Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Amherst New Era-Progress Entry Title: Amherst board supports US 29 corridor cleanup position, opposes adding fire marshal post; Public comments continue on Confederate monument in Amherst; Council denies two special use permits for short-term rentals Entry Credit: Justin Faulconer Judge Comment: Detailed, well-balanced reporting on a town budget, a controversial Confederate monument and the permitting of short-term rental properties.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Tidewater Review Entry Title: Broadband delays, I-64 widening, library defends book policy Entry Credit: David Macaulay Judge Comment: Well-written, informative stories. Clever word use in the broadband story. The library story could have used examples of books that have drawn objections to help illustrate the issue.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Nelson County Times Entry Title: Two candidates running for South District Supervisor; Democratic candidates for 11th district seat stump in Nelson; "Support our own:" Nelson, state officials look to extend line of duty benefits to families of private officers Entry Credit: Emma Martin Judge Comment: These stories are detailed but the candidate profiles and candidate forum stories lack context. The story about benefits for private police also lacked the context of what exactly private police are and do.
Competition Comment: The entries in this category show strong journalism serving the needs of the community.
