Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Virginia Mercury Entry Title: Foster care in Virginia Entry Credit: Katie O'Connor Judge Comment: Superb reporting and writing. The complexities of foster care and diversion are explained in clear, personal terms. Excellent sourcing and delivery, from beginning to end. A stellar effort.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Virginia Mercury Entry Title: Eviction policy Entry Credit: Ned Oliver Judge Comment: Ned Oliver's stories help expose the problem low-income tenants face in trying in dealing with eviction threats from delinquent landlords. The stories give localized detail to a problem that had also gained national attention. The tenants become more like neighbors for the reader.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Charlottesville Tomorrow Entry Title: Food justice Entry Credit: Emily Hays Judge Comment: This is a solid series that puts human faces on food insecurity and the breakdowns in efforts to mitigate the problem. The quotes are well chosen and illuminate the issues. Nicely done.
