2010 Better Newspaper Contest award winners

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September 29, 2022

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2021 Awards of Excellence – Winning Entries

September 22, 2021

2020 Awards of Excellence – Winning Entries

September 24, 2020

Outstanding Journalist
Urban newspapers (classes 1 and 4)
1. Martha Bellisle, Reno Gazette-Journal
“If the highest aspirations of a journalist include telling the truth, being believed and thereby eliciting some form of change for the better, then Martha Bellisle is more than worthy of those aspirations. Her reportage into various degrees of government inattention to laws against drunk driving and to the punishments of those found guilty under those laws is textbook results journalism.”
“Her thorough, hard-hitting investigation involved various hair-raising statistics about some or all of 113 people convicted over the past decade of serious drunken driving charges. Some of her stories’ content should have struck fear into anyone using Nevada’s streets and highways: ‘Half of serious DUI cases involve repeat offenders,’ ‘DUI offenders allowed back on road too soon’ and ‘DUI offenders released early despite state law,’ among others.”
“Bellisle’s reporting not only got officials’ attention. They were forced to change policy, start following Nevada state law by requiring alcohol-testing devices for convicted offenders, add to sentences and revoke driver’s licenses. Another result of her work: The attorney general revived the state’s Coalition on Impaired Driving.”
“It’s rare that a journalist can know with certainty and satisfaction that her work had such direct impact.”

Community newspapers (classes 2 and 3)
1. Richard N. Velotta, In Business Las Vegas
“From well-crafted editorials to informative pieces that were easy reads, Mr. Velotta did an extremely good job covering various topics and most importantly reported the hard numbers. All work submitted was well-crafted and an enjoyable read!”

Story of the year
Martha Bellisle, Reno Gazette-Journal
Nevada DUI enforcement
“Bellisle’s exhaustive, in-depth reporting exposed numerous gaps in DUI enforcement in Nevada and held officials accountable for the lapses. Her reporting led to policy changes by prosecutors and DUI offenders being hauled away in handcuffs. A shining example of public service journalism.”

Freedom of the Press
Urban papers (classes 1 and 4)
1. Reno Gazette-Journal
DUI series

Freedom of the Press
Community newspapers (classes 2 and 3)
Lahontan Valley News
“Choirgate”
“Clear, explanatory stories on teachers’ union trying to stop student newspaper story. Lots of voices and community involvement gave broad perspective.”
Editorial of the Year
Vin Suprynowicz, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Firemen’s pensions past due for reform”
“Clear issue, well-structured argument, conclusion clear — and includes call to action. Writing could be more expressive. Reporting: Good examples of abuses. Impact: Clearly affects every taxpayer in coverage area but actual cost not stated, other than to say taxpayers ‘with tanking 401ks’ can no longer afford pension system.”

Best Headline Writing
All Urban (Classes 1 and 4)
1. Steve Bornfeld, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Oh, yeah”
2. Brad Bynum, Reno News & Review
“Really great”
3. Matthew Crowley, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Best Headline Writing
All Community (Classes 2 and 3)
1. Cortney Maddock, Daily Sparks Tribune
2. Amy Edgett, Sierra Sun

Photo Of The Year
Leila Navida, Las Vegas Sun
“Strippers on the strip (upside down stripper)”
“Colorful and unusual photo that speaks of a large community issue. Nicely composed and well thought out. Really catches the eye.”

Best Editorial Cartoon
Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun
“Just Do It”
“Couldn’t decide between this and Las Vegas Review-Journal “Drop Dead” cartoon. Both were excellent. This one made me laugh the hardest, so it wins. In one simple and hysterical image this cartoon nails Woods for his behavior while at the same time points out the dangers of corporate America tying its brands to celebrity sports figures.”

Ad of the Year
Rob Galloway and Joanna Vernarecci, Nevada Appeal
“Get your grill on”
“Very eye catching, good use of color. It conveys the feel of reading about good BBQ, but wait! This special just in! You can ‘see’ the burn.”

CLASS 1
General Excellence
1. Las Vegas Review-Journal
“It is easy to see all the pride that is put into every section of this newspaper. Clean, modern design, good mix of news, beautiful ads and classifieds.”
2. Reno Gazette-Journal
“Energetic front-page design, clear photos, front page (A1) ads tasteful, top of masthead art and headlines done well. If classified were modernized it would do wonders for the overall product.”

Journalist of Merit
Lawrence Mower, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Mower is a vivid storyteller. His second-day stories were often as compelling as the first. Outstanding work on the Officer Manor package.”

Community Service
1. Reno Gazette-Journal, DUI sentences
“Great research and effort. Amazing results. Story would have benefited from stronger ledes into story.”
2. Reno Gazette-Journal, Legislative pay
“Good look inside government spending — excellent writing and sidebars.”
3. Las Vegas Review-Journal, Police officers’ death
“Excellent! Great ledes and reporting put pressure on authorities to change policies.”

Best Spot News Story
1. Brian Haynes, Mike Blasky, Henry Brean, Francis McCabe, Paul Harasim, Kristi Jourdan, Adrienne Packer, Keith Rogers, Steve Tetreault, John L. Smith, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Shooter releases fury”
“Strong storytelling on deadline, with phrases that pull the reader in: ‘(He) stepped into the courthouse holding a grudge and a shotgun,’ and great quotes like ‘I go to gun ranges and don’t hear that much ammo.’ Excellent sidebar on security steps at federal courthouses since Oklahoma City. Touching lede on a sidebar describing a victim: ‘There’s a good chance Stan Cooper wore the first smile you saw when entering the courthouse.’ Photos were excellent spot news coverage, as well, and I lived the visual snippet of the shooter’s handwritten, bitter race discrimination complaint.”
2. Staff, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Missing Tahoe girl found after 18 years”
“Comprehensive, well-done spot news package showing how locally as well as nationally important this story was. Interesting breakouts; good perspective on safety measures other Tahoe kids learned after Jaycee’s abduction; good job pointing out all the other kids who are still missing. Excellent idea for one sidebar: ‘Experts: Don’t judge Dugard for her silence.’ Also: packaging clearly had a lot of extra online content, including ‘Join the discussion.’”
3. Staff, Las Vegas Sun
“Mea culpa tops bad day for GOP”
“Although the Washington Post broke this story, the local Las Vegas paper did a good job hustling on deadline that day. The page-one analysis — ‘What it means’ — was hard-hitting and provocative, likely to provoke lots of local debate.”
Honorable Mention
Laura Myers, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Searchlight set for showdown”
“Excellent scene-setter showing divisions in Harry Reid’s hometown on eve of Tea Party event.”

Best Feature Story
1. Abigail Goldman, Las Vegas Sun
“On a busy road, memorial sprouts for friendly horse”
“The classic slice-of-life feature is so much more than the story of a woman and her horse. The writer’s crisp writing style and to-the-point description sets the scene, but leaves plenty of room for readers to imagine the changes taking place over the years.”
2. Henry Brean, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Dressed for Success”
“The writer draws you in with a great lede and easily holds reader interest with a balance of good quotes and good writing.”
3. Brendan Buhler, Las Vegas Sun
“Big Man, Big Voice”

Best Nonstaff Story
1. Stacy Willis, Las Vegas Sun
“Behind the Walls of Polygamy Town”
“Besides its obvious local relevance, the story has appeal much larger than that. Your story not only describes Heber Holm’s business, his motivation and how that has affected both him and his relationship with residents in Hildale, but you give thoughtful, albeit tongue-in-cheek, insights about how a pejorative reputation in Hildale could turn around, and how a new experience could affect the national consciousness. I very much enjoyed it. Thank you.”
2. Tony McAndrew, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Holy Movie Making”
“I liked how the story was split up into sections, each a different aspect of your experience. It was certainly informative (especially that extras rarely see themselves on screen.)”

Best Business News Story
1. Jennifer Robison, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“A Step Forward”
“Creative way to introduce City Center. I am sure when this was published it was well received. Informative, clear and creative.”
2. Liz Benston, Las Vegas Sun
“The rescue of City Center”
“Clear explanation of confusing transaction. Writer did a great job of presenting the complexity. Excellent job.”
3. Liz Benston, Las Vegas Sun
“Has dog racing run its course?”
“Interesting accounting of this industry. Writer does a good job of detailing the state of dog racing.”

Best Business Feature Story
1. Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Local homeowners get runaround”
“Hidalgo takes readers through layers of bureaucracy, weaving a story of frustration set against a backdrop of agencies and conflicting messages. An intricate and complex story well told.”
2. Liz Benston, Las Vegas Sun
“One man’s concept of a real city”
“With use of scene-setting, the story moves almost like a film. It takes an intimate look at Murren, weaves perspective of the globally known project. The package — with images and online multimedia — also engages. A great read.”
3. Amanda Finnegan, Las Vegas Sun
“A shining lakeside oasis loses its luster”
“Finnegan leads us through the history of Lake Las Vegas — with bankruptcies, sales and shows the relevance while using voices of owners, business owners and developers. The writing is full of visual imagery and hard data to put it into perspective.”
Honorable mention
Sonya Padgett, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Money opens doors”
“Padgett opens the doors on an often-overlooked market.”

Best Explanatory Journalism
1. J. Patrick Coolican, Las Vegas Sun
“The Economy: Recovery in Vegas? Not so fast”
“A well-written explanation of the impact the Great Recession has had on nearly every aspect of the Las Vegas economy, from schools to strip malls, and what it may take for the city to come back, if ever.”
2. Anjeanette Damon, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Lawmakers per diems double base pay”
“A timely investigative piece, undertaken with great care and written with clarity to inform readers of lawmakers compensation at a time of severe budget cuts and high unemployment in the state.”
3. Stephanie Tavares, Las Vegas Sun
“Toxic Threat: Because of what they eat and excrete, quagga mussels could poison Lake Mead”
“An entertainingly written explanation of a threat that could endanger millions in the Las Vegas area who depend on the water of Lake Mead.”

Best News Feature Story
1. Richard A. Serrano, Las Vegas Sun
“A city wrestles with its silence”
“Exceptionally well written and organized. Story moves beyond feature writing in education aspects, informing readers of warning signs and the need to speak up about child abuse.”
2. Frank X. Mullen Jr., Reno Gazette-Journal
“He died trying to live”
“Story doesn’t sensationalize the suicide of a 36-year-old man who went to hospital for help. It uncovers an underlying reality our country is facing during harsh economic times.”
3. Jaclyn O’Malley, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Shaken baby cases on the rise”
“Story, well-complemented by sidebars, describes the growing problem of shaken-baby cases. Coverage stood out for its inclusion of many examples.”
Honorable Mention
Richard Lake, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Shoppers swarm for deals”
“Entry deserves recognition for its light-hearted prose. In a category filled with heavy subject matter, it’s important to recognize the value of levity.”

Best Investigative or In-depth Story or Series
1. Martha Bellisle and staff, Reno Gazette-Journal
“DUI in Nevada”
“This is a subject explored many times, many ways, but this body of work is raw and compelling, a complete examination of an ongoing national tragedy. Profiles of perpetrators and victims particularly moving. Outstanding results. Well done.”
2. J. Patrick Coolican and Liz Benston, Las Vegas Sun
“Bottoming out”
“A thorough, unique and highly readable (and viewable) treatment of a seemingly natural Las Vegas affliction — gambling addiction. A smart treatment online and in print.”
3. Marshall Allen, Las Vegas Sun
“UNC has patient privacy leak”
“Someone in the ER is selling patient names and personal information to the ambulance chasers? Well, that’s a huge no-no. Good story.”
Honorable Mention
Alan Maimon, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Evolution of a crime”
“Good reconstructive yard of the infamous Pacman Jones shootout.”

Best Local Column
1. Lisa Mascaro, Las Vegas Sun
“Great, broad coverage of D.C. Nevadans are lucky to have such a column and columnist.”
2. John L. Smith, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Excellent writing style. Good topics.”
3. Jane Ann Morrison, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Entertaining, thoughtful.”
Honorable Mention
Geoff Schumacher, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Great wordsmith — especially like column on Jake Highton.”

Best Local Nonstaff Column
1. Jon Ralston, Las Vegas Sun
“His cuts are deep and to the point. Ralston doesn’t spare his subjects from their own hypocrisies and foibles without being mean.”
2. Joe Santoro, Nevada Appeal
“Santoro brings together a wealth of information and in short order strings them along coherently, adding his own witty and sharp comments.”
3. Linn Mills, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Mills provides practical advice in a reader-friendly manner. As a non-gardener, I’m enticed to start my own garden by Mills’ column.”

Best Local Sports Story
1. Ray Brewer, Las Vegas Sun
“Keeping him safe at home”
“Well-written, good background. I want to know the outcome.”
2. Anthony Fenech, Las Vegas Sun
“Home is where the fans are”
“Really good story.”
3. Steve Kanigher, Las Vegas Sun
“O’Bannon: Fairness the basis of beef with NCAA.”
“Interesting.”
Honorable Mention
Chris Gabel, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Autistic athlete inspires her team”
“Nice human interest.”

Best Local Sports Feature
1. J. Patrick Coolican, Las Vegas Sun
“The life of a fighter”
“A well-paced, thoughtful profile of a human being who sports fans often see only as a joke or a caricature. Emotional, but not sappy. A portrait that gives all the sides of one fighter but tells readers: there are thousands of similar stories in boxing.”
2. Chris Gabel and Dan Hinxman, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Hope through hoops: Basketball in Owyhee”
“A story about what a sport means to a community. Gabel gets a lot into this story, including history, social issues and personal stories of former and current players. Amazing quotes from the players. Great reporting.”
3. Mark Anderson, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Bobby Hauck’s Uphill Battle”
“Deeply reported and well written, this story gives local readers everything they need to know about UNLV’s new football coach.”
Honorable Mention
Matt Youmans, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“UFC boss fights clock”
“Well written and entertaining, this story gives readers great access into Dana White’s life.”

Best Local Sports Column
1. Ed Graney, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Graney’s columns are well-written and emotional. He’s not afraid to sate strong opinions. The Roach piece was deeply reported and read well.”
2. Dan Hinxman, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Three strong columns, particularly the Chris Ault piece, which stated strong opinion and then backed it up with the facts.”
3. Darrell Moody, Nevada Appeal
“Strong collection of opinionated local columns.”

Best Entertainment Writing
1. Kristen Peterson, Las Vegas Sun
“Strong daily feature writing. The UNLV piece displays initiative.”
2. Christopher Lawrence, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Lawrence’s laid-back tone complements his beat well. He’s funny and takes the medium as it comes, even when it’s a week of watching Lifetime movies.”
3. John Katsilometes, Las Vegas Sun
“Katsilometes covers the icons of the Strip with sensitivity and a great deal of knowledge.”

Best Critical Writing
1. Joe Brown, Las Vegas Sun
“As a good critic must, Brown fires with both barrels when he needs to; but as his Lady Gaga review shows, when confronted with something that might be art he pushes himself to capture it. Great piece.”
2. Steve Bornfeld, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Bornfeld’s writing is too turgid, but it can’t hide the tough analysis and tougher conclusions he reaches covering the grimy world of local TV news.”
3. John Huetter, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Huetter has an open mind and a healthy skepticism. His reviews show the virtues of clarity, judgment and a telling — and persuasive — attention to detail.”

Best Editorial Writing
1. John Kerr, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Lively writing makes strong opinion even stronger.”
2. Glenn Cook, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Editorials talk directly to the reader to drive home community impact.”
3. Vin Suprynowicz, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Best Editorial Page
1. Las Vegas Sun
“By far the best of the three. Max points on all three criteria (local issues, readability, letters). Only beef: Sunday op-ed page is clearly the opinion of the Sun and the N.Y. Times and Washington Post. Add some other viewpoints from flyover states.”
2. Las Vegas Review-Journal

Best Overall Design
1. Reno Gazette-Journal
“Great use of space maxed out front page. Easy to follow and lead into paper. Great design.”
2. Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Innovation of insert great addition. Space not maximized on front page to pull reader inside.”

Best Page One Design
1. Las Vegas Sun
“Beautiful, bold typography and good photo play. Hierarchy of stories and breakouts within stories is very well organized. Good use of color. Ensign and Elvis covers are very well. Restrained, yet bold.”
2. Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Good variety in use of lede visuals. Pages that are the most successful are the ones with stories as the centerpiece, not just a large refer.”

Best Page Designer
1. Spencer Holladay, Las Vegas Sun
“The best of the best. Pages are well balanced. Illustrations are bold and integrated well with the designs. Design is bold.”
2. Alex Fong, Las Vegas Sun
“Very strong use of typography. Headlines go beyond the norm and point toward great collaboration and planning. Good use of color.”
3. Rachel Perkins, Las Vegas Sun
“Yet another strong body of work. Great use of typography and color. Elvis page is a stand out.”

Best Special Section (Editorial)
1. Las Vegas Sun, “Special Report: 2020 Vision”
“Comprehensive, authoritative and diverse. This is a well thought out section giving readers a solid blueprint for Vegas’ future. Well done!”
2. Reno Gazette-Journal, “Home, Sweet, Home”
“A real reader service for the Aces inaugural season. The whole package is entertaining and thorough. As a reader you know the schedule, where to park, what to eat and are treated to a wonderful photo package on the build out.”
3. Las Vegas Review-Journal, “2010 Best of Las Vegas”
“The features staff did a great job pulling together ‘all the best’ in easy to digest lists boxes. The guest picks are really good.”

Best Information Graphic
1. Alex Richards and Chris Morris, Las Vegas Sun
“Aircraft collisions with animals”
“A great way to look at a set of data from multiple angles. Simplicity of graphic makes it easy to read and navigate.”
2. Mike Johnson, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“A tunnel under Lake Mead”
“A very complicated subject that obviously required a lot of research. Too much going on for the given space. Needs tighter editing. Color choices make some text difficult to read.”
3. Stephen Reich, Reno Gazette-Journal
“The Biggest Little Ballpark”
“Lots of great information, but it feels stretched to fill the space. Too much flat color; graphic would have been stronger if you had built it on the lede photo the drawing is based on.”

Best Illustration
1. Chris Morris, Las Vegas Sun
“Stealing from the house”
“A great mix of photo and illustration. The details make this a winner. I love the subtle change to the faces.”
2. Chris Morris, Las Vegas Sun
“On the lookout for fraud, waste”
“Good choice of style to mix with the photo. Makes it obvious on first glance this is an illustration. Important with a news story.”
3. David Stroud, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Odds on Oscar”
“Good idea. Good likenesses. Good illustration overall.”

Best News Photo Coverage
1. Andy Barron, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Wind”
“Great timing! Unusual moment.”
2. David B. Parker, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Families welcome home air guard”
“Nice moment. Nicely composed.”
3. Leila Navidi, Las Vegas Sun
“Funeral”
“Good emotion.”

Best Feature Photo
1. Andy Barron, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Burning Man 2009”
“High creativity and quality.”
2. Gary Thompson, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Wetlands”
“Great tech quality, brings you into the story.”
3. David B. Parker, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Vegas gets luck of the draw”
“You can feel and hear the laugher. Great human interest moment here.”
Honorable Mention
Cathleen Allison, Nevada Appeal
“Last chance for summer fun”
“Tells the story well. Nice human interest photo.”

Best Multiple Feature Photos
1. Leila Navida, Las Vegas Sun
“Tractors/500 stories to tell”
“Brilliant composition on all imagines. I feel I know this man without even reading the story. Very professional. Nice use of thumbnails as design element on page layout.”
2. Andy Barron, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Burning Man 2009”
“Excellent composition of images, especially ‘headstand man’. Good use of various ‘events’ to illustrate diversity of the whole.”
3. Marilyn Newton, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Reno Balloon Race”
“Very impactful. Captures of an overly exposed photographers draw (balloon races). Kudos for the use of Panorama on Porter. Nice touch using the thumbnails along side.”
Honorable Mention
Andy Barron, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Helping Hookers”
“Clean story telling. Cover image tells it all.”

Best Portrait
1. Leila Navidi, Las Vegas Sun
“Jim Murren”
“Breathtaking composition. Excellent use of wide angel lens. Best of show. Stunning imagery. Well done.”
2. John Gurzinski, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Fateen Seifullah”
“Thought provoking. Well composed image, leaves much to the viewers imagination, yet tells a story. Nice highlights on turned page and headline.”
3. Leila Navidi, Las Vegas Sun
“Jermy Bannon-Neches”
“Amazing composition and lighting. Fortunate position of palm trees to balance image. Nicely done!”
Honorable Mention
David B. Parker, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Pearl Harbor survivor”
“Clever use of reflection. Well done.”

Best Illustrated Photo
1. K.M. Cannon, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Faces”
“Fun concept.”
2. K.M. Cannon, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Lake Mead”
“Visually tells the story.”
Best Sports Photo
1. Andy Barron, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Hug preserves first round win”
“Excellent moment. Nicely composed.”
2. Steve Marcus, Las Vegas Sun
“Boxing”
“Good reaction/victory photo”
3. Leila Navidi, Las Vegas Sun
“Luchador”
“Nice composition. Looking behind the scenes. Not what we see everyday.”
Honorable Mention
Leila Navidi, Las Vegas Sun
“Football”
“Great moment.”
Honorable Mention
Andy Barron, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Boxing”
“Nice action.”

Best Web Site
1. Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Las Vegas Review-Journal wins based on its reader interaction efforts, including polls, galleries and contests. Navigation was easy.”
2. Las Vegas Sun

Best Multimedia Story
1. Las Vegas Sun
“Bottoming out – gambling addiction”
“Moving story showing a side of Las Vegas not regularly shown. Great use of video and interactives to complete the story.”
2. Justin Yurkanin, Alan Maimon and Michael Quine, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Pacman and the minxx”
3. Mark Antonuccio, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Halloween Guide”
Honorable Mention
Las Vegas Sun
“Wreckless Willie”

Best Blog
1. John Katsilometes, Las Vegas Sun
“The Kats Report”
“Managing stories and interviews that hold your interest and are entertaining. Appeals to readers and gets them talking in the comments section.”
2. Wolf Pack Sports, Reno Gazette-Journal
3. John L. Smith, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“2009-at will”

Best Large-Space Ad
1. Jeffrey Bona, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“M Resort”
“Current. Excellent layout, graphics and use of white space and color.”
2. Yvonta Thompson, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Dr Alexander & Co.”
“Solid branding ad with a strong headline and graphic.”
3. Joe daCosta, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Education Director Urban League”
“Strong headline and creative use of font and color.”

Best Black And White Ad
1. Jueen Loh, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Habitat for Humanity”
“Effective. Well-done thank you.”
2. Mike Miller, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“If there is a needle…”
“Clever use of space; catchy message!”
3. Jennifer Dibble, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Lasik Freedom”
“Shows freedom of no eye-wear really well!”

Best Multi-Color Ad
1. Joanna Vernarecci and Rob Galloway, Nevada Appeal
“Wednesday Wing Night”
“Eye catching with burnt look. Creative.”
2. Joanna Vernarecci and Rob Galloway, Nevada Appeal
“Tech Plumbing”
“Nothing gets your attention like a leak! Creative message and art.”
3. Joanna Vernarecci and Rob Galloway, Nevada Appeal
“The LED light.com”
“(once again!) Creative and eye-catching. Art serves the message.”

Best Special Section (Advertising)
1. Nevada Appeal
“Football Regional Guide 2009”
“Great local copy, nice to see such enthusiastic approach to editorial copy to support good-looking ads.”
2. Bob Brown, Michael Dayley and Joel Cardwell, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“City Center Las Vegas”
“Beautiful section; informative; nice, big ads; makes you want to visit!”
3. Terri Thomas and Sierra Nevada Media Group, Nevada Appeal
“Carson City In Focus – Spring/Summer 2010”
“Section has beautiful tie-ins – Kit Carson focus for Carson City, NV – good reference book.”
Honorable Mention
Rob Galloway, Jessica Weisser and Sierra Nevada Media Group, Nevada Appeal
“Real Heroes 2010 – American Red Cross”
“Great to recognize locals, but it could have gone deeper. How can you become a hero? Nice to inform the reader.”

Best In-House Advertising Promotion For Circulation, Advertising or Editorial
1. Mike Miller, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Saluting American valor”
“Unbelievable commitment to telling this story. Beautifully done!”
2. Justin Lau, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Oh Yeah- He Subscribed”
“Clever use of art, verbiage and message!”
3. Mike Miller, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Which, where, who…series”
“Clean, cross-promotion. Catchy!”

Advertising – General Excellence
1. Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Consistent design section by section. Outstanding classified section 6 column design. Advertising display perfection.”
2. Nevada Appeal
“Good size, easy to read, ads paginated well, back page full ads are a standout.”

CLASS 2
General Excellence
1. Sierra Sun
“Nice layout and design. Good use of color and flow throughout the newspaper. Love your editorial page and the cheers and jeers.”
2. The Record-Courier
“Good community coverage. Nice use of photos and organization of pages. A good read! Like photos and focus on people who make the community come alive.”
3. Desert Valley Times
“Great photos, tons of local coverage. Well-developed opinions. Departments are clear and thorough.”

Journalist of Merit
Sarah Cooper, Daily Sparks Tribune
“Sarah Cooper’s stories are jam-packed with facts and nicely leavened with real people and illustrative quotes. Her readers should be well-informed.”

Community Service
1. Pahrump Valley Times, Programs help in foreclosures, energy
“These articles stood out for their practicality. Readers facing foreclosures need to know about these programs, and they were well served by Mark Waite’s reporting.”
2. Daily Sparks Tribune, Gangs
“Comprehensive coverage of gangs in the community. The writing, particularly that of Jessica Garcia, stands out. The graphics, though helpful, could have used some polishing.”

Best Spot News Story
1. Sarah Cooper, Daily Sparks Tribune
“Plane lands on Interstate 80”
“Good effort getting a lot of detail on a breaking news story.”
2. Jared DuBach, Elko Daily Free Press
“Deputies find $12M pot grove”
“Added background of cartel links provided depth to what could have been a cops brief.”
3. Mark Waite, Pahrump Valley Times
“Neth facing charges in land fraud”

Best Feature Story
1. Scott Neuffer, The Record-Courier
“Girl hit by car in August returns to studies”
“The first four words of the lede provide a rhythm that echoes through the rest of the story. The story could have been saccharine, but the careful use of quotes and the retelling of the recovery made Becca and her mother real.”
2. Courtney Maddock, Daily Sparks Tribune
“Santa’s Sparks”
“The pictorial nature of the lede makes the subject of the story immediately visible to the reader, a style that continues throughout, making ‘Santa’ knowable and likeable.”
3. Jared DuBach, Elko Daily Free Press
“The Road to Recovery”

Best Nonstaff Story
1. Mary Branscomb, Elko Daily Free Press
“A way with horses”
“The writing was solid and easy to follow. Everything flowed into the next paragraph, while keeping interest in the story high.”

Best Business News Story
1. Steve Ranson, Lahontan Valley News
“CMC to close”
“Gives the reader everything he or she wants to know about the business, the factors contributing to closure, and how that closure will affect residents. Definitely important to readers and easy to read with plenty of numbers to supplement information not provided by company sources.”
2. Ali Helgoth, Elko Daily Free Press
“Railway to the future”
“A positive, in-depth look at a company and what it does, and can do, for the community — from a site to bring recyclables to help cut crime. An informative and applicable piece for local readers.”
3. Ali Helgoth, Elko Daily Free Press
“Hospital enters agreement with Summit Air”
“Great use/seeking of sources, pertinent news for locals, and involvement of reader with info sidebar so they may get involved. Just got confused between the two ambulance/air company names as the article switched back and forth, but impeccable reporting.”
Honorable Mention
Steve Ranson, Lahontan Valley News
“Counties receiving support in fight against government”
“Informative, defines community impact and provides hard numbers and great use of sources.”

Best Business Feature Story
1. Rudy Herndon, The Humboldt Sun
“Investors, developers see geothermal potential”
“With the exception of the story being too long, Herndon clearly has the knowledge of the subject matter. This well-written piece kept me interested, which isn’t easy to do with stories about alternative energies.”
2. Mark Waite, Pahrump Valley Times
“Bank collapse delays winery”
“Love that the story focused on a person and the impact of the bank collapse on his business. Good flow, nice detail.”
3. Scott Neuffer, The Record-Courier
“Coping with the economy: Businesses speak out”
“Good use of sources. Nice storytelling. Could use more financial info from the small businesses to support their plights.”
Honorable Mention
Debra Reid, Daily Sparks Tribune
“The doctor is in”
“Loved the subject matter but was bothered by the single-source play. Good detail; lede painted a nice picture of the business.”

Best Explanatory Journalism
1. Jared Dubach, Elko Daily Free Press
“Not as seen on TV”
2. Mark Waite, Pahrump Valley Times
“Nye girds for Yucca closure”
3. Sheila Gardner, The Record-Courier
“Illuminating Douglas stimulus”

Best News Feature Story
1. Mark Waite, Pahrump Valley Times
“Restoration could dry up camp”
2. Ali Helgoth, Elko Daily Free Press
“A time for justice”
3. Julie Wootten, Elko Daily Free Press
“Making the grade”

Best Investigative or In-depth Story or Series
1. Heather Gula, The Humboldt Sun
“Landfill”
“Insightful coverage of a divisive issue.”
2. Jared DuBach, Elko Daily Free Press
“Jane Doe”
3. Jared DuBach, Ali Helgoth and Julie Wootton, Elko Daily Free Press
“Neighborhood Watch”

Best Local Column
1. Bob Challinor, Desert Valley Times
“Great variety. Water district column really told the essence of the story.”
2. David Bly, Desert Valley Times
“Bly brings out the humanity in him and us. His thoughtful column about a gadfly with mental problems reminds us not to dismiss those we think strange.”
3. Mark Smith, Pahrump Valley Times
“These columns take a deep look but make for an entertaining read.”

Best Local Nonstaff Column
1.Andrew Barbano, Daily Sparks Tribune
“Nice variety, incisive look at important topics.”
2. Margaret Caldwell, Desert Valley Times
“Fascinating perspective from someone who has seen a lot of life.”
3. Duke Hunt, Desert Valley Times
“Great perspective on a sport that is a mystery to many, but important to some.”

Best Local Sports Story
1. Tony Erquiaga, The Humboldt Sun
“Reno Aces make home debut in front of sold-out crowd”
“Despite a missing word in the second graph, I felt this journalist did a great job of capturing the Aces home opener. Great usage of photography, reporting and sidebars. Very well done.”
2. Sylas Wright, Sierra Sun
“Perfection”
“Well-written and well-constructed, complemented by an excellent design. Great use of a sidebar and you can tell Wright is comfortable covering the Wolverines.”
3. Martin Harris, Elko Daily Free Press
“Realignment”
Of all the stories submitted on this topic, Harris’ piece had a hyper-local angle, was clear and I also enjoyed the usage of Q&A.
Honorable Mention
Ryan Hope, Elko Daily Free Press
“Officials: Call against SC was incorrect”
“Each graph answered questions as they arose for me. Shows the pressure of an umpire issue in both the major leagues and HS levels. Interesting read.”

Best Local Sports Feature
1. Martin Harris, Elko Daily Free Press
“Elko Boys Basketball History”
“A major effort — great writing, reliving history.”
2. Thomas Ranson, Lahontan Valley News
“One swing did it”
“Great lede, compelling feature on Matt Williams”
3. Dan Eckles, Daily Sparks Tribune
“Changes on Horizon, etc.”
“In-depth look at an important story.”

Best Local Sports Column
1. Martin Harris, Elko Daily Free Press
“Three well-written columns covering very different topics. He does a good job explaining why local sports should matter to the audience.”
2. Joey Crandall, The Record Courier
“Great storytelling and description. He tells the story behind the story very well. And two of the columns were obviously written on deadline, despite his spot duties!”
3. Bob Challinor, Desert Valley Times
“Three strong columns about important local sports issues. He does a good job inserting emotion.”

Best Entertainment Writing
1. Cortney Maddock, Daily Sparks Tribune
“All three pieces perfectly round out either the artist of an upcoming event or an event itself. Every detail offered is pertinent and you have a smart, clean style.”
2. Jared DuBach, Elko Daily Free Press
“Articles are crisp and a possible interest to many readers. Just one comment — writing to a general audience, a little more expansion on what exactly ‘Basque music’ is would have augmented that one piece.”
3. David Bly, Desert Valley Times
“Good feature concepts, but I think the jazz article was a little convoluted with the long laundry list of places he’d been. I kept looking for a stronger connection in the article between the music and art. Even a little anecdotal story of a performance or his relationships with jazz giants would have added a little more meat to the bones.”

Best Editorial Writing
1. Jeffry Mullins, Elko Daily Free Press
“Insightful and thought-provoking.”
2. David Bly, Desert Valley Times
“Opinions stated clearly and simply.”
3. Marianne Kobak, Elko Daily Free Press
“Well-researched.”

Best Editorial Page
1. Elko Daily Free Press
“Variety of elements presented in clear, orderly, readable fashion.”
2. Desert Valley Times
3. Lahontan Valley News

Best Overall Design
1. Elko Daily Free Press
“Good use of traditional print with new graphic around photo and top of paper. Nice flow for reader.
2. The Record-Courier
“Great photos, simple layout, would try to do more with leads on left-hand side to get readers into the paper.”
3. Lahontan Valley News
“A special photo. Need to organize left side of paper to maximize space.”

Best Page One Design
1. Elko Daily Free Press
“Good hierarchy of stories, photos, etc. A restrained use of color, but I wish it was consistent from day to day. Pages are packed with information, but still feels organized.”
2. The Record-Courier
“Good use of tab format. On most pages, headlines could stand to be larger. Choice to keep fronts to only one story is a wise one.”
3. Desert Valley Times
“Good consistency in use of fonts for certain story types. Need to work on overall hierarchy. Some photos are overplayed, diminishing news stories next to them. The pieces are all here, they just need to be cleaned up.”

Best Page Designer
1. Marianne Kobak, Elko Daily Free Press
“Good overall hierarch on page. Overall typography needs more variety in size and formatting. Strongest centerpiece designs in this category.”

Best Special Section (Editorial)
1. The Record-Courier, “Carson Valley Almanac”
“GREAT idea to let the readers tell the story of their community through reader submitted photos.”
2. The Humboldt Sun, “101 Things to do in Northern Nevada”
“This is such a fun section to read. The use of graphic and photo elements gave the readers a quick, but thorough guide.”
3. Elko Daily Free Press, “2009 Hunting and Fishing Guide”
“Even a non-hunter will appreciate the historical aspect and great photography of this piece. I have a better understanding of this sport. Thank you.”

Best Information Graphic
1. Kurt Hildebrand, The Record-Courier
“From this..to this…”
“Puts emphasis on the information your readers want the most. Need to rethink color choices and type size.”

Best Illustration
1. Kim Lamb, Lahontan Valley News
“Four generations of ranching”
“A technically solid illustration. Would benefit from having one dominate image.”

Best News Photo Coverage
1. Shannon Litz, The Record-Courier
“Tanker drop”
“Good tanker shot. Nicely composed.”
2. Shannon Litz, The Record-Courier
“Captain memorial”
“Beautiful photo. Nicely composed.”
3. Horace Langford, Jr., Pahrump Valley Times
“Flaming Vette”

Best Feature Photo
1. Ross Andréson, Elko Daily Free Press
“Full tilt”
“Great photo and well-thought-out design. The image grabs your attention immediately.”
2. Shannon Litz, The Record-Courier
“1,200 Walk in Relay for Life”
“Solid photo illustrating the emotional drive folks have for participating in cancer research fundraisers.”
3. Dennis Lee, Desert Valley Times
“You have to get up before you can giddyup”
“Interesting photo. The photo makes me want to read the story.”
Honorable Mention
Shannon Litz, The Record-Courier
“First day of school”
“Simple and effective. This photo illustrates very well what the first day of school actually looks like.

Best Multiple Feature Photos
1. Horace Langford, Jr., Pahrump Valley Times
“Down on the ranch”
“Excellent action images of tough to capture subject matter (rodeo). Perfect composition. One picture tells it all! Well done!”
2. Shannon Litz, The Record-Courier
“Joey”
Heart-wrenching photo essay. Cover photo is brilliant! Kudos to the editor for allowing the images to tell the story. Very well done.”
3. Steve Ranson and Christy Lattin, Lahontan Valley News
“Memorial Day 2010”
“Well Composed imagery tells the story itself. Good use of images within layout too.”
Honorable Mention
Manuel Duran and David Bly, Desert Valley Times
“Dreams on wheels”
“Love the shot of the guy sticking his head in the window. Nice composition and use of extreme close-up. Well done!”

Best Portrait
1. Kim Lamb, Lahontan Valley News
“Largest Nevada Guard deployment since WW11”
“This photo, I felt, did a good job capturing the moment. The best photos are the ones you don’t need to explain. I knew instantly by looking at this photo what was going on.”
2. Ali Helgoth, Elko Daily Free Press
“Loves to dance”
“Quintessential feature photo. Solid local news photo celebrating the culture. Simple yet effective.”
3. Kim Lamb, Lahontan Valley News
“Grieving”
“Powerful photo capturing a moment in time. Conveys emotion and does a good job of enticing the viewer into the story,”
Honorable Mention
David Bly, Desert Valley Times
“Up-and-coming rock stars”
“Interesting photo of an uncommon acting by toddlers. Fun photo.”

Best Illustrated Photo
1. Ross Andréson, Elko Daily Free Press
“Back to work”
“Simple but strong concept. Easily read.”
2. Shannon Litz, The Record-Courier
“Haunted weekend”
3. Ross Andréson, Elko Daily Free Press
“Jack Frost”
“Color of the font distracts from the photo.”

Best Sports Photo
1. Shannon Litz, The Record-Courier
“Regional Champions”
“Great celebration photo!”
2. Shannon Litz, The Record-Courier
“Regional Champs”
“Another great reaction.”
3. Horace Langford, Jr., Pahrump Valley Times
“Lady Trojans”
“Nice moment, could use a tighter crop.”

Best Web Site
1. The Record-Courier
“The freshness of the content and the amount of the reader interaction are what pushed this entry to the top.”
2. Sierra Sun
3. Elko Daily Free Press

Best Blog
1. The Record-Courier
“Anyone who wants to see how old-fashioned smalltown news can be handled in the digital age should check out the Record-Courier’s “Running Commentary.” I was fascinated — not only by the tidbits and folksy conversation, but how the newspaper staff explained on the fly what it was doing to check out tips and chase down facts.”

Best Large-Space Ad
1. Brandy Minnick, Pahrump Valley Times
“Cinco De Mayo”
“Well-organized. Great photos! Attractive!”
2. Heather Ruth, Pahrump Valley Times
“McCaw’s Mountain View Casino”
“A lot of information, well-organized and easy to be drawn into.”
3. Heather Ruth, Pahrump Valley Times
“Advanced Medical Center”
“Appeals to moms with a simple message that’s very effective!”

Best Black And White Ad
1. Joe Plummer, The Humboldt Sun
“Rose Creek Kennels Boarding & Grooming”
“Great art!”
2. Jessica Beaudoin, Pahrump Valley Times
“Gisela’s Café & Deli”
“Nice art, which ties in well separated with box and burst!”
3. Heather Ruth, Pahrump Valley Times
“United Way of Nye County ‘Luau’”
“Nice art for event; plenty of informative copy.”

Best Spot-Color Ad
1. J. Carmen Kofoed and Angel Correa, The Humboldt Sun
“Blue Mountain Wireless”

Best Multi-Color Ad
1. Michael Higdon, The Record Courier
“Doppel Gangers”
“Clean layout, excellent use of color and visually appealing.”
2. Cathleen O’Bleness, Elko Daily Free Press
“Glitzy Cowgirl”
“Strong headlines. Good use of white space and graphics.”
3. Joe Plummer, The Humboldt Sun
“Fallon Fights”
“Balanced layout and good use of color.”

Best Special Section (Advertising)
1. Ken Green, Cathleen O’Bleness and Heather English, Elko Daily Free Press
“2010 Visitors Guide”
“Inviting, consistent design elements and theme. Good use and choice of photos. Very professional cover design and overall look and feel. Well done.”
2. Jaylene Hutchison, The Record-Courier
“2009/2010 Business Directory”
“Very clean overall look and feel. Slick choices of type faces and type styling. Cool color pallet and consistent feel and use of greens and blues. Easy to use. Nicely done.”
3. Michael Higdon and Sierra Nevada Media Group, The Record-Courier
“2009 Hunting Guide”
“Informative and well laid out. Clean use of fonts and styling. Easy to read with impactfull imagery.”
Honorable Mention
Keigh Cox and Sierra Nevada Group, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Tahoe Summer 2009”
“Clean and consistent use of design elements. Informative with good use of well composed imagery.”

Best In-House Advertising Promotion For Circulation, Advertising or Editorial
1. Brandy Minnick, Pahrump Valley Times
“One call does it all”
“Informative, neat and easy to read. Very nice!”
2. Shannon Burn and Keigh Cox, Lahontan Valley News
“Churchill County Memories”
“Clean, good color and easy to get the message.”
3. Ken Green, Elko Daily Free Press
“It’s what we do!”
“Different, unique, simple and cute.”

General Excellence — Advertising
1. Daily Sparks Tribune
“Ads are straightforward and informative. I saw some nice touches and clean designs.”

CLASS 3
General Excellence
1. North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Great layout. Colorful, easy to read. Super in-depth local coverage. Very official appearance, reads like a large-city daily.”
2. Moapa Valley Progress
“Great news coverage. Easy-to-navigate layout. Has a strong community feel.”
3. Battle Mountain Bugle
“Good local focus.”

Community Service
1. Virginia City News, Wild horses series
“Very in-depth and informative. Interesting sources and statement of conflict. Examines issues from every angle.”
2. North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, Locals: The Heart of Our Community
“Very clean editing. The stories are very detailed and inspirational.”

Best Spot News Story
1. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Engine 18 won’t run …”
“Enjoyed the conversational approach to the story.”
2. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Rainbow Bend woman dies …”
3. Karen Woodmansee, Virginia City News
“5 Storey County firefighters…”

Best Feature Story
1. Janice Hoke, Comstock Chronicle
“New park on Truckee River ‘special’”
“Reporter did a nice job using a compelling volunteer to tell the bigger story of a new park and its environmental impact. Nicely organized.”
2. Kevin MacMillan, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Helping Lexie Mae”
“Compelling lede draws you into this well-told story of an ill toddler and her family’s struggle with medical bills and her care.”
3. Jack Johnson, Boulder City Review
“Pirate radio”

Best Nonstaff Story
1. Debbie Basora, Mesquite Local News
“The Big C”
“The story was very well-written. The style and quality of the writing was enticing and easy to read. Great local appeal to the reader.”
2. Steve Dickson, Mesquite Local News
“Advance to the rear, Admiral”
“The local relevance was very apparent and telling. The writer’s knowledge of the subject matter was thorough and interesting. The writing was OK.”
3. Cynthia Kennedy, Virginia City News
“Return of the V&T to Carson City”
“Interesting story with local appeal, but at times seemed to be a little unorganized.”

Best Business News Story
1. Richard N. Velotta, In Business Las Vegas
“Capacity crunch: More than 12,000 hotel rooms …”
“Good sourcing and stats about an industry important to the local economy. Adds perspective.”
2. Patrick Timothy Mullikin, Ely Times
“Don’t call it waste wood, call it woody biomass”
“Interesting look at alternative energy production and its effect on the local level, and the challenge of rolling it out.”
3. Richard N. Velotta, In Business Las Vegas
“Economy may curb local NASCAR plans”
“Great writing and reporting in this look at economic effect of races and how Las Vegas may or may not get a second NASCAR event.”
Honorable mention
Janice Hoke, Comstock Chronicle
“New stores, new appeal along C Street”
“Good look at a changing area of town and what business owners are doing to rebrand themselves.”

Best Business Feature Story
1. Richard N. Velotta, In Business Las Vegas
“New LV company puts customers behind wheels”
2. Richard N. Velotta, In Business Las Vegas
“Restaurant serves up pay-at-table technology”
3. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Highway to the future”

Best Explanatory Journalism
1. Annie Flanzraich, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“The Air Up Here”
“This was a surprising and informative look at environmental issues in an area you would assume would be all over it. The writer did a good job with sources and why people need to care.”
2. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Budget stories”
“Very thorough report(s) on what budget cuts are on the table, what they mean and why folks should care.”
3. Jack Johnson, Boulder City Review
“Vets disagree on heartworm risk”
“People love their pets and this writer did a great job trying to explain conflicting information. Readers were served with sources from both points of view.”

Best News Feature Story
1. Kevin MacMillan, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Saying goodbye to a local hero”
“MacMillan took what could’ve been a straightforward news story and turned it into an emotional memorial to a beloved member of the community. Choosing just the right quotes and details — the granddaughter saying goodbye to her ‘grumpy grandpa,’ the engine horns blaring — he brought the big man with a big heart back to life.”
2. Annie Flanzraich, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Out for feathers”
“Wonderful intro filled with bright writing and storytelling elements such as dialogue. A neat way to tell folks about a strange problem.”
3. Kyle Magin, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Fifty Years”
“Well-reported story about a vital piece of the community.”
Honorable Mention
Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Students learn the reality of alcohol’s consequences”
“Heart-wrenching details and tight, compelling writing without being maudlin. There were, however, some confusing quotes on P.9 (dropped words?)”

Best Investigative or In-depth Story or Series
1. Morris Workman, Mesquite Local News
“City won’t reveal details of land deal”
“This is why communities need newspapers: Top-notch watchdog reporting that took the city of Mesquite to task for refusing to say what piece of land they were buying — with the people’s money!”
2. Matthew Renda, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Addressing the future of Incline Village”
“Nice job of digging into a report regarding housing affordability. In the first-day package, I would have liked more analysis of the results than of the process.”
3. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Commission OKs fire station closure” and other stories
“Clear, thorough coverage of the county’s budget woes. The April 10 department-by-department analysis was a terrific reader service.”

Best Local Column
1. Morris Workman, Mesquite Local News
“Workman uses tongue-in-cheek humor effectively to make well-argued points. He uses restrained mockery to avoid going overboard.”
2. Bill Roberts, Tonopah Times-Bonanza & Goldfield News
“Roberts is what a small-town columnist is all about — bringing everyday people and issues into a folksy, friendly open window.”
3. Sue Jones, Comstock Chronicle
“Conversational and fun to read.”

Best Local Nonstaff Column
1. Dr. Larry Moses, Moapa Valley Progress
“Sharp, sarcastic and offers unique prose, and a style not often seen these days in journalism — irony and satire. Probing and critical, injects a dose of common sense into the media.”
2. Mike Donahue, Moapa Valley Progress
“Certainly a unique concept for a column — so very visually descriptive and offers a slice of rural life, both the dark and light aspects. Easy to read and enjoy.”
3. Jon Ralston, In Business Las Vegas
“Writing is sharp, informed, probing and critical. Definitely ‘connects the dots’ for readers. Just not enough style-wise in the prose to quite set it apart from other business or political columns.”

Best Local Sports Story
1. Sylas Wright, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“That 20-year itch”
“Great lede. This story fit the importance of the subject.”
2. Kevin MacMillan, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Katelyn Wright wins 4th straight”
“Nice lede. Covered the significance of the story, very readable.”
3. Jack Johnson, Boulder City Review
“Boulder City swimmer races against Phelps”
“Interesting subject — great quotes.”

Best Local Sports Feature
1. Lou Martin, Mesquite Local News
“World Series of Team Roping”
“Nice job. Good feature on a big sport in the West.”
2. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Lady Muckers No. 1”
“Great feature on a big deal — a championship.”
3. Jack Johnson, Boulder City Review
“Boulder City swimmer signs letter of intent”
“Nice lede, interesting story.”

Entertainment Writing
1.  Jack Johnson, Boulder City Review
“Nice mix of topics, well-written and informative. Ledes tend to be too long.”

Best Editorial Writing
1. Morris Workman, Mesquite Local News
“Opinion at its best, with the community and free speech all the richer.”
2. Kent Harper, Ely Times
“Talkers one and all.”
3. Matt Hufman, In Business Las Vegas
“Strong call to action, lively writing.”

Best Editorial Page
1. Moapa Valley Progress
“Could use more variety. Most entries had only editorial and letters, but it had more local content than other entries.”

Best Overall Design
1. In Business Las Vegas
“Upgraded paper, pages paginated perfectly, clear photos in color on every page. Ad design perfect. News columns stylish and modern. Perfect!”
2. North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Colorful package. Top banners make navigation a breeze. Very handsome front page design. Extremely readable.”

Best Page One Design
1. In Business Las Vegas
“Crisp, clean gives the appearance of extensive information offered without clutter.”
2. North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Interesting, yet uncomplicated presentation.”
3. Comstock Chronicle

Best Page Designer(s)
1. David Gouger and Carmen Kofoed, Battle Mountain Bugle
2. Jen Anderson, Carmen Kofoed and David Gouger, Lovelock Review-Miner

Best Special Section (Editorial)
1. In Business Las Vegas, “40 Under 40”
“Nicely presented, a well-conceived look at young business people making a difference.”
2. In Business Las Vegas, “Giving Guide”
“Also beautifully displayed in a very readable format, but a little too crass in pairing paid ads with stories.”
3. In Business Las Vegas, “Book of Business Lists”
“Despite a first impression of being a boring list, the organization and thoroughness suggest this actually was a very useful section.”

Best Illustration
1. Chris Morris, In Business Las Vegas
“Doctor seeking insurance burden relief”
“Good use of color, texture and motion.”
2. Chris Morris, In Business Las Vegas
“Prospective buyers eye land bargains”
“An interesting take on an often illustrated story.”

Best News Photo Coverage
1. Bobby Jean Roberts, Tonopah Times-Bonanza & Goldfield News
“Belmont Apts.”
“Nice reaction photo.”
2. Morris Workman, Mesquite Local News
“Fire cooks van”
“Could benefit from tighter crop. Nice response time.”
3. Morris Workman, Mesquite Local News
“Virgin River fire”

Best Feature Photo
1. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Comstock relives Civil War”

Best Multiple Feature Photos
1. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“It’s the circus”
“Good composition on all images with especially difficult subject matter (kids playing).”
2. Patrick Timothy Mullikin, Ely Times
“Town Hall Meeting”
“Well composed images, which convey the emotion and weight of the event. Nice close-up of Governor Gibbons.”

Best Portrait
1. JoVon Sotak, Tonopah Times-Bonanza & Goldfield News
“Good fun for funds for Haiti”
“Great photo! Can see all of the fun, mess and even disgust of the event.”
2. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Lady Muckers”
“Nice shots. The photo demonstrates the intensity of the moment. The editing is very clean.”
3. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Christmas on the Comstock”
“Santa, children really demonstrates Christmas theme. A lot of action in photo.”
Honorable Mention
Patrick Timothy Mullikin, Ely Times
“Song birds”
“Great action, catching singers in mid-note. Dark background brings out singers from back of photo.”

Best Sports Photo
1. Karen Woodmansee, Virginia City News
“Lady Muckers rule”
“Nice moment. Good story telling, despite soft focus.”
2. John Taylor, Mesquite Local News
“Motorcross”
“Composition is interesting.”
3. Lou Martin, Mesquite Local News
“Rodeo”

Best Web Site
1. North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Very fresh content, easy to navigate, consistent and streamlined design. Very impressed with reader interaction, which included reader submitted videos.”
2. Mesquite Local News
3. Boulder City Review

Best Large-Space Ad
1. Nick Cruit, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“From tragedy to triumph”
“Good photos, nice copy, good headline and nice color!”
2. Nick Cruit, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Find your agent now”
“Simplistic.”

Best Black And White Ad
1. Joe Plummer, Battle Mountain Bugle
“Solid ground construction”
“Eye catching graphic and creative use of fonts.”
2. Jessica Beaudoin, Tonopah Times Bonanza & Goldfield News
“Tonopah Liquor Co.”
“Strong message and use of white space.”
3. Heather Ruth, Tonopah Times Bonanza & Goldfield News
“Santa is coming to town”
“Strong headline, message and graphics.”

Best Spot-Color Ad
1. Terrie Chisom, Lovelock Review-Miner
“Lovelock Community Church”
“Simple message – clean and inviting.”

Best Multi-Color Ad
1. Jueen Loh, Mesquite Local News
“Desert Conservation Program”
“Clever, simple message!”
2. Jessica Beaudoin, Tonopah Times Bonanza & Goldfield News
“Easter egg hunt”
“Cute and will draw children to read.”
3. Terrie Chisom, Lovelock Review-Miner
“Frontier Days”
“Good use of small space! The art draws you to read the message that ties into the event.”

Best Special Section (Advertising)
1. Terri Thomas and Sierra Nevada Media Group, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“2010 North Lake Tahoe Guide”
“Attractive, informative, nice flow and layout. Looks like a long shelf-life piece!”
2. Rob Langrell and Bradley Samuels, In Business Las Vegas
“Business Profiles 2009”
“Good show of vendor support. Beautiful print job!”
3. Mesquite Local News
“Best of Mesquite 2009”
“Community involvement with lots of local photos and great color!”

CLASS 4
General Excellence
1. Las Vegas Business Press
“This should be the standard for an economic business publication (slick cover, newsprint inside).  Beautiful layout, great editorial content, great cover art.”
2. Las Vegas Weekly
“Every page interesting as it moves from GP to XXX. Great reflection of Las Vegas youth-oriented entertainment culture. Fascinating covers.”
3. Las Vegas CityLife
“Good local news, some great in-depth reporting, great layout. Slick cover would get it to the next level and it’s easy to sell!”

Journalist of Merit
Amy Kingsley, Las Vegas CityLife
“Amy Kingsley tackles challenging material and writes stories in a clear direct way that is interesting reading for Nevadans and out-of-staters.”

Community Service
1. Reno News & Review, Arrested Development series
“The writer took a bad situation — his DUI arrest — and turned it into an opportunity to open a community dialogue about drunk driving. A series of house ads also aimed to raise awareness about the danger of driving drunk.”

Best Spot News Story
1. Staff, Reno News & Review
“Swine flu”
“Very local and fun approach to reporting on H1N1 and the media frenzy that surrounded the flu outbreak.”
2. Stacy J. Willis, Las Vegas Weekly
“Free-market intersection?”
“Good sense-of-place story. Would have benefited from perspective of panhandlers.”

Best Feature Story
1. Abigail Goldman, Las Vegas Weekly
“Look at all the lonely people”
“The chatty writing and well-crafted mixture of reporting and personal analysis — combined with a can’t-miss topic — made this story a standout.”
2. Kat Kerlin, Reno News & Review
“Illegal alphabet”
“Inaccurate headline aside, this story was a great find and a lovely tale, told with obvious respect for the subject — someone who probably never expected to be featured in a front-page newspaper spread.”
3. Clint McDermott, Reno News & Review
“Meet your meat”
“The terrific lede sucked me in, and the well-done narrative held me. Nice ending, too!”
Honorable mention
Stacy J. Willis, Las Vegas Weekly
“Never-ending stories”
“A nicely written, thoroughly reported investigative feature.”

Best Nonstaff Story
1. Rebecca Zisch, Las Vegas CityLife
“Coffee clash”
“Story serves as a cautionary tale on the power of social media. The writer took a very local story and let readers know why they should care.”
2. David McKee, Las Vegas CityLife
“Last stand”
“Great story about splitting tips and how this one issue has repercussions across Las Vegas/Nevada economic landscape.”
3. David McKee, Las Vegas CityLife
“The neighborhood that had to die”
“The story of a housing collapse, corporate greed told on the neighborhood level. Writer painted a compelling picture of how neighbors, neighborhoods and a community suffer when greed and no planning supercede what’s best for a community. Nicely done.”

Best Business News Story
1. Valerie Miller and Hubble Smith, Las Vegas Business Press
“Dead in the Water”
“Good overview of Nevada laws on foreclosure, the problems facing homeowners and banks. Good sourcing, stats, use of real-people examples.”
2. Tim O’Reiley, Las Vegas Business Press
“Local Chrysler dealers look to reinvent themselves”
“Proof that a good story need not be long. Good sourcing, taking a national issue local. Good stats that are not publicly available.”
3. Dennis Myers, Reno News & Review
“Phantom Migration”
“Good look at a common cry in the West from both California and Nevada sides.”
Honorable Mention
Valerie Miller, Las Vegas Business Press
“Boulder Dam Hotel Faces Closure”
“Story loaded with stats, good sourcing.”

Best Business Feature Story
1. Tim O’Reiley, Las Vegas Business Press
“The English Cucumber Gamble”
“Great read! Interesting subject, written with flair yet filled with informative facts and numbers. The right length and good sourcing.”
2. F. Andrew Taylor, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“Monkey business”
“Solid business story. Hate to say ‘cute,’ but this human interest piece was fun. Nice look at a small business success.”
3. Valerie Miller, Las Vegas Business Press
“Why is this woman smiling?”
“Lots of good info and stats, although too long. Important topic that was handled in an authoritative way.”
Honorable Mention
Brian Sodoma, Vegas Seven
“Courting China”
“I liked the topic a lot. Well written. One of the gems in the stack of entries.”

Best Explanatory Journalism
1. Laura Emerson, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“Education series”
“Emerson looks at the education funding crisis through the eyes of teachers, parents, students and the community. She makes sure readers know that education funding will impact the community for years to come — a very comprehensive report. Diverse sources and storytelling photography round out this report.”
2. Valerie Miller, Las Vegas Business Press
“The party’s over”
“Writer took a complex legislative process, broke it down and made it easy to understand — what happened, why it happened and what are the consequences for the community. Great headline, too.”
3. Amy Kingsley, Las Vegas CityLife
“Tough all over/Welcome to Paradise”
“A great story about true homelessness and what it means to the community. The writer paints the realistic, painful picture of those members of our society who are truly our disenfranchised.”

Best News Feature Story
1. Stacy Willis, Las Vegas Weekly
“And on your left, Polygamy”
“A smartly written piece that gives readers a glimpse inside a place — and lifestyle — they know of mostly from TV. The writer’s strong voice made the piece something more than a typical slice-of-life. I was still thinking about it a day later. Nicely done.”
2. Amy Kingsley, Las Vegas CityLife
“Chuck’s last chance”
“Well-reported and stylishly written profile of a man fighting to build a new life. Wonderful storytelling elements with scenes incorporated, dialogue and details.”
3. Jason Whited, Las Vegas CityLife
“Weak Reid”
“Revealing profile and explanatory piece that paints a different portrait of the Reid we think we know (loved your intro).”
Honorable Mention
Amy Kingsley, Las Vegas CityLife
“This foreclosure may be hazardous to your health”
“Very well done piece about another aspect of the foreclosure crisis.”

Best Investigative or In-depth Story or Series
1. Dennis Myers, Reno News & Review
“Death Star”
“Everything an in-depth story should be — an untold tale, compelling on the facts, with a crucial local impact.”
2. Dennis Myers, Reno News & Review
“This toxic house”
“A good micro look at a tiny speck of datum in the hurricane that was the burst of the housing bubble.”
3. F. Andrew Taylor, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“Series on the Las Vegas washes”
“These stories are not elegantly written. Someone needs to help Taylor make his ledes more interesting. But still — if you have an interest in a Las Vegas natural resource, you can learn everything you want to know from these exhaustive stories.”

Best Local Column
1. Steve Sebelius, Las Vegas CityLife
“Very clean writing. Reading these columns was like listening to a conversation. Style is inviting and easy to read. The impact of each issue was clearly stated.”

Best Local Nonstaff Column
1. Michael Green, Vegas Seven
“Green’s column is born of long years studying Nevada politics. It’s hard-hitting with no discernible slant — everyone is fair game.”
2. David G. Schwartz, Vegas Seven
“Schwartz’s column is everything you’d expect a column on the gaming industry not to be — accessible, well-sourced, pertinent and insightful. ‘Real baccarat players like their privacy.’”
3. Deborah Wall, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“Here’s an outdoors column for adventurers and non-outdoorsy types alike. Read it and you’ll learn what a hoodoo is, along with detailed info about well- and little-known destinations. A fun read.”

Best Local Sports Story
1. Stacy J. Willis, Las Vegas Weekly
“In this corner, Mayweather”
“Nice job. In-depth look at the fighter.”
2. Jon Fortenbury, Reno News & Review
“City Slackers”
“Interesting look at a different sport.”

Best Local Sports Feature
1. Greg Blake Miller, Vegas Seven
“The Rebel Alliance”
“Nice story, engaging, entertaining. Really well written.”
2. Brad Bynum, Reno News & Review
“Batman Forever”
“Hilarious. Entertaining.”
3. F. Andrew Taylor, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“More style than speed”
“Good overview of ‘drifting.’”

Best Entertainment Writing
1. Bob Grimm, Reno News & Review
“Forceful, clear, opinionated and funny, Grimm engages his subjects with spark and energy.”
2. Brad Bynum, Reno News & Review
“Bynum writes with authority when he knows the subject — like Burning Man — and with charm when he doesn’t, whether it’s a batting cage … or a marriage.”
3. Kat Kerlin, Reno News & Review
“Hard not to be caught up in Kerlin’s lonely and poignant account of her pregnancy.”

Best Critical Writing
1. Mark Dunagan, Reno News & Review
“Strong reviews that are neither condescending nor overly critical, just straightforward and informative.”
2. Matthew Crowley, Las Vegas Business Press
“Looks at books from outside the box.”
3. D. Brian Burghart, Reno News & Review
“Interesting perspectives on faith and beliefs.”

Best Editorial Writing
1. Dan Behringer, Las Vegas Business Press
“Writing needs polishing but arguments are clear, supported for the most part with reporting/facts and call readers and leaders to action without being bitchy or whiny.”
2. D. Brian Burghart, Reno News & Review
“Good writing, but premises of arguments needed more support from citations of fact/reporting. Second by only one point.”

Best Overall Design
1. Reno News & Review
“Nice use of photos and fonts, great use of leads to get readers inside issue.”
2. Las Vegas Business Press
“Nice use of color and photos. Bottom left of page is blank?”
3. View Neighborhood Newspapers
“Bigger headline above fold. Almost too busy.”
Honorable Mention
Las Vegas CityLife
“Need to know what is inside. Design area on front page.”

Best Page One Design
1. Reno News & Review
“Nice to see templated covers, as well as the special covers that deviated from the norm. Great use of illustration and typography to quickly convey the story of the week. Even promo rail is smart and tightly edited.”
2. Las Vegas Business Press
“Highly formatted covers allow the designer to really focus on the main story promo. Some very nice solutions here.”
3. Las Vegas CityLife
“Good typography and use of photos. Would score higher if there were more variety.”

Best Page Designer(s)
1.Maureen Adamo, Las Vegas CityLife
“This designer knows how to balance great photos or illustrations with powerful typography for maximum impact. Each of these page spreads is better than the last. Great work!”
2. Lauren Stewart and Marvin Lucas, Vegas Seven
“Good use of white space and restrained typography. Pages are quick to read. Visual editing is tight. Very nice.”
3. Jennifer Land, Las Vegas Business Press
“Solid typography and good visual solutions. A strong portfolio of work.”

Best Special Section (Editorial)
1. Reno News & Review, “Artown Preview”
“Variety of informative stories, nicely presented.”
2. Reno News & Review, “Bars & Clubs Guide”
“Attractive design, but more reliant on lists than winning entry.”

Best Information Graphic
1. Maureen Adamo, Las Vegas CityLife
“When he did it”
“An entertaining way to display the information. Illustrations set the tone, but interfere with readability of some text blocks.”
2. Don Button, Reno News & Review
“Around the world in a gravy boat”
“Fun way to present local information. Would benefit from a tighter edit and better organization.”

Best Illustration
1. Jennifer Land, Las Vegas Business Press
“’Tis the season”
“A simple idea will win every time. Concept works immediately because of time and color choices. Visual tie to content makes this rise to the top of the pile.”
2. Franz Szony, Reno News & Review
“Best of Northern Nevada 2009”
“A beautiful and technically superior illustration. Subdued color choices help to tone down what could be an overwhelming illustration. Great work.”
3. Jerry Miller, Vegas Seven
“Come together”
“Using a piggy bank to illustrate a money story is one of the most overused clichés. BUT, I’ve never seen it done quite like this. Good job making it new again.”

Best Spot News Photo Coverage
1. Dana Nöllsch, Reno News & Review
“Dr. Mom shows the way”
“Only entry that attempted to get beneath the surface.”
2. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas CityLife
“Slow bleed”
“Nice portrait!”

Best Feature Photo
1. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas CityLife
“Mobile Disco”
“So much detail and depth of colors and clarity show every element.”
2. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas Business Press
“Workstation transformation”
“Interesting texture and spatial use. Has a delicate quality.”
3. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas CityLife
“The Spirit of 76”
“Great clarity and emotion. Capture the story perfectly.”
Honorable Mention
Dana Nöllsch, Reno News & Review
“City slackers”
“Lots going on here. Light and depth bring the picture to the center of the story.”

Best Multiple Feature Photos
1. Francis George, Vegas Seven
“Our Empty Spaces”
“Excellent photos. They illustrate issue. Key to making photos work is the way the photos are cropped to accentuate the story.”
2. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas CityLife
“Cross promotion”
“Good photos of subjects to illustrate his bad to the bone image and need for faith. Nighttime shots accentuate art along with clouds in background of helmet shot.”
3. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas CityLife
“Heary petting”
“Good compelling shots. Illustrates issue for community, shelters and the pets themselves.”

Best Portrait
1. Anthony Mair, Vegas Seven
“Wandering Minstrels”
“Hands down, best of show. Brilliant composition. Very interesting choice of location. Old time entertaining exiles to the wasteland outside of Las Vegas. Well done!!”
2. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas CityLife
“Nevada Desert Experience”
“Very nice job of lighting in a seemingly difficult location. Image makes me want to read this story and meet these women. Well done!”
3. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas CityLife
“Rachelle Luster”
“Very interesting image. Expression on woman’s face makes me want to hear her music in spite of not caring for hip-hop. Scary, but gentle at the same time.”
Honorable Mention
F. Andrew Taylor, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“A different dwelling”
“Nice tight shot of man in his true element. Cramped, closed quarters with gobs of information collected over the years. I can tell he lives here most of the time.”

Best Illustrated Photo
1. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas CityLife
“Green new school”
“Nice light! Simple concept done really well. Quick and effect message.”
2. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas CityLife
“Big friendly corporations”
“Nice angle. Different, original group shot.”
3. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas CityLife
“Kids are alright”
“Nice composition. Dynamic.”

Best Sports Photo
1. Lynn Benson, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“Racing in the desert”
“Best peak action.”
2. Lynn Benson, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“NASCAR”

Best Web Site
1. Las Vegas CityLife
“This web site’s reader interaction through contests, polls, blog comments and photo galleries was very good. Navigation on this site was easy.”
2. View Neighborhood Newspapers

Best Multimedia Story
1. Justin Yurkanin, Las Vegas CityLife
“Fighting words”
“Good use of a word and song tracks mixed in with the video. Original topic.”
2. Justin Yurkanin, Las Vegas CityLife
“Life beyond bars”
3. Michael Quine, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“Violinmaker Kevin Cardiff”

Best Blog
1. Steve Sebelius, Las Vegas CityLife
“A bit of news, a bit of commentary, slices of humor and biting criticism, this blog combines quality writing with insightful political analysis. There are often multiple posts in a day, and the site includes related videos, links to other blogs and a Twitter feed. Nice work.”

Best Large-Space Ad
1. Miles Harley and Linda Brown, Reno News & Review
“Whispering Vine Wine Co.”
“Contemporary design with a clean, creative layout.”
2. Endher Cortez, El Tiempo
“Heroes”
“Graphics tell the story and convey the message. Excellent layout.”
3. Jeffrey Bona, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“We can help…”
“Good benefit headline. Solid use of space and color.”

Best Black And White Ad
1. Marianne Mancina and Gina Odegard, Reno News & Review
“Noodle Café”
“Cleaver headline and solid layout.”
2. Yvonta Thompson, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“Tricor Living Trust”
“Good offer with appropriate headline and graphic.”
3. Michael Neubauer, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“In the cut”
“Creative design, which draws the reader’s attention.”

Best Spot-Color Ad
1. Miles Harley and Gina Odegard, Reno News & Review
“Corrigan’s Bit O’Ireland”
“Only one-color entry, but nice!”

Best Multi-Color Ad
1. Miles Harley and Linda Brown, Reno News & Review
“Thanks for throwing us a bone!”
“Great headline and artwork!”
2. Jennifer Dibble, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“Crystal Palace Skating Center: celebrate your birthday with us”
“Fun, fun ad! Eye-catching, great art – who wouldn’t want to have a party there?”
3. Brandi Gardner and Carissa Bouwer, Reno News & Review
“Francis’ Asian Bistro”
“Clean, informative and enticing!”
Honorable Mention
Yvonta Thompson, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“Aloha Aquatic Center”
“Informative and good timing for parents looking ahead to the summer.”

Best Special Section (Advertising)
1. Priscilla Garcia (Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows) and John Murphy, Reno News & Review
“Kids News & Review”
“Great idea, getting kids inspired. Great content and advertisements were fun!”
2. Reno News & Review
“Earth Day 20/20 Earth Vision”
“Relevant content, good layout, interesting articles, creative. The section has ‘staying power.’”
3. Marianne Mancina and John Murphy, Reno News & Review
“Winners issue”
“Cool, creative, good layout and flow of winners.”

Best In-House Advertising Promotion For Circulation, Advertising or Editorial
1. Kate Murphy and John Murphy, Reno News & Review
“I read the Reno News & Review testimonial campaign.”
“Great way to involve readers and help advertisers understand who they’re reaching. Eye-catching and fun.”
2. Kate Murphy and John Murphy, Reno News & Review
“Buy something”
“Great way to stand behind your advertisers. Very appealing to the eye. Very impactful message.”
3. Tess Fosburgh, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“Get online and get on the road”
“Good way to marry print and online. The photo of the car conveys movement.”
Honorable Mention
Jeffrey Bona, Las Vegas CityLife
“We’re looking for an advertising superstar”
“Good ad to draw the passive and active job seeker, good color – conveys you can rise to the top if you are employed.”

Advertising – General Excellence
1. Las Vegas CityLife
“Beautiful stretch and trim design. All ads well designed, pagination perfect. Cover design creative and eye-catching.”
2. Reno News & Review
“Insert sections of each issue has superior advertising –  Best of, Sierra Arts, Bridal Guide all great ads.”

MAGAZINES
General Excellence
1. Luxury Las Vegas
“Incredible front-page design, exquisite advertising, comments page from editor and the publisher, local interviews, calendar and ‘around town’ section. Every page perfect.”
2. Reno Magazine
“Stunning front page photos, great variety in well-designed ads, wonderful assortment of local stories, great foldout calendar and ‘social life’ section.”
3. Nevada Magazine
“Beautiful earth-tone design throughout appropriate for the desert. Seventeen pages of events and shows, very detailed.”
Honorable Mention
Nevada Silver & Blue
“Really got the feel of college life (lost points in the advertising enterprise area).”

Best Feature Story
1. Matthew B. Brown, Nevada Magazine
“then and if”
“What started for me as a ‘who-cares’ story, evolved into an excellent overview of Squaw Valley as the site for the ‘60s Olympics.”
2. Charlie Johnston, Nevada Magazine
“Saddles, stirrups and seared ahi”
“Nice article, fun, entertaining and made me want to drive cattle.”
3. Geoff Schumacher, Desert Companion
“Elvis + Vegas”
“Really entertaining.”

Best Explanatory Journalism
1. Marilyn La Rocque, Luxury Las Vegas
“Investors seeing red”
“This was well-researched and had depth and kept the readers’ attention.”
2. Andrew Kiraly, Scott Dickensheets, Matt Kelemen, Desert Companion
“We build this city”
“Well-rounded and interesting, you can see the time that the writers took to get as much detail as possible.”
3. Anne McMillin, Synapse
“Unscrambling autism”
“Interesting and complete with good personal stories to help the subject unfold.”
Honorable Mention
David Bunker, Nevada Magazine
“Rescuing the range”
“Interesting, and the numbers recap was well-researched.”

Best Investigative or In-depth story or series
1. Phil Hagen and Erika Pope, Desert Companion
“Art Optimism”
“Good idea for a series in these economic times. Focus on the positive.”

Best Local Column
1. Matthew B. Brown, Nevada Magazine
“Original and unique style, wide range of coverage and depth.”
2. Milton Glick, Nevada Silver & Blue
“A polished style with nice depth and strong finish each time.”
3. Trina Kleintjes-Hathaway, The Nevada Rancher
“Made the local folklore and stories come alive.”
Honorable Mention
K-Von, Nevada Silver & Blue
“Unique and funny. Makes you want to read more of his work.”

Best Overall Design
1. Reno Magazine
“Front covers are amazing. Editorial layout exciting and readable. Ad pagination perfect. Use of photos excellent.”
2. Nevada Silver & Blue
“The name says it all — silver and blue creatively used throughout. Great photos of campus life and alumni. Beautiful.”
3. Luxury Las Vegas
“Easy to be incredibly designed when every page is about the best of the best. Every ad, every editorial page is a work of art.”
Honorable Mention
Nevada Magazine
“Beautiful earth-tone editorial layout. Some ads are below standard for this quality magazine. Ad design needs improvement.”

Best Cover Design
1. Luxury Las Vegas
“Very simple cover design. Great use of photography. Typography is simple and perfectly balanced with everything else on the cover.”
2. Desert Companion
“Every cover looks like it could be for a different publication, until you put them side by side and realize how similar they are. Good use of promos.”
3. Reno Magazine
“Three covers with similar photos, yet they all look different. Very nice typography and color choices.”

Best Information Graphic
1. Tony de Ronnebeck, Nevada Magazine
“Pony Express”
“A great way to present this information. Graphic style perfectly matches illustration and subject matter. One of the best solution I’ve seen during judging today.”

Best Illustration
1. Joe Ciardiello, Desert Companion
“Elvis + Vegas”
“Wonderful style and restrained use of color.”
2. Jonnie Hill, Nevada Magazine
“Pony Express”
3. Aaron McKinney, Desert Companion
“So what if he loses?”

Best Feature Photo
1. Alicia Santistevan, Reno Magazine
“The ‘pawsh’ pooch”
“Compelling. Really tells the story.”
2. Kim Hammar, Nevada Magazine
“Desert mosaic”
“Stunning photo. Draws you into the desert.”
3. Ruth Anne Kocour, Nevada Magazine
“Ranchers”
“Dramatic action. Beautifully done!”

Best Multiple Feature Photos
1. Nevada Magazine
“Great Nevada picture hunt”
“Excellent still and action shots. Convey beauty, fun and fervor in Nevada.”
2. Aaron Mayes, Desert Companion
“Looking East”
“Nice portrayal of all that you can find in Chinatown, between the people, places and things to do.”
3. Jim K. Decker, Luxury Las Vegas
“Happy Holly Days”
“Fun title and photo essay to match. Takes fashion and merges it with personality of the subject to create interest and a winning photo shoot.”

Best Portrait
1. Aaron Mayes, Desert Companion
“Alissa Nutting”
“Wonderful, funny, eye-catching image. Makes me NEED to read this story. Excellent composition and lighting. Great use of complimentary, red and green.”
2. Richard Stokes, Reno Magazine
“Steve and Laura Jackson”
“Excellent job of capturing the personalities of the couple. A moment in time telling me of their love and friendship. Nice composition and lighting.”
3. Christopher Smith, Desert Companion
“Cover photo, Sept-Oct 2009”
“Nicely done. Studio shot (location), good lighting and composition. Very good subject placement.”
Honorable Mention
Theresa Danna-Douglas, Nevada Silver & Blue
“Procter R. Hug Jr.”
“Nice job of capturing subject with a natural smile. Very good compositions and use of background imagery to set tone of distinguished man’s surroundings.”

Best Illustrated Photo
1. Charlie Johnston, Nevada Magazine
“Dinner with a view”
“Appropriate use of depth of field. Location fits intent. Nice natural light. Good use of composition and selection focus.”
2. Jeff Dow, Nevada Silver & Blue
“Fall 2009 Cover”
“Nice creative effort to go beyond the standard.”
3. Theresa Danna-Douglas, Nevada Silver & Blue
“Great faculty lead campus”
“Cool location, nice light. Poses leave something to be desired.”

Best Large-Space Ad
1. James Magno, Luxury Las Vegas
“Shower Solutions”
“Innovative design. Contemporary look with a benefit headline.”
2. Jueen Loh, Luxury Las Vegas
“Bianchi Bikes”
“Cleaver message and layout.”
3. Yvonta Thompson, Luxury Las Vegas
“Dr. Alexander & Co.”
“Solid branding ad with appropriate and appealing graphics.”

Best Spot-Color Ad
1. Tony deRonnebeck, Nevada Magazine
“Straight to the point. Unusual combination of colors works very well.”

Best Multi-Color Ad
1. Joel Silverie, Luxury Las Vegas
“Tanks a lot”
“Great creative tie-in. Very refreshing!”
2. Joel Silverie, Luxury Las Vegas
“Tease Boutique Salon”
“Eye-catching with beautiful color!”
3. Patrick McFarland, Nevada Silver & Blue
“19th Annual Wine Festival & Auction”
“Clean.”

Advertising – General Excellence
1. Nevada Magazine
“The advertising is consistent with the high quality of the entire magazine. The market is clear — in- and out-of-state tourists — and the ads hit the spot, with timely information and offers.”

Best In-House Advertising Promotion For Circulation, Advertising or Editorial
1. Sean Nebeker, Nevada Magazine
“Tour Nevada”
“Appropriate graphic. Solid design with a good message and offer.”