Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: The Virginian-Pilot Entry Title: A floating prison - Disabled state - Family wants military Entry Credit: Katherine Hafner Judge Comment: All three stories well-written and reported. Floating prison in particular was compelling. Great interviews, judging from the comments and quotes.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Richmond Times-Dispatch Entry Title: Mel Leonor government reporting Entry Credit: Mel Leonor Judge Comment: This reporter handles data adeptly, explaining it and not just dumping it into a narrative. All of the stories were nuanced. Some pretty emotional partisan issues were handled very calmly.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Roanoke Times Entry Title: Berrier Government Writing Entry Credit: Ralph Berrier Jr. Judge Comment: Berrier finds fresh and sharp angles to enliven some familiar debates, and the human element of the story is not neglected.
