Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: The Virginian-Pilot Entry Title: 6-year-old boy shoots teacher Entry Credit: Staff Judge Comment: Outstanding example of breaking news reporting. The team effort from The Virginian-Pilot staff resulted in a comprehensive, well-told and well-structured story that takes readers through the shocking event with extremely impressive depth and context. The story is told in both words and photos with the appropriate balance of sensitivity and importance, including quotes from the only people able to give eye-witness accounts: children. This piece should be used as an example in journalism classes.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Richmond Times-Dispatch Entry Title: Richmond graduation shooting Entry Credit: Staff Judge Comment: Excellent work gathering information as the story developed and getting quotes from witnesses to bring home the horror of the shooting. The rest of the story does a good job of adding layers, context and inevitable political fights.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Virginian-Pilot Entry Title: Atlantic Ave fire and folo Entry Credit: Stacy Parker, Eliza Noe Judge Comment: Vivid writing and good follow-up that cover both the basics of the fire and depth about what it means for the surrounding community.
Competition Comment: What separated the award winners in this category was adding context and depth to breaking stories as they developed, giving readers a full picture of not only the event that occurred, but the environment it happened in and the ripple effects.
