2008 Better Newspaper Contest award winners

Brian September 2, 2008 Comments Off on 2008 Better Newspaper Contest award winners

Outstanding Journalist- Dailies
Marshall Allen, Las Vegas Sun“
“In a category loaded with talented reporters and investigative pieces, Marshall’s depth of reporting and the quality of his writing set his work apart. His indentured doctors stories were extraordinary, but over the other submissions were terrific examples of what journalists are charged with – to be a watchdog for our readers.”

Outstanding Journalist- Weeklies
Valerie Miller, Las Vegas Business Press
“Valerie’s extensive reporting is what makes her stories stand above the others.  She takes reasonably standard business stories and makes them extraordinarily informative and interesting, making crisp, tight writing and great data/sourcing. Congratulations to Valerie for weathering a difficult time in our industry and for producing such strong business content in the competitive Las Vegas market.”

Story of the Year
Alexandra Berzon, Las Vegas Sun
“Pace is new peril”
“Well-written, deeply researched piece that takes the reader behind the daily news to read like a construction site. Human Impact of progress.”
Honorable mentions:
“Indentured doctors” –  Marshall Allen, Las Vegas Sun
“Imprisoned by Meth” – Teri Vance, Nevada Appeal
“Leaving Colorado City” – Brian Haynes, Glenn Post. Las Vegas Review-Journal

Freedom of the Press – Dailies
Las Vegas Sun – Alexandra Berzon
“Construction deaths on strip”
“Reporter’s determined street-level reporting pays off. Results of investigation stories are broad and significant. The winner in a very competitive category. Good stuff!”

Freedom of the Press – Weeklies
Pahrump Valley Times
Technology center (etc.)”
“Great  job of laying out the facts after getting the information. Not sensationalized. Gave all parties opportunity to speak. Nice job.”

Editorial of the Year
Michael  Campbell, Las Vegas Sun
“Where mediocrity is king”
“Nice summation of the issues facing your state. Good, tight writing.”

Best Headline Writing – Dailies
1. Matthew Crowley, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Clever, clever, clever! Good job
2.  Dave Mondt, Las Vegas Sun
“Clever leads that capture essence of stories
3. Verna Mays, Las Vegas Sun
“This was competitive category with many entrees. Yours was close to the top.”

Best Headline Writing – Weeklies
1.  Craig Peterson, Boulder City News
“Close-knit group – nice play on words, Pog was my favorite and Tickets to get speedy was great. Nice wordplay without being obvious.
2. Cassandra Keenan, View Newspapers
“These were nice. Very creative if not obvious. Definitely made me want to read the story.”
3. Lisa Valentine, View Newspapers
“These were fun.”

Photo of the Year
Leila Navidi, Las Vegas Sun
“Deshira Selimaj”
“This is a big-time photo – the big-time photo – in a big time category. It’s got it all – perfect composition, perfect reproduction and the kind of emotion that can keep the readers’ eyes glued to it. At least I couldn’t stop looking at it.

Editorial Cartoon
1. Alex Raffi, Boulder City News
“Super Delegate”
“Hits home on a key issue in the Democrat selection process”
2.  Jim Day, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Water”
“Unique way to show challenge of water supply in the desert.”
3. Rex Norman aka “Killbuck”, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Witchfire”
“Excellent  in raising question of preparedness in case of fire.”
June Peterson, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Iraq to Iran”
“Scary thought well presented.”

Ad of the Year
April Miler, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Lazy Boy”
“Amazing layout. The ad catches your eye from a number of different angles. Great information and an offer that put people in the store.”

CLASS I
General  Excellence
1. Reno Gazette-Journal
“A clearly designed and packaged newspaper with an overwhelming local flavor and strong digital engagement. This is a good newspaper.”
2.  Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Strong headlines and good use of photography. Local report has appropriate balance with national news report.”

Journalist of Merit
Michael J. Mishak, Las Vegas  Sun
“Revelatory and probing campaign stories – which is rare  coupled with thoughtful  labor pieces. Signs of a curious mind at work. Keep it up.”

Community Service
1.   Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Public health crisis”
“Besides reporting and tracking the news, the paper doggedly followed up with all conceivable angles and leads – and got out ahead in some cases – to exhaustively cover this health crisis.  Great investigative reporting and important reader information throughout.”
2.  Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Building permits and safety”
“Reporter spent two months investigating the city’s behemoth industry, and took extraordinary measures to uncover public safety issues on behalf of her readers and the millions of tourists who come to Vegas annually.”
3. Reno Gazette-Journal
“Brianna Denison”
“Great coverage of a sad story. Paper helped inform readers, offered tips, provided resources and took an active role in trying to catch the killer.”

Best Spot News Story
1. Francis McCabe, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Tourists take down shooter”
“Nice description of the event. Great quotes. I enjoyed reading this.”
2. F.T. Norton, Nevada Appeal
“Canine land shack”
“This is the essence of spot news reporting – a quirky event, reported immediately and well with great writing.”
3.  Brian Haynes, Lawrence Mower, David Kihara, Carri Geer Thevenot, K.C. Howard, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Simpson back in Florida”
“Good reporting. Funny and factual.”

Best Feature Story
“The quality of writing and depth of reporting was consistently outstanding. In the end, it came down to appeal, so I feel it’s necessary to note that on one afternoon, I liked these best. In truth, there wasn’t a single losing piece.”
1.  John Przybys, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“High school  lunchrooms”
“A fresh and different topic! Would never have thought of it.”
2.  J. Patrick Coolican, Las Vegas  Sun
“Burning man sees green”
“Within the context of all the various newspapers in different classes, etc., this angle on this subject was definitely a stand-out – in addition to it simply being an interesting read in this class.”
3.  Jason Bracelin, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“All the king’s men”
“I’m not an Elvis fan, but I couldn’t put this down.”
Honorable Mention:
Johnathan Wright, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Big tastes in Northern Mexico”
“Delicious writing!”

Best Business Coverage
1.  Las Vegas Review-Journal
“No searching for markets – they are right at the top of page 1. Stellar local business coverage. I now know there are more than just casinos in Nevada!”
2.  Reno Gazette-Journal
“Good overall coverage of regional economy. Good use of visuals – graphs, charts, etc.”
3. Las Vegas Sun
“Good use of graphic elements. Thorough coverage. Features and news intertwined.”

Best Business Feature Story
1.  J. Patrick Coolican, La Vegas Sun
“Nevada a scam haven”
“Great, thorough business reporting coupled with often entertaining writing – and the unfortunate, sad human element.”
2.  Hubble Smith, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“The state bird of Nevada”
“Hubble delivers a fine piece of writing, reporting on a topic few would consider (and others would decline.) Nicely  done.”
3.  Brendan Buhler, Las Vegas Sun
“Hey buyers, all aboard”
“A unique bus tour which Brendan turned into a fun, clever ride for his readers.”
Honorable Mention:
Alexandra Berzon, Las Vegas Sun
“Subprime cleanup”
“It’s not often you can find a subject like this. Her story stands out in the wash of standard foreclosure stories.”

Best Explanatory Journalism
1.  Jeff Delong,  Reno Gazette-Journal
“The warming Sierra”
“Great reporting, fabulous graphics, thought-provoking timely issue. What helped set this apart from the rest was initiative to tackle a challenging global issue and bring it home for readers by clearly showing why they should carte.”
2.  Frank Geary, Alan Maimon, Margearet Miille, Joan Whitely, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Illegal immigration: counting the cast”
“Staff took a national issue and didn’t just write anecdotal features with stats, but explained to readers the impact that illegal immigration has on its communities and schools.”
3.  Jennifer  Robison, A.D. Hopkins, Margearet Miille, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Foreclosures in the silver state”
“This series didn’t just share the horror stories and stats of the state’s housing crisis, but it offered advice/solutions for its readers.”

Best Investigative or In-depth Story or Series
1.  Marshall Allen, Las Vegas Sun
“Indentured doctors”
“Gripping investigative journalism on an issue which many have never considered before. Great research/reporting which led to action on behalf of foreign doctors and the rural communities in Nevada.”
2.  Joan Whitely, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Hotel rooms”
“Not only did Joan own this continuing sage, she went above and beyond with her investigative initiative.”
3.  Teri Vance, Nevada Appeal
“Imprisoned by meth”
“What was a gripping look at the devastation of meth became extraordinary with the colorful, sad main character and the surprising end to this study of a human addiction.”

Best Local Column
1. Carey Levitan, Las  Vegas Review-Journal
“These were great. I sympathized. I chuckled. You lead an interesting life and report it well.”
2. Francis McCae, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Great topics that read well.  The article about your accident was well-done – personal without being self-serving. You have a nice style.”
3. Kathleen Stebbins, Reno Gazette-Journal
“I enjoyed these travel columns. I look for good, pure flow and entertainment value in column-writing. Yours had all of that.”

Best Local Non-Staff Column
1.  Steven Kalas, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Writes in a gentle straight-forward manner. The read is drawn in and feels like they’ve just heard a story from an old friend.”
2.  Doug Nielsen, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Even though it is an outdoor column, it is written in a way that all readers can relate to. Excellent focus on the emotions beyond the hunt.”
3.  Jon Ralston, Las Vegas Sun
“Written in a manner so as to draw attention to serious issues and create action. The columns made me want to change the world, which is always needed.”
Honorable Mention:
Linn Mills, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Very informative but lacks the personal touch.”

Best Local Sports Story
1.  Mark Anderson, Las  Vegas Review-Journal
“Rebels revert to ugly losing ways”
“Great lead; I appreciate the fact that you gave the outcome early on. The way the stats are sprinkled throughout is great. Keeps my interest until the end. Nice piece.”
2.  Jon Gold, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Army interrogator returns from Iraq, watched brother ride @ NFR”
“Great job recreating the event – bringing it to life. The ending was a perfect way to tie it all together. Talented writer.”
3.  Steve Carp, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Korean boxer’s death after 1982 Caesars bout staggered Mancini”
“Very interesting story. Story flowed well. Nice use of quotes.”
Honorable Mention:
Steve Sneddon, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Gilbert tests positive for handful of illegal substances:
“Good story on an interesting subject.”

Best Local Sports Feature
1.  Steve Sneddon, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Tyrone Hanson’s story: the Halloween party killings:
“ Completely engrossing story; very good writing; effective story-telling.”
2.  Mike Houser, Nevada Appeal
“Kelvin’s journey”
“Really close to being first; another very well presented story; writing is solid, but a little wordy in spots but overall very nice.”
3.  Steve Carp, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Tomato cans ripe for picking”
“A very interesting topic; good lead; nice tight writing.”

Best Entertainment Writing
1.  Jason  Bracelin, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Great storytelling, capped off by the best single story in the division, ‘All the kings men.’ Jason does a splendid job of providing color, emotion and news all in one well-layered piece.”
2.  Joe Brown, Las Vegas Sun
“Joe’s personality is what makes his stories such an enjoyable read.”
3.  Kristen Peterson, Las Vegas  Sun
“Great grasp of her subject and very insightful style.”

Critical Writing
1.  Jason Bracelin, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“I liked the catty, but fair way you dealt with Josh Groban. The Beyonce piece was nice – descriptive but to the point.”
2.  Joe  Brown, Las Vegas Sun
“The Miller piece was my favorite. It moved right along in its thoroughness. Nice writing.”
3.  Forrest Hartmen, Reno Gazette-journal
“Nice, concise style.”

Best Editorial Writing
1.  Dave Clayton, Las Vegas Sun
“Good, clear call to action. Editorials are well written, to the point. Opinions are backed by the facts, research.”
2.  Michael Campbell, Las Vegas Sun
“Editorials reflect solid research and perspective. Thorough.”
Glenn Cook, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“I like the writer’s style; quick good reads with clarity.”

Best Editorial Page
1.  Las Vegas Review-Journal
“A wealth of locally generated content on editorial pages. Excellent variety. Nice packaging and presentation.”
2.  Las Vegas Sun
“Strong package of letters in each submission. Good emphasis on local issues in editorials, columns.”

Best Overall Design
1.  Las Vegas Sun
“Outstanding design, great graphics, wonderful choice of typography…nearly every page had its own unique design personality.”
2.  Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Really solid fundamental design with a few great moments (fire coverage, candidate cover, borders) sprinkled throughout.”

Best Page One Design
1.  Reno Gazette-journal
“Nice use of dominant photos! Headline hierarchy is easy to follow; however, some pages are too busy. Outstanding use of color and graphics.”
2.  Las Vegas Sun
“Great job with photos and graphics. Color in headlines is not overdone. It is easy to see what story goes with what photo.”

Best Page Designer(s)
1.  Chard Whitney, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Loved your designs/photo use. You are not afraid to try new things and it shows. Great work!”
2.  Lauren Miller, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Loved how you made the photos pop on layouts/great use of fonts and color!”
3.  Jackie Green, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Lots of elements on a page – but you made the look work everytime. Great job.”
Honorable mention:
Rachel Perkins, Las Vegas  Sun
“Clean, organized layouts.”

Best Special Section (Editorial)
1.  Las Vegas  Review-Journal
“UAW-Dodge 400”
“Awesome cover. The picture draws the reader in, especially with an intriguing headline. Some of the inside pictures could use more life – maybe someone working on the car.”
2.  Reno Gazette-Journal
“Decision ‘08”
“I liked that both parties were side by side. The front has a nice graphic appeal. Front story could use a better lead.  Very informative. Good work!”

Best Information  Graphic
1.  Chris Morris, Las Vegas Sun
“Colorado River watershed”
“Very informative – clean, crisp – nicely done!”
2.  Mike Johnson, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Exposure feared – unsafe injection”
“Clear, concise – easily understood.”
3.  Mike Johnson, Las  Vegas Review-Journal
“Tragic missteps”
“Wonderful use of graphics – clearly explained.”

Best Illustration
1.  Mark Antonuccio, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Are you really wearing that”
“The drawings telegraph the sense of message of the story in a way that assures readership. What more could you want?
2.  David Stroud, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“George Carlin”
“The xxxxxx cover drawing (for neon) captures the one-time rage and maturing spirit of Carlin, leaving no question you have to read the article.”
3.  Mike Johnson, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Cranes”
“Gives me a visual of what could not be put in words but 10 chip and paste trucks wasted space that surely could have been used for something else.”

Best Spot News Photo Coverage
1.  Staff, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Flames – The Angora fire
“The highest marks go to the photographers who effectively captured this stunning fire from all angles. No other paper came close to this quality. A well-deserved first place.”
2.  Brad Horn, Nevada Appeal
“Parking lot shooting:
“This set of photos makes you heart pound and your palms sweat. Good for Brad Horn for getting the shorts, as tough as they may be to look at.”
3.  Marilyn Newton, Timm Dunn, B. Parker and Liz Margerum, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Fernley levee”
“All angles are covered in this well-done series of photos. All show the impact of water with power and emotion.”
Honorable Mention:
John Gurzinski, Las Vegas  Review-Journal
“Condo complex burns”
“A big-time photo that shows the size and impact of a big-time fire. I love all the elements. “

Best General News Photo
1.  John Gurzinski, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Answers bring more tears”
“There is emotional and then there is emotional. A powerful moment, extraordinary expression, and the mother’s look and gestures add to a tremendous photo.”
2.  Kevin Cannon, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Signing up for a revolution”
“The  lighting, body language, late night effort exemplify the Ron Paul campaign. Composition was great, but the underlying message was better.”
3.  Andy Barron, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Daredevils in Reno”
“This is one of those photos that sells papers and has everyone asking, ‘How did he get that shot?’”
Honorable Mention:
Marilyn Newton, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Air Guard wing returns from Iraq”

“There are plenty of these reunion/military images, but this one has the Air Guard sign framed in the background. Nice moment, nice positioning by photog.”

Best Feature Photo
1. Chad Lundquist, Nevada Appeal
“Bear ‘Chug’”
“In a tough and competitive field of photogs, this was the shot I kept coming back to. It’s a once in a lifetime picture, really, and one I have never seen. Thank goodness you chose this particular route to work, and it is a good thing you had your camera. A true winner. Ever think of sending it to Pepsi?”
2. Ronda Churchill, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Out of Step”
“Love it. This picture tells a story by drawing the readers’ eye to the element that makes an otherwise ho-hum lineup unique. This was the picture at this emotional event, and you got it!”
3. Andy Barron, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Celebration – graduation”
“An absolute grinner. The good chop, clean background, nice light (and those glasses) make this a top three selection in a very competitive field. It’s a great shot at what can be a cliché shoot.”
Honorable Mention:
John Locher, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Eddie Powers as Elvis”
“I just couldn’t let this go in the discard pile. It’s a great shot – ‘Elvis,’ isolated, alone as illustrated by the great composition. Never knew Elvis was a burger and fries kind of guy! This is a photo I have never seen. Thanks!”

Best Multiple Feature Photos
2. Jeff Scheid, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Nevadans sound off on policies”
“Everybody’s favorite 2008 topic. Great photos, excellent presentation of many themes/positions and exceptional editing.”
2. Tiffany  Brown, Las Vegas Sun
“A long way gone”
“Except for the depth of Nos. 1 and 3, this would be the winner. Clear, concise and beautifully illustrated.”
3. Jeff Scheid, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Half way around the world”
“What a topic and what a presentation of sights and emotions. Wonderful.
Honorable Mention:
Leila Davidi, Las Vegas Sun
“Drugstore lunch counter:
“Sometimes the simple things close to home are just worth celebrating.”

Best Portrait
1. Leila Navidi, Las Vegas Sun
“Michael  Grimm”
“Sweet shot – a clinic in lighting and composition wrapped up in a single photo. I just wish the schedule wasn’t printed on top of this world-class picture.”
2. Tiffany Brown, Las Vegas Sun
“Arena project”
“There’s a lot of power in this photo; you did a great job of capturing a darker culture of America and showing it to your readers – effectively.”
3. Steve Marcus, Las Vegas Sun
“Dice dealer”
“Picture perfect lighting and a great idea for the portrait – and double sixes too! Was that luck?”
Honorable Mention:
Duane Prokop, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Flavor of fashion”
“Nice tight shot pulls the reader in and provides an up-close look at an unusual subject.”

Best Illustrated Photo
1. Chris Morris, Las Vegas Sun
“P-Funk”
“Striking visual style – this illustrated photo has it all, original and creative, great attention to detail – the best of the best!”
2. Chris Morris, Las Vegas Sun
“Contemptibles’ Collectibles”
“So much conveyed in this image – placement and detail perfect.”
3. Duane Prokop, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Heavenly scents”
“Beautiful photo, technical quality and outstanding – wow!”
Honorable Mention:
“Did you see that”
“Photo comes to life – your work captures the imagination. Great job!”

Best Sports Photo
1. John Locher, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Keeping the faith”
“Non-typical sports photo, beautifully done. The lighting is perfect and is what makes this photo a first place winner.”
2. Andy Barron, Reno Gazette-Journal
“3A title match”
“Great photo – too bad it couldn’t have run bigger so readers could enjoy more. Felt like I was right in on the action. Great job.”
3. Marilyn Newton, Reno  Gazette-Journal
“Spikes the ball”
“Great angle – interest drawn mainly because of the positioning by the photographer. Watch to make sure pictures don’t look too digital.”
Honorable mention
Kevin Cannon, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Upset barely out of reach”
“Wonderful action capture. Great picture – really tough category.”

Best Large-space Ad Prepared by a Newspaper
1. Patrick Fiinn Jr., Reno Gazette-Journal
“Driving a car you hate?”
“Loved this ad! I liked the different look – whimsical yet held much information and an easy read.”
2. April Miller, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Memorial Day 2007 (Nevada Backyard)”
“Even considering all the content, this ad is neat – very well done. Good job!”
3. Ria Marris Reddica, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“The Pizza Café”
“Great layout and photo use. Clean and crisp.”
Honorable Mention:
Robert Henson, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Congrats to ACE High School:
“Nice layout. Great use of graphics.”

Best Black and White Ad Created by a Newspaper
1. Jesse Dunaway, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Eat your heart out!”
“Very eye catching. Gets your attention and pulls you into ad.”
2. Mike Miller, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“We bring the world to the classroom every day”
“Nice use of white space and the picture draws you into the ad.”
3. Kathy Webb, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Is there someone in your life who needs help?”
“Good graphics.”
Honorable Mention:
Mike Miller, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“An eye on the entertainment.”
“Nice use of white space.”

Best Sport-color Ad Created by a Newspaper
1. Teri Hogue, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Lasik Experts”
“The blue eye in the center of the ad is very catchy. Good information on both sides of the ad.”
2. April Miller, Reno Gazette-Journal
“American Lung Association”
“The line of cars across the top is unique and grabs your attention. I like the ‘V’ formation with a simple font.”
3. Ilyse Bottinick, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Reno Buggie Barn”
“Bright red Beatle is appealing. I like the retro red border.”

Best Multi-color ad Created by a Newspaper
1. Mike Miller, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Any car. Every car.”
“Few words yet powerful.”
2. Robert Henson, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Carson City Basque Festival”
“Loved how artwork theme used in every page. Very nice clean design.”
3. Kerry Garrett, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Honda summer kickoff sale”
“Car ads usually all look the same. This one, however, jumped off the page. Nice job.”
Honorable Mention:
Kathy Webb, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Silver spoon”
“Nice design and use of photos.”

Best Special Section (Advertising)
1. Rob Fair, Nevada Appeal
“2008 Health and Wellness Directory”
“Beautifully designed. Great layout. Great information. Information for all ages. Great color. Easy to read. Very creative. Very impressed.”
2. Terri  Thomas, Lynette  Cameron and Peter Kostes, Nevada Appeal
“Sierra Nevada Boomers”
“Fresh ideas! Great layout. Good information. Appealing ads. Beautiful color. Great cover.”
3. Rob Gallaway and Mary Weaver, Nevada Appeal
“The Great Reno Balloon Race”
“Beautiful glossy cover. Great color. Entertaining. Good information. Great layout.”
Honorable Mention:
Las Vegas Review-Journal
“National Finals Rodeo”
“Nice cover. Wonderful ads. Great photos! Good information.”

Best In-house Advertising Promotion for Circulation, Advertising or  Editorial
1. Robert Henson, Reno Gazette-Journal
“High school sports: full coverage inside”
“Rack cards were a great promotion – awesome design, simple message. Great job!”
2. Rutilio Martinez, Reno Gazette-Journal
“Full coverage rack cards”
“Another great promotion, eye catching design. Nice job!
3. Lynette Cameron and Joanna Vernarecci, Nevada Appeal
“Classified promotion: You’ve got it. Somebody wants it.”
“Very thought-out campaign. I liked the multi-media approach; simple message but well conveyed.”
Honorable Mention
Lynette Cameron and Betty Jo Heaton, Nevada  Appeal
“Community Awards contest”
“What a unique service to your community. Nice ads promoting the event.”

Advertising General Excellence
1. Reno Gazette Journal
“Wonderful ad ideas. Great color. Good  layout. Interesting ads. Lots of ads. Great paper.”
2. Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Beautiful color. Fresh ideas. Lots of ads. Beautiful front page. Great layout. Big paper.”

Best Newspaper Web Site
1. Reno Gazette Journal
“I really enjoyed the layout; everything is contained yet it’s easy to navigate to more content. The calendar is prominently displayed along with the top news stories. It has a sleek user-friendly design.”
2. Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Contains a lot of information but is still easy to navigate. The readers have an opportunity to get involved via the Website, ensuring repeat (and even daily) visitors.”
3. Las Vegas Sun
“The top news stories are easy to get to and extras such as blogs and cartoons are featured. It could use more opportunities for user involvement to draw people to the site repeatedly.”

CLASS II

General Excellence
1. Tahoe Daily Tribune
“This is an engaging, well packaged newspaper with a strong sense of its local mission – and it is a lot of fun to read!”
2. Elko Daily Free Press
“Good design and powerful local flavor.”

Journalist of Merit
Jonah Kessel, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“What a tremendously gifted and versatile journalist. His designs are compelling with nice use of white space, images and typography. His photos were among the best in this class, his portraits and use of light are among his strengths. And he showed off his versatility by producing some very colorful, descriptive stories as well. How fortunate a small daily is to have such a multi-talented staffer in their newsroom.”

Community  Service
1. Elko Daily Free Press
“Wells earthquake”
“Not only did the Elko staff produce splendid stories covering this frightening moment for Wells residents, but they showed their heart as well by raising money to help in the relief. And the special section was a tremendous piece of community journalism, a touching emotional piece of work that admirably recapped that scary morning. Outstanding team effort by the Elko staff”.
2. Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Angora fire”
“Nice continuing, complete coverage which included helpful information and resources for the community.”

Best Spot News Story
Brad Horn, Kim Lamb, Christy Lattin, Andrew Pridgen, Kevin Todd and Mary Jean Kelso, Lahontan Valley News
“Fernley floods”
“Excellent team coverage. Stories and photos give context to scope of flooding and impact on community.”
2. Susan Wood, Jeff Munson, William Ferchland and Elaine Goodman, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Tahoe burns”
“A close runner-up to the first good package.”

Best  Feature Story
1. Jeremy  Evans, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Kirkwood celebrates”
“Interesting read, good sources, nice blend of historical information with personal stories.”
2. Ali Helgoth, Elko Daily Free Press
“Seeking shelter”
“Moving without being overly sentimental – honest, good angle”
3. Sarah Cooper, Sparks Tribune
“Homeschooling in Sparks”
“Readable, informative, good blend of facts and anecdotal information.”
Honorable mention:
Christy Lattin, Lahontan Valley News
“Nomadic woman passes through”
“Nice job of letting woman speak for herself; must have been tempting to editorialize a little.”

Best Business News Story
1. Doug McMurdo, Elko Daily Free Press
“Gold tops $1000”
”McMurdo brings everything together with this story – local economy, national economy, the weak dollar. A wonderfully structured news story.”
2. Marianne Kobak, Elko Daily Free Press
“Say it with gold”
“Interesting.  Wish there was a graphic of actual coin. Kobak tapped some good sources in her reporting, Concise.”

Best Business Feature Story
1. Sarah Cooper, Sparks Tribune
“Wireless in the air”
“Balanced, relates to both the current user and the person seeking more information.”
2. Marianne Kobak, Elko Daily Free Press
“A ‘green’ story that actually covered something happening rather than ‘we need to go green.’”
3. Michael Maresh, Lahontan Valley News
“Statistics detail number of commuters”
“A good demographic story that becomes more relevant due to rising gas prices.”
Honorable Mention:
Marianne Kobak, Elko Daily Free Press
“Weathering the storm:
“Localized national issue.”

Best Explanatory Journalism
1. Steve Ranson, Lahontan Valley News
“Increased training keeps Hawthorne  Depot viable”
“Good, sharp, tightly-edited information. Written with authority thanks to in-depth reporting and thorough knowledge of subject. Stats help support writer throughout.”
2. Doug McMurdo and Marianne Kobak, Elko Daily Free Press
“Mining reform”
“Nice multi-component presentation and helpful timeline. Very technical.”

Best News Feature Story
1.  Charles Sizemore, Elaine Goodman, Adam Jensen and Johan M. Kessel, Tahoe Daily  Tribune
“I go, you go, Blue go, slow go”
“The criteria says 40 points for depth of reporting, 40 for quality of writing and 20 for local relevance. This news feature scored a perfect 100 percent, proving four heads are sometimes better than one.”
2. Sam Brown, Elko Daily Free Press
“Frustrated by fire”
“This is one of three stories entered by the Free Press covering the major effects of the nearby fire. But this was the best, however, with a good lead, lots of facts and an easy-to-read presentation.”
3. John Sents, Elko Daily Free Press
“POW memories”
“Not every reader cares about a presidential visit but everybody woul d care about a local connection like Kathy Long. From the Nebraska opening to the Nevada conclusion, Sents makes this a perfect example of worthy news feature writing.”
Honorable Mention:
Debra Reid, Sparks Tribune
“Local photographer loses his negatives”
“Almost a sidebar to the above front-page story, ‘three die in north Reno mobile home fire,” this story becomes a feature because of the loss of history rather than the loss of lives. It is an experience everyone can relate to, either because they’ve experienced something like it or worry that some day they will. The headline is overwritten, telling too much of the story up front. The first paragraph is a beauty, sharing the bad and the good in one well-crafted sentence.”

Best Investigative or In-depth Story or Series
1. Janine Kearney, Sparks Tribune
“Living in a state of endless transition”
“Interesting topic with good voices of the people living in the motels. The people make the story.
2. Courtney Maddock, Nathan Orne, Debra Reid, Sparks Tribune
“Neighbor vs. nurture”
“Tapped into what people are concerned about in neighborhood.”
3. Doug McMurdo, Elko Daily Free Press
“Mines and mining”
Honorable Mention:
Janine Keanney, Sparks Tribune
“Fighting back against bullying on new playground.”

Best Local Column
1. Doug McMurdo, Elko  Daily Free Press
“You have a great writing style. Your sense of humor and pacing make these great reads”.
2. David C. Henley, Lahontan Valley News
“Witty. Fun topics.”

Best Local Non-staff  Column
1. Andrew Barbano, Sparks Tribune
“Writes about social issues in an entertaining, easy-to-read manner. Encourages readers to get involved and voice their opinions.”
2. Emily Harris, Elko Daily Free Press
“Helpful advice worded in a way that doesn’t make you feel like a failure, as advice columns sometimes do. The advice is simply stated and leaves the impression anyone could do it.”
3. Glen McAdoo, Lahontan Valley News
“Reading this, I felt like I was sitting at the local café overhearing everyone’s stories. Light-hearted, enjoyable reading that brushed on current events but didn’t dwell on it.”
Honorable mention:
Rick Seley, Lahontan Valley News
“Walks the middle of the road between humor column and rambling. Well written but lacks the hook that makes me want to read more.”

Best Local Sports Story
Steve Yingling, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“South Tahoe’s dream season ends in pks”
“Really captured emotion. Getting quotes from the coach and the athlete really made the piece. Great job.”
2. Dan Eckles, Sparks Tribune
“NIAA tables issue of state tournament expansion”
“Great job of getting an important issue out to your readers. The proposed expansion was explained very well.”
3. Jeremy Evans, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“The flip of a card”
“Great job reliving the action. Brought the story to life. The sidebar was a nice addition. Tough category.”
Honorable Mention:
Ryan Hope, Elko Daily Free Press
“Tears of true champion”
“Good overall look at a controversial story. Don’t bury the quotes and would have liked quotes from the athletes.”

Best Local Sports Feature
1. Jeremy Evans, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Through the eyes of Corey  Rich”
“Wonderful piece of writing. Jeremy is easily the best feature writer in this division. Colorful, compelling storytelling.
2. Martin Harris, Elko Daily Free Press
“Elko High’s gridiron history”
“A tremendous amount of work, research and reporting went into this series, which captured the essence of Elko football for readers.”
3. Steve Yingling and Jeremy Evans, Tahoe  Daily Tribune
“Warriors, Vikings struggling with numbers game”
“The best news feature in the group, these two took a troubling issue facing two programs, added good reporting and produced well-written enterprise.”
Honorable Mention:
Steve Ranson, Lahontan Valley News
“Enduring a road trip”
“An enjoyable first-person account of a dreadfully long team bus trip. Kudos to  Steve for agreeing to ride with the team (whew) and giving his readers an account of a typical road trip from the inside.”

Best Local Sports Column
1. Steve Ranson, Lahontan Valley News
“Informative, even read. Has something to say even on personal columns.”
2. Thomas Ranson, Lahontan Valley News
“Local columns are good, better than his national ones.”
3. Don Eckles, Sparks Tribune
“Has good local appeal.”
Honorable Mention:
Ryan Hope, Elko Daily Free Press
“Soccer column complimented the game story.”

Best  Entertainment Writing
1. Dan Thomas, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Nice, tight writing style.”
2. Tim Parsons, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Great research and style. These could tighten. Typo hurt you.”
3. Cortney Maddock, Sparks  Tribune
“You have a nice descriptive voice.”

Best Editorial Writing
1. Josh Johnson, Lahontan Valley News
“Your editorials are direct and to the point.  Reader knows where you stand. Editorials take strong, sensible positions.”
2. Paul Dunn, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Stories woven into your editorials work well – give reader all the facts and background to understand your position.”
Jeff Mullins, Elko Daily Free Press
“Well written, concise editorials. Expresses an opinion well with facts to back it up.”

Best Editorial Page
Lahontan Valley News
“Good packaging. Good variety on issues. Locally generated content. Perhaps more emphasis to foster  more letters?”

Best Overall Design
1. Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Dynamic covers, top-notch center spread design (weekend edition), nicely labeled paper. Really solid photography, good use of color and well-organized.”
2. Lahontan Valley News
“Nice, clean, understated design, highlighted by the paper’s tremendous photography in covering the Fernley flooding.”
3. Elko Daily Free Press
“Nice design/coverage of the campaigns, though the design/typography is dated and inside pages are cluttered and tough to follow.”

Best Page One Design
1. Elko Daily Free Press
“Consistent clean design. Good use of large photos and type-faces to make it interesting to the eye.”
2. Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Nice layout, great photos, loved the creative mastheads with photos.”
3. Sparks Tribune

Best Page Designer(s)
1. Jonah M. Kessel, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Enjoyed your work. Clean, crisp designs, great use of typography.”
2. Sam Brown, Elko Daily Free Press
“Clean, crisp, well organized and reader friendly.”
3. Martin Harris, Elko Daily Free Press

Best Special Section (Editorial)
1. Elko Daily Free Press
“24th Annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering”
“Nice variety of stories, very handy guide to this event; everything tied into one very well produced section. I would bet this was pretty popular.”
2. Elko Daily Free Press
“Mining Quarterly – The Next Big Thing”
“A very  nice product, pictures are very good quality; good selection of writing on the topic of mining, but a bit overwhelming.”
3. Lahontan Valley News
“Boomers and Beyond:
“Good, tight writing; nicely done; interesting topic that is explored very well.”

Best Information Graphic
1. Jonah Kessel, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“The Sierra firefighter”
“Nice Photoshop effects used! Clean layout.”
2. Jonah Kessel, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“The Sierra bear guy”
“Loved the dog photo!”

Best Spot News Photo Coverage
1.Dan Thrift, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Angora fire”
“Great series of photos showing the devastation brought on by wildfires. Great composition in each photo.”
2. Dan Thrift, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Washoe fire”
“Every picture in this group tells a story. Allows readers to see what it’s like in and around a forest fire.”
3. Debra Reid, Sparks Tribune
“Buckle up for safety”
“Well composed photo. Unique perspective.”
Honorable Mention
Ross Andreson, Elko Daily Free Press
“Fire from the sky”
“Very unique photo catching lightning bolt above a tree fire.”

Best General News Photo
1. Ross Andreson, Elko Daily Free Press
“Wells quake”
“Nicely composed photo using quake damage as a backdrop to a news conference.”
2. Debra Reid, Sparks Tribune
“Coming home”
“Nice emotion shot of young boy greeting his serviceman father.”
3. Steve Ranson, Lahontan Valley News
“Military expands roles of local range”
“Very unique look at military in action. Interesting photo.”

Best Feature Photo
1. Debra Reid, Sparks Tribune
“Flying high”
“A clear winner, thanks to a dramatic sky and the photographer’s great timing. This crop makes a great image even better. A well-deserved first place.”
2. Kim Lamb, Lahontan Valley News
“Sloshing toward recovery”
“This is a photo with a ton of impact and showcases the photographer’s great eye. I actually like the fact there are no people; it gives it an eerie quality that adds to the drama.”
3. Jim Grant, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Day one”
“Normally, emotion/stories are told through faces; not in this case. The fact it was shot from behind helps illustrate the uncertainty of what’s ahead, and that’s what make this a top three selection.”

Best Multiple Feature Photos
1. Jonah M. Kessel, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“The will to live”
“Outstanding series of photos detailing the harsh reality of a rare medical condition. Series really helps tell the story.”
2. Jonah m. Kessel, Tahoe  Daily Tribune
“Desolation wilderness”
“Beautiful  photography really makes this a nice piece. Overall, very well done.”
3. Dan Thrift, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Mountain lion prowls keys”
“Interesting  photo series. Something you don’t see every day.”

Best Portrait
1. Jonah M. Kessel, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“The will to live/deep cavity:
“A stark and in-your-face look at the reality of Tahya Gladau, told through dramatic lighting and terrific composition.”
2. Jonah M. Kessel, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Isolation in desolation”
“Good, soft lighting and a profile perspective make this a top photo. And it shows the expansive environment of Keith’s Dome.”
3. Jonah M. Kessel, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“The will to live/Lake Tahoe”
“Completely different from the other winning portrait of Gladau, yet equally as eye-catching. Once again, great use of light.”

Best Illustrated Photo
1. Jonah M. Kessel, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Kirkwood”
“Awesome  – flawless design, great job!”
2. Kim Lamb, Lahontan Valley News
“Domestic violence”
“Great illustration, ghostly face really adds a dramatic effect to the photo.”
3. Dan Thrift, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Bullying”
“Really brings feeling to the story – great job capturing that.”
Honorable Mention
Jonah M. Kessel, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Halloween”
“Creepy and creative – great job with text layering.”

Best Sports Photo
1. Dan Thrift, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Spring has sprung”
“Great color, action, and emotion make this photo an excellent shot.”
2. Jim Grant, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Smith reaches rarified air”
“Nice shot, the color, hair and action make this photo great.”
3. Debra Reid, Sparks Tribune
“Grizz act stymies cougars”
“Excellent action shot. I love the action and the dirt flying.”
Best Large-space Ad Prepared by a Newspaper
1. Staff, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“We have the people”
“Good use of fonts and artwork”
2. John Simon, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Your link to distinctive properties”
“Nice layout, nice color, bolder font could have been used as type gets washed out and lost, then hard to read.”
3. John Simon, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Friday night @ Montbleu

Best Black and White Ad Created by a Newspaper
1. John Simon, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Fabulous Christmas gifts”
“Nice photo and graphics to pull you in.”
2. John Simon, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“50% off”
“Reverse ad makes it very eye appealing.”

Best Multi-color Ad Created by a Newspaper
1. John Simon, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Hot cha cha”
“Unique design with great use of multiple colors. An absolute fresh idea.”
2. Loretta  Shirley, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Tulip”
“The purple is strong and the yellow is a fine compliment.
3. Keigh Marusor, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Sidestreet boutique”
“The headline is strong, but the color is what makes the ad great.”

Best Special Section (Advertising)
1. Michelle Morton, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Travel  Lake Tahoe”
“Appealing  cover. Great photos. Unique colors. Good information. Nice ads.”
2. Sparks Tribune
“Discover Sparks”
“Great cover and photo. Good ideas. Good layout.”
3. Michelle Morton, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Tahoe Ski & Board”
“Beautiful cover. Good information. Good color.”

Best In-House Advertising Promotion for Circulation, Advertising or Editorial
1. Staff, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“The Angora Fire Book:
“Photos used in the ad amazing – shows readers why they should order today. Great  promotion!”
2. Staff, Tahoe Daily Tribune
“American Century Championship”
“Really shows advertisers what they will get – nice details.”

Advertising General Excellence
1. Tahoe Daily Tribune
“Very deserving  of first place. Ads throughout the paper well designed, original and eye-catching.  Great  job!”
2. Sparks Tribune
“Some very nice half-page – full-page ads, smaller ads need updating.

CLASS 3

General Excellence
1. The Record-Courier
“Overall the best traditional newspaper. Great cover design, more news than many others, strong photos, an editorial, nice ad volume and design.”
2. In Business Las Vegas
“I have trouble with a specialty publication winning in general excellence. But, this is a well designed, edited and marketed publication with many non-business sections to attract the builder, sports fan and food fanatic. It had to to get the number two spot.”
3. Fallon Star Press
“Best front page but it falls short inside. Allow more room for non-advertising space, wonderful photos, well written headlines. No editorial and too much commentary from purchased national columnists. Get more local on your opinion page.”

Journalist of Merit, Small Weekly Newspapers
Cassie Tomlin, Boulder City News
“For someone new to the field, Cassie shows she has her Boulder City beat completely covered, with an array of well-written stories from every aspect of news reporting. Cassie delivers very informed content on a wide variety of issues and can switch comfortably between straight news leads and anecdotal news features. What an asset to have a versatile reporter like Cassie in the newsroom of a small weekly.”

Journalist of Merit, Medium Weekly Newspapers
Kevin MacMillan, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Kevin’s stories grabbed my attention and held it throughout. He was very thorough in his work. I was extremely impressed with the variety of subjects he displays expertise in. He brought stories to life for readers.”

Community Service
1. North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, Tom Meyer
“Ready for disaster”
“Well-written, very informative and useful, and some great graphics helped elevate this series. Thanks to reporter Tom Meyer, many more people are prepared for a potential disaster.”
2. Henderson Home News
“Red means step”
“Very unique campaign for a newspaper. Smart planning, interesting story angles, informative breakouts…very good staff-wide coordination on this project.”
3. North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Red, white and Tahoe blue”
“Great community event was hatched during a newspaper-led forum. What a tremendous sense of pride for the Bonanza staff.”

Best Spot News Story
1.Bob Challinor,  Desert Valley News
“Judge upholds election results”
“Writer nails it concisely. Well-written story on judge’s decision. Covers all the angles.”
2. Mark Waite, Pahrump Valley Times
“Pahrump picked for fed center.”
“Big breaking story covered well. Good job!
3. Jeff Pope, Henderson Home News
“Plea deal in McCay slaying”
“Third place bodes well in a category with many entries.”

Best Feature Story
Lots of really good stories, hard to choose
1. David  Bly, Desert Valley Times
“Bundy clan’s roots”
“Delightful read!”
2. Beth Dickman, Henderson Home News
“Close-knit group”
“Unique subject, well written.”
3. Becky Bosshart and Tim Mullin, Henderson Home News
“Lessons of fatherhood”
“Wonderful tribute to fathers – interesting to read, which was wonderful because it would have been easy to fall into clichés.”

Best Business Coverage
1. In Business Las Vegas (Staff)
“In Business knows business, hence the clever name. If something is happening that has to do with the local economy, this paper’s got it covered.”
2. Las Vegas Business Press (Staff)
“Connects local issues to national economic trends.”
3. Henderson Home News
“Lots of front page business headlines. Thorough community business coverage.”

Best Business News Story
1. Mark Hansel, In Business Las Vegas
“Village Square tenants fight back”
“Great story. Mark Hansel drew a clear picture of what’s going on in Village Square. Broken promises, potential fraud and lawsuits came together to make an all-encompassing news story.”
2. Matt Ward, Las Vegas Business Press
“A gritty side of Las Vegas Sands”
“Ward went beyond expectations – all the way to Hong Kong – to write this investigative business piece. Great work.”
3. Mark Waite, Pahrump Valley Times
“Valley Electric tacks on fees.”
“Waite conveys exactly how the fee hike will affect residents. Great story structure.”

Honorable Mention:
Nicole Lucht, In Business Las Vegas
“Painters protest Pete King Nevada
“There was stiff competition, but this story stands out because of emotion and sources.”

Best Business Feature Story
1. Mark Waite, Pahrump Valley Times
“Burned hands $10,000 reward”
“A good news story that tells the inside problems of a specific business. Good research and tight writing.”
2. Valerie Miller, Las Vegas Business Press
“Franchise frenzy”
“The trials, lost dreams and fears of an expanded business owner. Well written, good quotes and simply interesting reading.”
3. NicoleLucht, In Business Las Vegas
“Mompreneurs”
“Really interesting. A bit of insight sure to be quoted in years to come. Good research and nicely tuned writing.”
Honorable Mention
Beck Dickman, Henderson Home News
“Rainbow looking pink”
“I can’t help myself, I just liked this story – the conflict, the passion, the possible outcome. Well done.”
Best Explanatory Journalism
1. Andrew Pridgen, North Lake  Tahoe Bonanza
“Beach access”
“Great example of explanatory journalism, which included a historical sidebar and a look ahead to possible resolutions.”
2. Mark Waite, Pahrump Valley Times
“Zoning”
“Good issue that affects the entire community, and the reporter showed a deep knowledge of the details which helped make this an informative piece.”
3. Jeff Pope, Henderson Home News
“Family income”
“Jeff did a nice job taking stats and a survey and explaining to readers what they mean.”

Best News Feature Story
1. Kyle Magin, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“In four year, DUIs increase 63 percent”
“This is newsworthy of being a feature. Up 63 percent! Parents should be concerned. So should everybody else. Lots of points of entry. Good reporting. Nice graphics. A sure winner.”
2.  Sheila Gardner, The Record-Courier
“The killer next door”
“Really two stories in one; lived in the valley 24 years – and agrees to return to Colorado. The first paints a picture of the ‘guy next door’ and the second of his earlier crimes. Both are excellently written and seem to jump right out of last night’s television fantasy programming. Great details and lots of color.”
3. Jeff Pope, Henderson Home News
“Vandals keeping BLM officials busy”
“This gem was almost buried at the bottom of the front page. A great story – cleanly written – about the removal of cultural artifact from the Red Rock Canyon. Not only a good feature, it is also an excellent warning to the paper’s readers to be ‘on the watch’ for further crime.”
Honorable Mention
Sheila Gardner, The Record Courier
“Dogs of Gabbs”
“Everybody has compassion for animals, and this story about 140 dogs brought out of the desert for adoption touches the heart. Neat lead. Lots of good entry points with listings, exceptional photos and an additional story on one of the recently adopted dogs,  Buddy. Heartwarming and satisfying feature.”

Best Investigative or In-depth Story or Series
1. Dave Clark, Henderson Home News
“Traffic stop turns violent – plus folos”
“Good job rooting out sources in the folo stories. That’s what elevated the series. One of the most difficult stories to do is challenging the police version of the facts.”
2. Matt Ward, Las Vegas Business Press Southwest
“Web of deceit ensnared”
“Complicated topic with many players. Good digging.”
3. Kevin MacMillan and Tanya Canino, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Bear’s death highlights problem”
Honorable Mention
Valerie Miller, Las Vegas Business Press
“Where there’s smoke there’s trouble.”

Best Local Column
1. Tanya Canino, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Great column ideas! I loved all four of your interesting columns. They all had humor to keep the reader interested. The word play was fantastic.”
2. Stephanie Tavares, xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Great leads! You can captivate an audience fast. I loved the bear column! Keep up the good work.”
3. David Bly, Desert Valley Times
“Good column ideas. You took an idea and made it more interesting with your great comparisons.”

Local Non-staff Column
1. Judy Miller Gerard, Henderson Home News
“Well-written, straight-forward and easy to comprehend. Contains helpful information for all ages.”
2. Jon Ralston, In Business Las Vegas
“Excellent writer, but the subject is too dry. Nevertheless, the column is reasonably entertaining.”
3. Ryan McGinness, Fallon Star Press
“Manages to take facts, figures and politics and produce an entertaining non-biased column”.
Honorable Mention
Margaret Caldwell, Desert Valley Times
“Delightful bits of history with a personal view.”

Best Local Sports Story
1. Bob Snell, Desert Valley Times
“Defensive stand clinches victory in wild shootout”
“Great description of a very exciting contest. It made me wish I had been there to see the game.  Well done!
2. Brent Hinckley, Henderson Home News
“End of the drought”
“Well presented. Good use of quotes. An enjoyable read.”
3. Christopher Drexel, Henderson Home News
“Gorman comes out on top”
“Great storyline with lots of quotes made this a pleasure to read.”
Honorable Mention:
Sean  Ammerman, Henderson Home News
“Gorman soccer coach leaves legacy”
“Nice reporting on a tragic story. A nice tribute.”

Best Local Sports Feature
1. Joey Crandall, The Record-Courier
“It’s playoff time”
“Great description of practice sets up the whole story nicely. Good quotes from coach help cap it off.”
2. Kevin MacMillan, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Coaches confident turnaround is imminent”
“Unique angle, nice lead for a football preview.”
3. Christopher Drexel, Henderson Home News
“Blazing the trails”
“A one-of-a-kind athlete, making for an enjoyable read.”

Best Local  Sports Column
1. Don McDermott, Pahrump  Valley Times
“Asks good questions in a civil manner. Makes his point.”
2. Kevin MacMillan, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Very easy read. When personal xxx makes it relevant.”
3. Joey Crandall, The Record Courier
“Creates a situation where it seems like the reader is in the conversation.”

Best Editorial Writing
1. Matt Hufman, In Business Las Vegas
“Catchy opening paragraphs. Good use of quotes to make his point. The editorials leave no question on where the writer stands.”
2. Steve Green, Henderson Home News
“Good editorials overall. Liked use of bullet points to provide facts in editorial.
3. Jean Reid Norman, Henderson Home News
“Good editorials but not quite the same ‘pizzazz’ as the top two winners.”
Honorable Mention
Kurt Hildebrand, The Record Courier
“Editorials are good but need a stronger finish in second and third example.”

Best Editorial Page
1. The Record-Courier
“All the entries in this category had good, meaty pages. Your clean design and crisp editorial writing put your paper in first place.”
2. NorthLake Tahoe Bonanza
“I like the mix of elements on this page. Get to your editorial stance more quickly. Nice overall layout.”
3. Henderson Home News
“Good editorial and various elements. I would mix up the layout a little. Try xxxxx up the copy with some brackets.

Best  Overall Design
1. Henderson Home News
“Above average photography, well-packaged sections, and a little creativity thrown in make this the best in the division.”
2. In Business Las Vegas
“The most contemporary design/fonts in the division. Sharp graphics, data lists are easy to read/follow.”
3. Pahrump Valley Times
“Though one of the primary fonts is a little thin and tough to read, this paper shows it understands good basic design and uses breakout information exceptionally well.”

Best Page One Design
1. The Record-Courier
“Nice visual appeal. Dominant photos show personality. Nice inside and outside bar – very well organized. Great job!”
2. Henderson Home News
“Awesome headline hierarchy and dominant photo! Nice use of teasers at top – be sure the photo is not facing off the page.”
3. Fallon Star Press
“Great wood duck package! Headlines on lead stories could be bigger. Teasers at the top are nice. Campaign package was put together well. Good job.”

Best Page Designer(s)
1. C.J. Drago, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Creative use of photos and breaks make for eye-appealing pages. Great use of color.”
2. Josh Primack, Henderson Home News
“Attractive use of photos and headlines makes for clean, concise pages.”
3. Joey Crandall, The Record-Courier
“Nice combination of photos and graphics. Excellent use of white space.”
Honorable Mention:
Jason Scavone, Henderson Home News
“Clean, crisp pages with nice photos and graphic elements.”

Best Special Section (Editorial)
1. The Record-Courier
“2007 Carson Valley Almanac”
“The must-have guide for the area; a day in the life stories and photos really make this a special issue; very well-planned and produced.”
2. North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“2008 North Shore Almanac/50 things you need to know”
“Wow, great idea; extremely well put together guide, very informative. I liked the advertiser index in the back.
3. Henderson Home News
“2007 Southern Nevada Football”
“What could have been an ordinary sports preview is a very impressive product. Photos really made this issue stand out. Writing gets to the point quickly.

Best Information Graphic
1. Kurt Hildebrand, The Record-Courier
“US 395 in 2030”
“Clean and informative layout.”
2. Kurt Hildebrand, The Record-Courier
“How to caucus”
3. Lauren Shearer, Tahoe World
“Tee it up!”
“Simple but informative. I liked the club/ball art!”
Honorable Mention:
Joey Crandall, The Record-Courier
“Northern 4A schools”

Best Illustration
1. Alex Raffi, Henderson Home News
“Enough to feed an army”
“Who can’t relate to this illustration, either from some past Thanksgiving or a time you wanted everything to be perfect without stress. Great work.”
2. Chris Morris, In Business Las Vegas
“Mompreneurs”
“Clean, neatly drawn. I would have liked more detail representing ‘business ownership’ and not just a female ‘business professional.”

Best Spot News Photo Coverage
1. Horace Langford, Jr., Pahrump Valley Times
“Two die in structure fire”
“Good spot news photo showing rescue efforts of a fire victim. Nicely composed photo.
2. Mona Shield Payne, Henderson Home News
“Digging through rubble”
“Unusual setup makes for a great photo. Nice, tight cropping adds to appeal.”
3. Carrie Richards, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Car goes over edge”
“Nicely executed series of photos. The photo itself tells a lot of the story.”
Honorable Mention:
Horace Langford, Jr., Pahrump Valley Times
“Fire leaves family bereft”
“Nice photo showing lots of emotion.”

Best General News Photo
1. Mona Shield Payne, Henderson Home News
“We’re ready for it.”
“Photographer captured the moving expressions on the faces of the daughter and her dad perfectly.”
2. Heather Cory, Henderson Home News
“Technically perfect”
“Avery close second. Another perfect shot of what could have been a mundane shot a few seconds earlier or later.”
3. Jerel Harris, Henderson Home News
“Woman buried…”
“Touching photo that helps draw readers into the story.”
Honorable Mention:
Jen Schmidt, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Clinton: Tahoe can be an example”
“Photo quality not the best but it’s the sunlight that makes this an award-winner.”

Best  Feature Photo
Cary Edmonson, Henderson Home News
No photo title
“I look at this picture and I can feel the environment, and I can smell the wine. Why? Great use of light and fantastic  composition.  A flash would have destroyed this picture. Thanks for not using it.”
2. Carrie Richards, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Class of 2020”
“You can’t look at this photo and not smile. There’s a clear entry point/focus thanks to good framing/crop, and I love the paper graduation caps! Great shot.”
3. Jen Schmidt, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“4th of July fireworks”
“A photo that jumps off the page. Adding a grounded element to this shot keeps it from being just another cliché fireworks picture.”

Multiple Fesature Photo
1. Carrie Richards, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza
“Great Reno Balloon Race”
“Very, very nice, excellent use of different angles, cropping, composition.”
2. Ryan Salm, Tahoe World
“After the burn”
“Some difficult shots that look great; good variety; nice angles, composition.”
3. Cary Edmondson, Henderson Home News
“In vino veritas”
“Good work; nice angles; some difficult low-light shots that look good.”
Honorable Mention:
Shannon Litz, The Record-Courier
“The Xenophobes”
“Good emotins, action; nice tight cropping.”

Best Portrait
1. Shannon Litz, The Record-Courier
“Reagan the missing pup”
“A simple, classic portrait that tells the story perfectly. Good l ighting, clean background and a good crop make this the winner. Love the shot.”
2. Brittany Duncan, Desert Valley Times
“Soothing music”
“It’s not a true portrait, but its close, and a great shot. Tight, but not too tight, with all the elements nicely framed.”
3. Shannon Litz, The Record-Courier
“Bound for nationals”
“The subjects fill the frame and it’s a good exposure in what appears to be a difficult lighting situation. And I love the in-your-face aspect of Doc the horse.”

Best Illustrated Photo
1. Paul Raymore, Lauren Shearer, Emma Garpard,  Ryan Salm, Tahoe World
“Tahoe chefs”
“Great job! Creative and original, clean composition. Very deserving of first place.”
2. Jason Scavone and Jummel Hidrosallo, Henderson Home News
“Scrabble
“Nice photo, smooth design, worked well in layout.”
3. Shannon Litz, The Record-Courier
“Piece together winning formula”
“Creative idea to use a lot of local athletes – nice job!”

Best Sports Photo
1. Keith Sheffield, Tahoe World
“2007 Reno River Festival”
“Outstanding photo. The angle is perfect – the water is stopped yet you still get the illusion of movement from the photo. Great job!”
2. Horace Langford, Jr., Pahrump Valley Times
“McCullough mayhem”
“Photo captured at the perfect time. The bulls and cowboys legs match perfectly. Great job capturing that. Almost a first place photo – tough category.”
3. Bob  Challinor, Desert Valley Times
“She’s safe!”
“Action-packed photo with the dust, the ball and the facial expression. Good job.”
Honorable Mention:
Shanon Litz, The Record-Courier
“Breakaway win”
“Nice movement. You have captured a moment that makes you feel the ‘excitement.’ Very tough category to judge.”

Large-space Ad Prepared by a Newspaper
1. Manuel Duran, Desert Valley Times
“Summer special”
2. Lauren Shearer, Tahoe World
“Thank you – loyal clientele”
“Great choice of background art and color use – nice fresh layout.”
3. Heather  Adams, Pahrump Valley Times
“Pahrump Fall Festival”
“Nice, clean layout.”

Best Black and White Ad Created by a Newspaper
1. Audria Ruscitti, Henderson Home News
“Early Bird Special”
“Nice use of space, good graphics, nice appeal.”
2. Audria Ruscitti, Henderson Home News
“Third Thursday”
“Nice layout. Attention getter.”
3. Manuel Duran, Desert Valley Times
“Lee’s Tavern”
“Good graphics.”
Honorable mention:
Jessica Beaudoin, Pahrump Valley Times
“Cyber-Cup Café”
“Nice graphics, nice layout.”

Best Spot-color Ad Created by a Newspaper
1. Lauren Shearer, Tahoe World
“Uncorked”
“The red wine bottle with the reverse type really makes this ad stand out. The fonts are youthful and the information laid out simply, yet catchy.”
2. Audria Ruscitti, Henderson Home News
“Robert  Gregory”
“The font and pink color of the word ‘sexy’ would make any reader look twice. I like the creative descriptions of the furniture.”
3. Lauren Shearer, Tahoe World
“Chambers Landing Bar”
“Great use of color to accentuate the vintage look. I love the old photo.”

Best Multi-Color Ad Created by a Newspaper
1. Audria Ruscitti, Henderson Home News
“Odyssey”
“Great choice of products with unique colors. Simple but yet great-looking ad.”
2. Manuel Duran, Desert Valley Times
“Southwest Spirit”
“Great bright colors throughout the ad. Makes me think summer which makes me want sandals.”
3. Lauren Shearer, Tahoe World
“Summer Solfest”
“Bright yellow and the calm blues make a great connection in this ad.

Best Special Section (Advertising)
1. Debbie Donaldson and Rob Langrell, In Business Las Vegas
“2007 Business Profiles”
“Beautiful magazine. Very professional. Great photos, great ads. Beautiful color. Highest quality. Very informative.”
2. Staff, The Record Courier
“2007 Carson Valley Almanac”
“Great cover. Great color. Full of information. Great photos, ads. Great magazine.”
3. Staff, Tahoe World
“Truckee 2008-09 Visitor Guide”
“Beautiful cover and beautiful photos. Good info. Good ads.”
Honorable Mention:
Staff, Tahoe World
“Tahoe Summer”
“Great magazine. Fresh ideas. A lot of good information. Good ads.

Best in-house  Advertising  Promotion for Circulation, Advertising or Editorial
1. Keith Sheffield, Tahoe World
“Tahoe Summer Promo”
“Great use of photo and creative copy, makes me want your summer guide.”
2. Lauren Shearer, Tahoe World
“Chow”
“I love the Chow logo at the top; the entire ad is eye-caching – great job!
3. Lori Rester, Henderson Home News
“High School Football Preview”
“Nice layout, great headline placement.”

Advertising General Excellence
1. Henderson Home News
“Page after page of great ads! Nice headlines, eye-catching design – even classified pages original. Nice job!”
2. Tahoe World
“Great advertising throughout – nice use of color and some very creative ads.”
3. Fallon Star Press
“Some great ads in there – tough category.”

CLASS 4

General Excellence
1. Boulder City News
“Strong reporting and visual impact give this newspaper a breadth of coverage not often seen in communities this size.  Excellent newspaper!
2. Battle Mountain Bugle
“Excellent range of local news and names and faces. Strong photography.”
3. The Ely Times
“Strong local reporting, good effort to package lots of information on the front page. A good newspaper.
Honorable Mention:
The Humboldt Sun
“Remarkable spectrum of local faces is a hallmark of this good local newspaper.”

Community Service
1. The Humboldt Sun
“USFS Santa Rosa Ranger District:
“Wonderful initiative by staffer Heather Gula resulted in a very informative, reader-friendly series.”
2.  Boulder City News
“Cost of combat:
“A lot of work went into this touching tribute. Boulder City staff made a lot of military families proud with this package.”

Best Spot News Story
1. Heather Gula, The Humboldt Sun
“School, homes evacuated following gas leak”
“Reporter captures scope of what happened, as well as reaction of those working on leak.”
2. Cassie Tomlin, Boulder City News
“Explosion provides shower of spare cash”
“Concise, well-written news story. Captures uniqueness of what happened.”
3. Bob McLaughlin, Tonopah Times-Bonanza and Goldfield News
“Flames damage McElroy home”
“Good reporting. Good writing. Good use of quotes in story.”

Best Feature Story
1. Cassie Tomlin, Boulder City News
“Yacht club…”
“Solid writing, incorporated details from individuals nicely, good background.”
2. Janice Hoke, Comstock Chronicle
“Top rock expert…”
“Interesting subject, informative.”
3. Forest Newton, The Humbolt Son
“Drug court stuff”
“Solid coverage of important program – solid writing.”

Best Business News Story
1. Kate S. Alexander, Boulder City News
“City not worried about solar plant’s other woes”
“Good details. Stock is down, questions of fraud, SEC involvement. Alexander covered every angle.”
2. Howard Copelan, High Desert Advocate
“City ‘allows’ Limon paint job to remain”
“Painting is illegal now? Great coverage. Headline should read, ‘Mayor tries running one of few local businesses out of business.’ Copelan points out how city impedes economic development in is coverage. Poor punctuation usage, but great story.”
3. B.L. McLaughlin, Tonopah Times-Bonanza and Goldfield News

“Midway eyes ‘bonanza system’”
“Thorough coverage of a complex situation/topic. Lead needs work, sentences too long throughout. Important community story.”
Best Business Feature Story
1. B.L. Mclaughlin, Tonopah Times-Bonanza and Goldfield News
“Midway eyes ‘bonanza system’”
“Good detail – water issues, end product, why small company.”
2. Janice Hoke, Comstock Chronicle
“Young Frenchman makes custom hats from the Old West”
“Good story for any parent or student that a path to a career may have many turns – explains a unique product.
3. Heather Gula, The Humboldt Sun
“Geothermal project moving forward.”
“Needs break – headlines to keep reader interested.”

Best Explanatory Journalism
1. Forrest Newton, Battle Mountain Bugle
“You’ve been arrested”
“Far and away the leader in this category. Very in-depth series on the ‘law and order’ process.”
2. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Fire prevention”
“Good combo of stories (past and present) and fire tips.”
3. Dave Clark, Boulder City News
“West bracing for water supply cut”
“Good story on lake’s water level, the drought and the impact.”

Best News  Feature Story
1. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Conforte ‘visit’ Mustang reopening”
“A nationally-known landmark takes on a new owner. The former owner shares memories of an earlier era. Like the lead says, ‘it was a reunion of the old and the new’ about a place most of us would never visit but all would like to know more about. Nice, long, detailed story. Great feature box of important historic dates. Good variety of ‘reopening’ pictures.”
2. Mark Smith and Mark Waite, Tonopah Times-Bonanza and Goldfield News
“Eastley invited in, ushered out”
“This one stands on the topic and writing alone. An interesting story about who can and who cannot join the club. Factual, but more important, fun to read. Isn’t that what a news feature is supposed to be?”
3. Forest Newton, The Humboldt Sun
“Sending a message”
“Almost overwhelming, this piece on  Domestic Violence Awareness Week, two lead stories, quotes from community leaders, a list of the warning signs of abuse and that’s just on the first page. Descriptive, it captures the emotion of an entire community.”

Best Investigative or In-depth Story or Series
1. Joan Patterson, Nicole Feneberg Lucht, Boulder City News
“War taking a toll”
“Comprehensive look at Iraqi war toll with first-person stories and capsules of those who died.”
2. Rudy Herndon, The Humbolt Sun
“Ownership dispute”
“Informative story about brand transfers and the law.”
32. John Plestina,  Ely Times
“ACLU, seeks national healthcare standards for Ely Prison”
“OK story but more first-person interviews would have helped.”

Best Local Column
1. Morris Workman, Mesquite Local News
“Awesome story ideas! I think I might have to start showering more. Your sense of humor gives your column interesting personality and gives the pieces good flow.”
2. J.  Carmen Kofoed, The Humboldt Sun
“You have great topics. You seem to try and add a creative touch to each piece. Keep it up!”
3. David Gouger, The Humboldt Sun
“Creative name. Your sense of humor keeps the reader interested. However, your column on the vacation…I wanted to hear more about your vacation.”

Best Local Non-staff Column
1. B.U. Erin, Boulder City News
“His passion for his town is conveyed through his columns. His writing grabs the reader and it feels as though you’re sitting on a porch with him.”
2. Dennis Cassinelli, Comstock Chronicle
“Very informative, although a bit dry. The material could be much more engaging if written differently. It’s clear he has a love for the area and the history, but it’s hard to feel that same excitement.”

Best Local Sports  Story
1. Morris Workman, Mesquite Local News
“Dixie JV slaps varsity Bulldogs in the mouth”
“Fun account of the unpredictability of high school football. Enjoyed the writing style.”
2. Don McDermott, Tonopah Times-Bonanza and Goldfield News
“Mucker ‘D’rails Carlin  Express”
“Great account of a small-school football team’s success. Nicely done!”
3. Morris Workman, Mesquite Local News
“Hafen a hero in 42-24 playoff win”
“Nice story keying on an obviously very talented athlete.”
Honorable Mention:
Brent Hinckley, Boulder City News
“Anemia puts Craddock’s career on hold”
“Interesting story about a young athlete battling illness. Nice use of quotes.”

Best Local Sports  Feature
1. Morris  Workman, Mesquite Local News
“Local boxer battles for Junior Olympics spot”
“A great story line told extremely well by Morris, who uses sentence structure for impact/tone. His descriptive style and seamless flow bring you into the story and keep you there.
Tony Erquiaga, The Humboldt Sun
“One for grandpa”
“A touching story with nice quotes.”
3. Brent Hinckley, Boulder City News
“Carving the canyon”
“Nice mix of news story and feature. Brent captures the passion of this trail master.”

Best Local Sports  Column
1. Brent Hinckley, Boulder City News
“Does a nice job giving local focus, then expanding on it.”
2. John Plestina, Ely Times
“Gives in-depth history of education, much more than rambling opinion.”
3. Morris Workman, Mesquite Local News
“More a series – xxxx appeal”

Best Entertainment Writing
Kirk Baird, Henderson Home News
“Engaging topics, well-written leads and good sourcing.”

Best Editorial Writing
1. Jean Reid Norman, Boulder City News
“I like that all three editorials are focused on local issues. Your editorials state the problem, provide the background and offer an opinion. Good job!
2. Kent Harper, Ely Times
“No question about where your editorials stand on the issue. Direct and unbiased in taking a position.”
3. Howard  Copelan, High Desert Advocate
“Well-written editorials with perspective and context.”

Best Editorial Page
1. Boulder City News
“Nice layout although serif headline fonts aren’t my favorite. But you write real editorials, not columns. But you could get to the point quicker in some of them.”
2. Battle Mountain Bugle
“Nice layout and elements – guest column xxxx etc. You should work on writing a designated editorial.”
3. Tonopah Times – Bonanza and Goldfield News
“Nice layout. I like the use of photos on the editorial page, but I would lose the classifieds and obits and write an editorial, not just columns.”

Best Overall Design
1. Boulder City News
“Easily the best design in division. Good use of photos, well-organized, easy to follow…overall an enjoyable read thanks to an uncluttered design.”
2. Tonopah Times-Bonanza and Goldfield News
“Proves you don’t have to be a large paper to be well-designed. Strong above-the-fold, good use of white space, nice packaging/labeling.  Clean, simple makes this design work well.”
3. Battle Mountain Bugle
“Did a nice job of presenting its special content (graduates, election, Veterans Day) by being creative with its cover.”

Best Page One Design
1. Boulder City News
2. The Humboldt Sun
3. Comstock Chronicle

Best Page Designer(s)
1. Josh Primack, Boulder City News
“Nice big photos and headlines make for attractive pages; line breaks help separate stories. Very nice!
2. Craig Peterson, Boulder City News
“Liked everything about these pages. Clean, easy to navigate and just enough color to give a nice look. A very close to first finish.”
3. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Lots of photos dropped around the pages make for a unique look.”

Best Special Section (Editorial)
1. Boulder City News
“Damboree 2007”
“Nice consistency with the fireworks. The mayor did a great job opening the section. The pictures really gave the section personality. Great job!
2. The Humboldt  Sun
“101 things to do in Northern Nevada”
“I liked all of the information! The sidebars were great! Splitting the section up by county is a good way to organize the section. The cover could use some life.”
3. Battle Mountain Bugle
“Mining 2007”
“The variety of stories makes this section come alive. Interesting ideas! The cover could have had a less posed picture. Nice job.”

Best Illustration
1. Morris Workman, Mesquite Local News
“2007 Scariest Halloween costume”
“This was a close category. I had to go with this one because it made me laugh the moment I saw it. Rough, overdrawn, but truly wonderful.
2. Alex Raffi, Henderson Home News
“Flying solo”
“Good drawing that tells the story. The hearts may have taken away from the real illustration that was below the fold rather than featured.”

Best Spot News Photo Coverage
1. Francie Aufdemorte, Betty Ghigia and Howard Copelan, High Desert Advocate
“Suicide arson”
“The clear winner. Photo clearly shows the devastation and emotion of such an event.”
2. Richard Booth, Betty Aleck, Patrick Abanathy, Fernley Leader
“Flood”
“This series does a good job of showing a range of ways the public stepped up to help.”
3 B. Ellestad, Mesquite Local News
“Playing through”
“Yea! Looks like the photographer was at the right place at the right time to get this shot.”
Best General News Photo
1. Patrick Abanathy, Mason Valley News
“By the light…”
“A winner in just about any category. Nice contrast between flames and people.”
2. Mona Shield Payne, Boulder City News
“Soldier laid to rest”
“Nice composition – can see all six pallbearers and their expressions.”
3. Michael Michaelsen, The Humboldt Sun
“Winter wonderland”
“Nice picture of kid in snow. Too bad snow stopped when the picture was taken.”
Honorable Mention:
Michael Michaelsen, Battle Mountain Bugle
“Welcome home”
“Nice picture of welcome home kiss, but somewhat standard.”

Best Feature Photo
1. Cary Edmonson, Boulder City News
“Battle makes a splash”
“Love it! It’s got a playful, entertaining feel and is technically sound. Great photography should make you feel something – and this does.”
2. Mona Shield Payne, Boulder City News
“Ahead by a nose”
“Good all the way around; timing, composition, depth of field and crop. And it was the right dog for this photo.”
3. Heather Cory, Boulder City News
“Perfect precision”
“the photographer was at the right vantage point to make this an interesting photo, which she did by using depth of field to perfection.”
Honorable Mention:
Betty Aleck, Fernley Leader
“Full tummies”
“Tough to go wrong with babies! The oversized plate and fork give an otherwise boring picture a lift.”

Best Multiple Feature Photos
1. Cary Edmondson, Boulder City News
“Bottle makes a splash”
“Good quality photos, nice crops and presentation on page. Reflects some thought and planning.
2. Angela Mann, Comstock Chronicle
“Celebrity Fourth of July”
“Nice color pix and presentation. A good variety.”
3.  Michael Michaelsen, The Humboldt Sun
“Welcome home”
“Captures essence of the troops coming home – the joy and happiness.”

Best Portrait
1. Michael Michaelsen, The Humboldt Sun
“Zach Nolan, self portrait”
“A cool picture that use good lighting to give it punch.
2. Mona Shield Payne, Boulder City News
“Dixie Potter”
“Nice perspective/rule of thirds.”

Best Illustrated Photo
1. Michael Michaelsen, The Humboldt Sun
“Shooting the West”
“Great photo  – capturing the reflective image so impressive. Nice job!
2. Patrick Abanathy, Mason Valley News
“Tradition”
“Unique composition – showcases the basket, nice job.”

Best Sports Photo
1. Mona Shield Payne, Boulder City News
“Gridiron heating up”
“Great shot. The facial expressions captured are great – makes this shot stand out from the rest.”
2.  Tony Erquiaga, The Humboldt Sun
“Wrestlers”
“Captured at just the right time, giving movement to the picture. Interesting angles created.”
3. Patrick Abanathy, Fernley Leader
“Using the left”
“Nice, clear, crisp photo. Good job getting the faces of both players.”
Honorable Mention:
Keith Trout, Mason Valley News
“Making the catch”
“Nice photo – good action on the defender – would have liked it a split second earlier – right before both hands were on the ball.”

Best Large-space Ad Prepared by a Newspaper
1. Donna O’Callaghan, Boulder City News
“Dyson & Dyson Real Estate”
2. Lori  Rester, Boulder City News
“Whole House Water Treatment”
“Lots of information – nicely packaged. Should have held reverse black phone number box in from touching border to keep from looking like ad ended there or else put it at very bottom of ad.”
3. Cindi Delaney, Mesquite Local News
“R.B. Stone”
Honorable Mention:
Heather Gula/Linda DeRoest, Battle Mountain Bugle
“First Annual Winter Fest”

Best Black and White Ad Created by a Newspaper
1. Ellen Aker/Terri Chism, The Humboldt Sun
“The Bull Stops Here”
“Great title/heading. Good graphics. Appealing.”
2. Ellen Aker/Terri Chism, The Humboldt Sun
“Sidewalk Sale”
“Nice layout. Good graphics.”
3. Shelly Gerhard/Dawn Christiansen, The Humboldt Sun
“Join us in our sports bar.”
“Nice border – graphics draw you into ad.”
Honorable Mention:
Paul Huntsberry, Boulder City News
“Call Pat Clark”
“Nice graphics.”

Best Spot-color Ad Created by a Newspaper
1. Paul Huntsberry, Boulder City News
“Johnny Mac’s”
“Great use of the different shades of green. Very eye friendly with an excellent use of white space. Nice layout and fonts.”
2. Heather Gula,  The Battle Mountain Bugle
“Mountain Family RV”
“Excellent use of the green color with the rounded fonts. Layout takes you through the entire ad.”
3. Sandy Vong and Paul Huntsberry, Boulder City News
“2000 Sofa Factory”
“I love the border. Very catchy.”

Best Multi-color Ad Created by a Newspaper
1. Paul Huntsberry, Boulder City News
“Brighton Collectibles”
“Amazing use of colors. Fresh layout and design. Lots of information, but the layout keeps you reading.
2. Jill Thacker and Dawn Christiansen, Nevada Rancher
“All creatures”
“A western look with a creative and comical edge.”
3. Shelly  Gerhard and Rosalind Ellifrite, The Humboldt Sun
“Grand opening – Aar Motorcycles”
“Catchy action scene with great red headline and wording.”

Best Special Section (Advertising)
1. The Humboldt Sun
“101 Things to do in Northern Nevada”
“Very nice layout, great graphics and photos. Very inviting. Good ideas. Great color.
2. The Humboldt Sun
“Winnemucca Nevada”
“Great layout. Awesome photos and ads. Nice appeal.”
3. The Battle Mountain Bugle
“Gift Guide 2007”
“Very nice layout, ideas, ads. Everything ties in.”
Honorable Mention:
The Lovelock Review Miner
“Lovelock – Where your love remains locked”
“Nice layout. Nice photos.”

Best in-house Advertising Promotion for Circulation, Advertising or Editorial
1. J. Carmen Kofoed, The Humboldt  Sun
“Pets on Parade Campaign”
“Great local appeal! Creative and original idea – nice ads promoting the page and need for pictures.
2. Shari Gilson, Ely Times
“Are you taking my picture”
“Great use of photo – ad really pops!
3. Audria Ruscitti, Boulder City News
“Dear Santa”
“Nice thank you to the community.”

Best Newspaper We Site
1. Mesquite Local News
“A lot of information but easily navigated. I enjoyed the implementation of video elements and the user area. A site like this will draw readers back again and again.”
2. View Newspapers
“Needs more news on the front page. Separate sites for each newspaper is a good idea. More reader involvement would be good as well as draw in more hits.”

CLASS 5

General Excellence
1. Las Vegas City Life
“Strong local enterprise, deep local content which is well-packaged. Quality of staff/contributors was way above what you may expect with a lively, smart style that made this a must-read.”
2. Reno News &  Review
“Sharp graphics, fresh design, great ads, tremendous reproduction. RN&R serves its time-starved readers well with quick hits, topical  lists and eye-catching visuals.”

Journalist of Merit
Laura Tucker, View Neighborhood Newspapers
“Indispensible. It’s how one of her editors described Laura and you can see why. She oversees sections, designs and edits very clean and eye-catching pages, manages reporters and is a pretty gifted reporter herself. Laura’s ability to manage significant content for the View makes it clear that she has a big future I this business.”

Community Service
View Newspapers
“Pets”
This page has helped find homes for animals, and the View staff takes their role in helping save animals seriously. Great cause, even better results.”

Best Spot News Story
1. Lauren Romano, View Newspapers
“New ordinance means no deal…”
“Story fits definition of this category. Gives readers what they need to know about this ordinance.”
2. Fred Couzens, View Newspapers
“Landfill operator may be in violation”
“Writer cuts through the clutter, distills the facts into a well-written piece.”

Best Feature Story
1. Andrew Kivaly, Las Vegas City Life
“Creature discomforts”
“Interesting blend of local color and background controversy – dynamic writing style.”
2. F. Andrew Taylor, View Newspaper
“Lobsteriffic”
“Unexpected topic – enjoyable read.”

Best Business News Story
1. Carol Cizauskas, Reno News & Review
“Growing out: Activists…Truckee Meadows”
“Carol really captured the arguments surrounding the issue of the development. She didn’t just say ‘there was a protest.’ She went in ready to cover every angle – and she quoted the word ‘freakin!’ That takes courage. Great source.”
2. Kata Kerlin, Reno News & Review
“Eat your greens”
“Kerlin shows that being green is more than food. Wish she had room to address a solution – from a city official, etc.  Good coverage for the space provided. Issue impacts lots of people and an entire industry. Packed with information. Good use of numbers.”
3. Molly Hoffman and Dennis Myers, Reno News & Review
“Grinding competition”
“Packed with information. Needed more numbers/stats, but great use of sources made up for it. Details a plus.”

Best Business Feature Story
1. Jay Jones, Reno News & Review
“Fired for cancer”
“Balanced article, challenge of covering personnel issues is clear when employers cannot speak.”
2. Laura Tucker, View Newspapers
“Galleries consider options”
“Noted challenges of redevelopment plus how to maintain a specialty group of retailers like artists/galleria.”
3. Kat Kerlin, Reno News & Review
“House of the rising sun”
“Good ‘green’ story.”
Honorable Mention:
Laurent Ramano, View Newspapers
“Family tradition lives on…La Puma Bakery”
“Every family wants a bakery. Story gives the uniqueness of this one.”

Best Explanatory Journalism
1. Kat Kerlin, Reno News &  Review
“With this bling…”
“Very comprehensive look at weddings and how to save money. Broken up nicely into all aspects from A to Z (or at least B to W).”
2. Kat Kerlin, Reno News & Review
“Open house”
“Another good entry. Gives first-person experience and small, easy-to-read steps on lending, etc., to help people get info.”
3. Rebecca Eckland, Reno News & Review
“Stalkers”
“Another in a line of strong entries from this paper.”
Honorable Mention:
Kevin Capp, Las Vegas City Life
“The end of Las Vegas”
“Very comprehensive story. Like the graphics and pull quotes but may lose some readers by its length. More sidebars/bullet points would have helped.”

Best News Feature Story
1. Jay Jones, Reno News & Review
“Fired for cancer”
“This is the kind of story you don’t believe can happen. It did, and Jones presents it in great literary style, nicely broken into a series of sections with subheads to reclaim the reader’s attention. There is absolutely nothing that isn’t ‘absolutely right” about this entry.”
2. Laura Tucker, View Newspapers
“Moving on”
“Some of the best news features are more about the person and his or her relationship to a community or endeavor. This is the perfect example providing a parting look at the feelings of a retiring councilwoman. Lots of great quotes from her peers.”
3. Lauren Romano, View Newspapers
“Residents want streets finished”
“Serious stuff brought to the news front with new hopes of a commercial development. Readers had to go way inside the paper to find this story, but those who did were rewarded with a fact-filled solid story peppered with a number of enlightening quotes. Great reporting, writing and editing.”
Honorable Mention:
Laura Tucker, View Newspapers
“Boy saves dog from drowning”
“Ranks right up there with everybody’s ‘dog bites man’ dream story. Dog. Boy. Escape. It has all the heart-touching key words written in a story that makes the reader personally know and love the dog as well as her rescuer. The comfortable writing style matches the pace of the story.”

Best Investigative or In-depth Story or Series
1. Fred Couzens, View Newspapers
“Dump fees…series”
“Consistent coverage on controversial city issue. Good work.”
2. Steve Sebelius and Andrew Kiraly, Las Vegas City Life
“Ethics reform”
“Good research. Teamwork worked out.”
3. Dennis Myers, Reno News & Review
“Caucus sections”
“Myers saw the news value of this issue. Good job.”
Honorable Mention:
David McKee, Las Vegas City Life
“Tropicana series”
“Great investigative value, but parts were editorialized.”

Best Local Column
D. Brian Burghart, Reno News & Review
“I like the personal experiences. It makes the column really about you and lets readers get into your mind. Add a more personal welcome to the column – for a welcome, it is too generic.”
2. Steve Sebelius, Las Vegas City Life
“Good topics to write about. At times I felt you were writing about other peoples’ opinions rather than your own.”

Best Non-Staff  Column
1. Chip Mosher, Las Vegas City Life
“I like your writing style and honesty. I also laughed out loud a couple of times which, to me, is the test of a good column.”
2. Cory Farley, Reno News & Review
“These were informative and well-written. You can make even the nearly tragic sound humorous. I liked the elementary school xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx to.
3. George Knapp, Las Vegas City Life
“Very well-researched. You’re quite knowledgeable about your topics. These could be a little tighter.”

Best Local Sports Feature
1. Jay Jones, Reno News & Review
“Olympic flames”
“Great reporting, good writing, highlighted by the anecdotal sidebar on the 1960 games. Easily the most researched, deep story in the division.”
2. Krystal Bick, Reno News & Review
“Swimming for his life”
“Krystal took a standard type of story (overcoming adversity) and made it sing thanks to her writing talent. Great descriptive copy, good quotes, a real enjoyable read.”
3. Rebecca Eckland, Reno News & Review
“Marathon woman”
“A wonderfully poignant, honest, personal piece of writing from Rebecca.”

Should this entry be included here? It’s for Best Local Sports Column, Class 5 –Large Daily Newspapers, but the winners are Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun. Lynn
Best Local Sports Column
1. Jon Gold, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Great series of columns. Great first-person take really made the racing scene personal and an enjoyable read for both racing and non-racing fans. Good job!”
2. Ron Kantowski, Las Vegas Sun
“Great one-liners throughout the columns. Interesting subject; writing flowed to make them an easy read.”
3. Ed Graney, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Opening paragraphs really grabbed attention. Did a great job of creating images. Watch the length.”
Honorable Mention:
Jeff Wolf, Las Vegas Review-journal
“Leads outstanding. Tough category.”

Best Entertainment Writing
1. Brad Bynum, Reno News & Review
“Nice descriptive writing – tight writing. Burning Man story is interesting and hilarious.”
2. David McKee, Las Vegas City Life
“Informative, well-written.  Nice, easy style.”
3. Dave Surratt, Las Vegas City Life
“Gets a ton of info in. Nicely written commentary.”

Critical Writing
1. Jeannette Catsoulis, Las Vegas City Life
“These pieces get to the heart of the criticism required in this category, and Jeanette’s lyrical writing keeps the reader interested throughout. These were a pleasure to read.”
2. Tod Goldberg, Las Vegas City Life
“’Get up girl’ had the right mix of wit and sarcasm and a good deal of social conscience. The wine piece was comprehensive but it and DirtyWest xxx the easy flow of the first piece.
3. Ivy Hover,  Las Vegas City Life
Nice writing style. Great descriptions. These articles had a nice pace.

Best Editorial Writing
1. D. Brian Burghart, Reno News & Review
“Your editorials speak directly and personally. Connect with the reader. No template writing here.
2. Dennis Myers, Reno News & Review
“Good work. Well written. A close second place finish.”

Best Overall Design
1. View Newspapers
“Great use of color, solid eye-catching design, modern style, nice breakouts and info boxes. The layout makes the View a real pleasure to read.”
2. Las Vegas City Life
“Well thought out, creative covers and a must-see center spread highlighted this paper. Though much is formatted, you could also see designers taking advantage of opportunities inside.
3. Reno News & Review
“The freshest looking in the division. Real contemporary, nice use of white space, lively fonts.”

Best Page One Design
1. Las Vegas City Life
“Front pages were ‘edgy’, ‘rockin’ -very, very fun to look at and read. Wish I had the rest of the paper to read the stories.
2. Reno News & Review
3. View Newspapers

Best  Page Designer(s)
1. Ginger Meurer, View Newspapers
“Creative layouts and use of photos makes the pages enjoyable to look at. Nice use of color.”
2. Laura Tucker, View Newspapers
“Large photos and use of color produces clean, easy-to-read pages.”
3. Lisa Valentine, View Newspapers
“Photos dropped into stories make for a nice look. Use of different fonts adds to pages.
Honorable Mention:
Maureen Adamo, Las Vegas City Life
“Large photos and graphics made for interesting pages. Enjoyed the white space.”

Best Special Section (Editorial)
1. Reno News & Review
“Bars & Clubs/RN&R
“Writing is very strong, pulling the reader in, lots of locally-produced stories; very nice total package.
2. Reno News & Review
“Bridal Guide/RN&R
“Not your ordinary guide; yes, it has some predictable elements, but personalized stories made it interesting.”

Best Information Graphic
1. Maureen Adamo, Las Vegas City Life
“New life for old books”
2. Maureen Adamo, Las Vegas City Life
“Rough trade”

Best Illustration
1. Aaron McKinney, Las Vegas City Life
“Bosshole”
“In a division where the cover is designed to ‘get my attention’ this one got the most, rightfully.
2. Terry Biddle, Reno News & Review
“Illegal”
“A great illustration that strongly supports tag heading and calls the reader to want to pick up the tabloid to get the details.”
3. Michael Grimm, Reno News & Review
“A year to remember”
“What do I like about this cover? The dozen little details, for razor to cherry pie, that make me want to read this story.”

Best Spot News Photo Coverage
1. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas City Life
“Melting down in Las Vegas”
“This shows the chaos of the caucus, but has a focal point in the man with the microphone. The photographer did a good job showing both.”
2. David Robert, Reno News & Review
“Protester”
“Photo tells a great story – but why so small?”
3. Larry Cruikshank, View Newspaper
“Zoning woes”
“If this guy’s face tells the story, then there are some furious people in N. Vegas. Good shot.”

Best General News Photo
1. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas City Life
“Kucinich speech”
“Great photo! Nice tight cropping, serious yet playful.”
2. David Robert, Reno News &  Review
“Winter break”
“Nice composition and lots of emotion make this a great photo.”
3. Bill Hayes, Las Vegas City Life
“How safe?”
“Interesting composition makes this photo grab the reader’s attention.”

Best Feature Photo
1. Louis Traub, View Newspapers
“Boo the Clown|”
“We don’t see what they’re reacting to, and I like that. This is a terrific shot with great composition and a clear focal point.
2. Jenna Dosch, View Newspapers
“Plaza Gallery”
“This photo works because of the  stool and the girls’ hands on her hips. The photographer did a good job of recognizing this and pulling off a neat twist on an otherwise boring subject.
3. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas City Life
“A stylized photo without Photoshop, pulled off by a photographer who knows how a camera works. A really cool picture – just wish it had a cutline.”

Best Multiple Feature Photos
1. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas City Life
“Trapped on Lowry Ave.”
“Great work; composition fantastic for the accompanying story; cropping and use of household items very well portrayed.”
2. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas City Life
“Acting up”
“Another fine effort, especially capturing actions and emotions.”
3. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas City Life
“First Friday”
“Good photos despite low-light conditions; good use of action shots.”

Best Portrait
1. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas City Life
“Left standing/reflection”
“A clean sweep for a great portrait photographer. What a cool idea for this shot, and done effectively. Worthy of an album cover.”
2. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas City Life
“Baldonado/lawsuit”
“A pleasing photo all around; nice background, good  lighting, and the cards fit perfectly.”
3. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas City Life
“The paper chase”
“Harold Krieg is buried in paper and this photo shows it. A great way to illustrate this tough issue; it draws the reader in well.”

Best Illustrated Photo
1. David Robert, Reno News & Review
“Under wraps”
“Photo conveys message instantly. Great use of color – powerful image!”
2.  Bill Hughes, Las Vegas City Life
“There goes the neighborhood”
“Dramatic photo  –  creative and flawlessly done! Awesome!”
3. Bill Hughes, Las Vegas City Life
“Dry run”
“Perfect backdrop for the story – artistic and simple. Great job.”
Honorable Mention:
Todd Lussier, Las Vegas City Life
“Crime scene”
“Loved the chalk outline – great detail!

Best Sports Photo
1. Chris Carnel, Reno News & Review
“Winter Guide Cover”
“Amazing action shot with good balance and beautiful background.”
2.  David  Robert, Reno News & Review
“Marathon woman”
“Nice angle to show the uphill run. Great contrast.”
3. Jim Miller, View Newspapers
“Facing the future”
“Nice angle with a neat reflection of her peers on the subject’s helmet.”

Best Large-space Ad Prepared by a Newspaper
1. John  D. Murphy and Jennifer Schellack, Reno News & Review
“Reno Celebrates America”
2. Katherine Murphy and John D. Murphy, Reno News & Review
“Into Every Wedding”
3. Jesse Dunaway, View Newspapers
“Whole House Water Treatment”
“Good use of color and photo elements.”
Best Black and White Ad Created By a Newspaper
1. Erin Sierchio and Linda  Brown, Reno News & Review
“Why be a plain Jane?”
“Good headline, good graphics. Font is appealing to ad.”
2. Staff, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Braces”
“Good graphics draw you into ad. Appealing.”
3. Erin Sierchio and Bev Savage, Reno News & Review
“Pirate tattoo”
“Good use of ad space. Nice background.”
Honorable Mention:
Jason Pribble and Ad Operations, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Tent sale”
“Good graphics draw you into ad.”

Best Multi-color Ad Created by a Newspaper
1. Ben Savage and Marianne Mancina, Reno News & Review
“Romance and Dining”
“Love the design, especially the logo in back of the wine glass. Creative, simple and elegant.”
2. Marc Schnepper, View Newspapers
“New Image”
“Nice, bright ad. I like the reflection of the subject being half the ad. Very catchy.”
3. Ben Savage and Jennifer Schellack, Reno News & Review
“Divine Ultra Lounge”
“Amazing use of color. Love the butterfly behind the glass. Great shots of food. Very appropriate.”

Best Special Section (Advertising)
1. Marianne Mancina and John D. Murphy, Reno News & Review
“Rollin’ on the River”
“Beautiful cover, grat information, nice layout, great ads. Great idea. Great color.
2. Marianne Mancina and John  D. Murpy, Reno News & Review
“Artown preview”
“Nice cover. Great information. Great layout. Nice ads and ideas. Beautiful color.
3. Katherine E. Murphy and John D. Murphy, Reno News & Review
KN&R Kids News & Review”
“Nice idea. Cute cover.”

Best In-house Advertising Promotion  for Circulation, Advertising or Editorial
1. Anne Lesemann,  Reno News & Review
“Calendar”
“Great ad layout – promotes online calendar and website. Nice job!”
2. Anne Lesemann, Reno News & Review
“Promote Your Event”
“Great artwork and font choice – striking design.”
3. Katherine Murphy, John D. Murphy, Reno News & review
“RHPS Promotion:
“Edgy, fun and original, not sure what you’re promoting though.”

Best Newspaper  Web Site
1. Las Vegas City Life
“Great pictures with  nice and simple layout.”
2. Best In-house Advertising Promotion  for Circulation, Advertising or Editorial
“Interesting l ayout.”

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