Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Bristol Herald Courier Entry Title: Damascus flooding recap Entry Credit: David McGee, Joe Tennis, Robert Sorrell, Joaquin Mancera Judge Comment: The newspaper’ reporter-team did a magnificent job detailing first the agony endured by residents/victims of massive flooding and destruction, to the subsequent recovery efforts of individuals and government agencies. Follow-up stories relied mostly on agency sourcies; the residents affected disappeared. However, reporting was solidly sourced, and reporters followed response and recovery efforts in detail (including a story focused on political rhetoric during the presidential campaign season).
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: The Winchester Star Entry Title: Molly Williams General News Writing Entry Credit: Molly Williams Judge Comment: Good writing/reporting on a social issue related to a school’s non-academic flex-period. Readers’ comments flowed below the on-line versions. Good detail and sourcing.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The News & Advance Entry Title: Coverage of Lynchburg registrar's lawsuit Entry Credit: Mark Hand Judge Comment: Very good multi-story coverage of a trial detailing alleged partisan dominance of a local elections board and removal of a contract administrator. Writing very good; sourcing relied on trial details with descriptions from developments years earlier that led to the legal action.
Competition Comment: Most entries are series about lommunity issues affecting readers. Some were interesting personaiity features or about limited/sourced issues. All were well written for comprehensive understanding of their themes.
