Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Richmond Free Press Entry Title: General News Writing Entry 2-Confederate statues Entry Credit: Jeremy M. Lazarus, George Copeland, Jr., Ronald E. Carrington, Brian Palmer Judge Comment: The coverage of this debate was excellent, with great detail and depth. There were lots of wrinkles and angles to this story, and the newspaper examined and explained them all. Terrific work.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Suffolk News-Herald Entry Title: Suffolk tornado Entry Credit: Tracy Agnew, Jimmy LaRoue, Rachel Wartian Judge Comment: The news staff's blanket coverage of this devastating disaster focused on what mattered the most: the people who were affected. Nice job of fanning out to get their stories, which made for a compelling account of their recollections, actions and reactions. This was exemplary work under trying circumstances.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Eastern Shore Post Entry Title: The Death Felt ’Round the World: Reverberations From George Floyd’s Death Reach the Eastern Shore of Virginia Entry Credit: Constance Morrison Judge Comment: The news staff did a wonderful job of exploring many angles of this topic. It excelled in getting stories and information that added layers of context and understanding. Strong effort in explaining police tactics, examining history, and, most of all, documenting the inequalities that exist day to day, not just when something momentous happens.