that truth. Dougherty’s investigative reporting on offshoot Mormon groups charts the anguish that such abuse of religion can cause. It seems clear that an impressive, in-depth array of investigative tools were brought together in the writing of this story. Good job.”
Third place
Lawn Griffiths, East Valley Tribune: “Faith of the pioneers”
“Interviewing people about their religious experiences can be tougher than asking them about their sex lives these days. This story is a great example of solid journalistic work – arranging to spend time with real people, closely observing them, hearing their stories and asking them questions about their experiences at all points in the journey. Getting at the interior life behind the exterior experiences is extremely difficult – and this story is a fine example of a smart attempt at meeting that challenge.”
C13. Diversity reporting
20 entries
Judge: Robert Montemayor was a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times and a major contributor to the paper’s groundbreaking series “Southern California’s Latino Community,” which won a 1984 Pulitzer Prize for public service. He has been nominated for three other Pulitzer prizes and is co-author of the 2004 book, “Right Before Our Eyes: Latinos Past, Present & Future.”
First place
Tom Beal, Arizona Daily Star: "The Unknown Tribe"
“For his story of the Tohono O'odham tribe of Arizona that was spotlighted with a national exhibit at Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. Beal's stories shed light on a Native American tribe that has stood in the shadows of history for more than five centuries and only now is just being recognized for its cultural contributions to the Southwest. His sidebar was particularly rich with tribal stories that captured the essence of a people aflow with legendary folklore."
Second place
Joe Burchell, Arizona Daily Star: “Sikh firm now runs security for city”
“Burchell's story traces the tremendous success of the Espanola, N.M.-based firm, Akal Security, which is owned by Sikh Dharma, a nonprofit religious organization. Burchell notes that Akal Security today manages more than a $1 billion in contracts to guard more than 400 federal courthouses, eight military installations, half a dozen airports and both the Tucson City Hall and Tucson Convention Center. All this against the backdrop of a Sikh gas station owner who was gunned down in Mesa in what Burchell reports was a ‘misguided attempt at revenge for the terrorist attacks’ in New York and Washington.
Third place
Le Templar and Kristina Davis, East Valley Tribune: "Nurturing the Hispanic vote"
“Templar and Davis did an exemplary job of outlining one of the more intriguing political stories of the elections, the courting of the Hispanic vote. The story represented good analytical reporting that delved into the challenges of harnessing the Latino vote in Arizona at a time when political tacticians were pointing at the potentially far-reaching impact that Hispanics could have on both state and national political races.”
C14. Education reporting
27 entries
Judge: Seattle Times education reporter Maureen O'Hagan was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and a winner of multiple national awards including the Scripps Howard Foundation's Public Service award, the Heywood Broun Award and the Associated Press Sports Editors award for investigative reporting for her series on coaches with a history of sexual misconduct who continue to work with youth.
First place
Pat Kossan, The Arizona Republic: "Arizona easing fed's rules for school standards"
“The story takes a broad look at Arizona's implementation of No Child Left Behind, and shows how the state schools chief has cut behind-the-scenes deals that dilute the federal requirements to such an extent that they're virtually meaningless. Kossan writes with authority and backs up each point with hard facts. The end result is a troubling picture.”
Second place
Eric Sagara, Tucson Citizen: "Poor students reap little from tax credits"
“Sagara did his homework, examining public records for 193 schools, and finding that a program offering tax credits in exchange for school donations disproportionately benefits well-to-do districts.”
Third place
Pat Kossan, The Arizona Republic: "Schools fight labels before release"
“Through an examination of public records, Kossan shows how statewide school rankings, ostensibly based on hard numbers, aren't necessarily what they seem. Great idea for a story.”
C15. Explanatory reporting
23 entries
Judge: Nancy Cleeland, who covers labor for the Los Angeles Times, is one of four Los Angeles Times writers who won a Pulitzer prize in 2004 for a series exploring the impact of Wal-Mart on wages and working conditions around the world.
First place
Renee Downing, Tucson Weekly: “Cancer wars”
“Downing's exploration of a leukemia cluster in Sierra Vista avoided easy sensationalism, and instead told a sad and complex story in a way that respected the readers' ability to sort things out for themselves. By comparing other clusters--and showing why health officials have grown reluctant to investigate them--Downing broadened the story of a small town with dozens of sick children to one of national significance.”
Second place
Robert Nelson, Phoenix New Times: “Safety meltdown”
Third place
Amanda J. Crawford, Dennis Wagner and Judi Villa, The Arizona Republic: “15 days of anguish”
C16. Sustained neighborhood reporting
22 entries
Judge: Rob Morris, North Carolina editor for the Virginian-Pilot, oversees an expansion of coverage into the growing suburban region.
First place
Senta Scarborough, The Arizona Republic
“This package put a fine point on the broader issue of teen drug abuse by providing a look at a smuggling case in startling detail. While probably not exclusive to this community, the problem in the Valley with prescription and over-the-counter drugs was brought close to home by good beat work. The fast facts for parents were a bonus.”
Second place
J. Craig Anderson, East Valley Tribune
“This package opened with a piece about a grand vision for incorporating a new suburban community and took readers through an increasing nasty debate. Good coverage of an unfolding story with a very readable counterpoint on the foothills folks wanting nothing to do with suburbia. The ‘coyote in a dog show’ image was a nice touch.”
Third place
Casey Newton and Diana Balazs, The Arizona Republic
“This was an informative series on ‘teardowns’ that offered plenty of facts, figures and most importantly, people, to tell the story of a 21st-century land rush.”
Honorable Mention
David van den Berg, The Arizona Republic
“Setting this package apart was that it didn’t focus on a single issue. Instead, it offered a varied sampling of Queen Creek, showing that the reporter stays in touch with the community.”
C17. Words, pictures and design
20 entries
Judge: Christine Jindra is Assistant Managing Editor/Sunday for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, has been in a variety of editing jobs at The Plain Dealer, including feature editor, assistant national editor, day city editor and state editor, where she oversaw numerous reporting and design awards.
First place
Arizona Daily Star: “Y Vote — the Gen Y voters’ 'don't-read-this-if-you-don't-want-a-voice' guide to the 2004 presidential
election”
Staff: Jennifer Sterba, Erin White, Sara Stewart, Lynn Freehill, Dylan McKinley, Becky Pallack, Jorge Ribas, Andrew Satter, Daniel Scarpinato, Janelle Tipton, Tiana Velez, Phil Villarreal, Yui Umehara-Garewal, Mamta Popat, Mike Rice, Chiara Bautista, Leah Tiscione, Dawna Argenbright
“This special section was a fresh, enticing approach to the 2004 campaign. The design was great, fun and easy to follow. The section was crammed full of interesting information in manageable info bites, great art work, sassy yet compelling headlines. A real winner for all voters, not just GenY ones.”
Second place
Arizona Daily Star: “Beating diabetes, with knowledge. control. power”
Staff: Shannon Conner, Carmen Duarte, Sarah Garrecht-Gassen, Diane Luber, Carla McClain, Thomas Stauffer, David Sanders, Hugo Torres and Chiara Bautista
“This Newspapers in Education section was an imaginative way to explain a serious disease which affects more and more young people every year. It was a great, fast-pace combination of real people stories and information on how to fight the disease. Happy to see that a Spanish-language version was also provided. The section should be required reading for all students.”
Third place
Arizona Daily Star: "NAFTA:Road to Riches?"
Staff: Jill Jorden Spitz, Dennis Joyce, Jose Merino, Tim Steller, Michael Marizco, Maria Camou, Dave Castelan, Chiara Bautista, Aaron Latham, Jeffrey Scott, Alfredo Araiza, David Sanders, Victor Vaughan, George Campbell, Pat Benton, Joe McDermott, Adele Ross, Ron Solomon, Mark Stewart, Celia O’Brien, Angela Pittenger, Dean Knuth and Keith Cobbledick
“Good presentation of an important issue. Particularly liked the content page and the centerfold map that compared the two borders and their nearby towns.”
Honorable mention
Margaret Regan, Diane Kashy and Kathy McMahon: Tucson Home Magazine: “Architects on Architecture”
“Good design, with edgy portraits introducing the story. Loved the way the quotes and photographs of the architects’ work followed along to illustrate the story.”