2005 Arizona Press Club Awards

SPANISH LANGUAGE PUBLICATIONS
Each winning entry is followed by judges' comments

D1. News reporting

25 entries

Judge: Pedro Rojas, executive editor at La Opinión in Los Angles, has more than 29 years newspaper experience. He previously was managing editor at El Nuevo Día in San Juan, Puerto Rico and executive editor at El Diario/La Prensa in New York.

First place

Valeria Fernández, La Voz: “Tensión en la frontera” (Tension on the border)

“Sin perder en ningún momento el enfoque noticioso, Valeria logra relatar con intensidad y balance los sentimientos de las dos partes en medio de un gran conflicto. Excelente uso del idioma español.”

Second place

Analilia Esparza, La Estrella de Tucson: 'Si todo sale bien, me regreso" (If everything’s okay, I’ll come back)

“Es una crónica para leerse de una sentada. Captura la atención del lector desde el primer párrafo.”

Third place

Valeria Fernández, La Voz: “Inmigrantes que se fueron 'MULTIPLICAN' oporunidades en sus pueblos” (Immigrants who have left multiply opportunities for their hometowns)

“De manera muy hábil Valeria le pone rostro humano a una información que es eminentemente sobre pesos y dólares.”

D2. Personality profile/feature writing

29 entries

Judge: Martin Enrique Martinez is a reporter for Diario La Estrella in Dallas-Fort Worth.

First place

Valeria Fernandez, La Voz: “Espinas en la fe” (Thorns in the faith)

Second place

Valeria Fernandez, La Voz: “Tumbas en el desierto, almas sin paradero” (Tombs in the desert, souls without end)

Third place

Adriana Elektra Sanchez, La Voz: “Abranle paso al peje” (“Out of the way, the peje its coming)

D3. Business reporting

13 entries

Judge: Julian Resendiz, deputy city editor for Al Día in Dallas, has won Texas APME awards for feature writing and spot news while at the El Paso Herald-Post, and supervised projects that won APME awards for The Brownsville Herald.

First place

Carmen Duarte, La Estrella de Tucson: "Se multiplican negocios de

préstamos" (Payday loan businesses multiplying)

“A solid, informative consumer story nicely complimented by the use of

reader-friendly graphics. “

Second place

Analilia Esparza, La Estrella de Tucson: "Buscan dogos sonorenses"

(Looking for Sonoran 'dogs')

“Well-written business feature with lots of detail and multiple sources.”

No third place

Honorable mention

Vicky Ramírez, La Voz: "De las hamburguesas... a los helados" (From

hamburgers... to ice cream)

“An interesting Q&A with a female Hispanic entrepreneur.” 

D4. Sports reporting

14 entries

Judge: Mauro Díaz is sports editor for Al Día, published by The Dallas Morning News.

First place

Analilia Esparza, La Estrella de Tucson: “Buscan ser parte del ‘Rebaño’ USA” (Looking to be part of Rebaño’ USA)

“This was a fun read which was further enhanced by the visual presentation.

Of all the entries, this one featured the freshest angle. The writer solidly

presents the subjects of the story as kids just being kids despite their big

accomplishment — it's as simple as that.”

Second place

Alfredo García, La Voz: “Un ‘sol’ a la Mexicana” (A very Mexican sun)

“You find out a new tidbit about the subject every time you read this piece.

The story goes beyond localizing an area professional sports figure and

connects with the reader on multiple levels — race, basketball and the smell

of tamales being just a few of the hooks. There's a very raw storytelling

approach that somehow works.”

Third place

Analilia Esparza, La Estrella de Tucson: “Sueña Carolina con ir a las Olimpiadas” (Carolina dreams of being in the Olympics)

“A solid story. The second third of the feature, which talks about how 9/11

affected the subject, really captures her drive well. The story gives a

sense that Carolina is going to be all right, regardless of the path she

chooses.”

D5. Entertainment reporting

23 entries

Victor Perez, a copy editor at El Diario Hoy of Chicago, has served as deputy Spanish editor at Freedom’s The Brownsville Herald and as a copy/layout editor for the start-up of The Dallas Morning News’ Spanish-language Al Día. He helped develop and launch the daily El Nuevo Heraldo and the weekly El Extra. He won Freedom’s Jim Rosse Prize for Innovation for El Extra in 2000.

First place

Maria Teresa Bonilla, La Voz: “Reggeaton: ritmo sensual y callejero” (Reggeaton: sensual rhythm from the streets)

“Arresting story package on how reggeaton is leading the first true Latino musical revolution in decades and its deep impact among Latinos in the United States. The story captures the zeitgeist in that it shows the transformation of the format of the Latino airwaves from Mexican regional into urban in major cities like Tucson, as well as the poignant coining of Spanish slang by ‘reggeatoneros.’ As a big plus, the reggeaton glossary sidebar definitely comes in handy!”

Second place

Carmen Duarte, La Estrella de Tucson: “Es festival ‘cosa de niños’” (The Festival is a children’s thing)

“The story reveals how mariachi music has been preserved throughout time, first as a family oral tradition, then as a school music program. The story smoothly juxtaposes two generations of musicians: a 68-year-old trumpet man and two guitar players aged seven and eight, who, despite their age difference, feel equally passionate about mariachi music as each prepares to perform at the Mariachi International Convention in Tucson.”

Third place

Jorge Quintero, La Voz fin de Semana: “¡Que viva el chile!” (Long live chile!)

“The 700-plus words of this restaurant review describe, in first person, the drama of the author’s culinary conversion into Mexican food — the feared, spicy Mexican chile, that is. First, the author faces a conflict as his Colombian stomach is not used to the Mexican chile. Second, he sets out on a risky quest upon trying the menu’s spiciest dishes. Finally, resolution is achieved when the author conquers his greatest fear by hailing, at the top of his lungs, the Mexican chile. Tasteful!”