Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Virginia Business Magazine Entry Title: W24 Virginia Business - Richard Foster column Entry Credit: Richard Foster Judge Comment: 1st - Excellent writing on the hot and many times divisive subject of today's political spectrum. Richard Foster knows how to balance the equation and definitely delivers the human appeal. "Saving Grace" is by far the best piece I've read in this smorgasbord of entries that range from calendar round-ups to book and food reviews and historical-based columns.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: North of the James Magazine Entry Title: Hidden Histories Entry Credit: Jack Johnson Judge Comment: 2nd place - Great columns in calling attention to an area's history that also is part of American history. These were packed with so much detail. I had to read them twice to try and absorb it all. Excellent work by Jack Johnson!
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Princess Anne Independent News Entry Title: Kwasny Columns Entry Credit: Karen Beardslee Kwasny Judge Comment: 3rd - Karen Beardslee Kwasny is able to tap into the emotions to which readers can identify with that personal connection. Whether it's memories of her mother and grandmother and the passage of time, or how a small portion of a community finds a common bond with wildlife, or even the more serious entry about the necessity of preserving land and ag rights. She is a true word painter, putting the reader at the scene. The thread that connects Karen Kwasny's writing is her ability to pencil the story to life. Her columns are thoughtful, enjoyable and informative.
Competition Comment: Overall, this category served up a variety of topics and great attention to detail by the writers. A future consideration would be to peg categories more concisely - such as book and food reviews and roundup of calendar events; and provide the heavier contenders a separate category. It's extremely challenging to compare such columns as those by Richard Foster in Business (1st), Jack Johnson's deep dive into American history at the local level (2nd) and personal reflections like Karen Kwasny's (3rd), against the lighter pieces in this massive category. Excellent work and everyone is commended for their efforts. I thoroughly enjoyed reading everything and judging the Virginia contest for columns. Bruce Potter is another individual whose writing shines! Congratulations to everyone. Keep shining with your journalism.
