2018 contest results for Urban Weekly newspapers

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The 2024 Nevada Press Foundation Awards of Excellence Contest is NOW OPEN!

April 18, 2024

2023 Call for Entries

September 29, 2022

2022 Nevada Press Foundation Awards of Excellence (Rules & Categories)

April 8, 2022

General Excellence

1. Reno News & Review
2. Las Vegas Weekly
3. Greenspun Media Group Staff, The Sunday

Community Service

1. April Corbin, Ricardo Torres-Cortez
The Sunday
Why You Should Hire a Veteran
Judge’s comment: The visual layouts, facts, and information come together to make this Community Service project an exceptional work. Great job of promoting Veterans and how valuable they are in the work force.
2. Greenspun Media Group Staff
The Sunday
Are you prepared for Disaster – Oct. 1 – Navigating the Unexpected
3. Staff
Las Vegas Weekly
Get involved: A citizen’s guide to getting your voice heard by government

Best Breaking News Reporting

1. Staff
The Sunday
Unbreakable Vegas: Stories of Heroism and Resilience In The Face of Tragedy
Judge’s comment: I accidentally put my summarizing comment in the private comment box.
If you wish to relay feedback, please accept my apology and pass along the text in the private note. Thanks.
2. C. Moon Reed
Las Vegas Weekly
Route 91 Harvest Festival: Before and After Everything Changed

Best Feature Writing

1. Kris Vagner
Reno News & Review
School spirit
Judge’s comment: Kris Vagner’s “School Spirit” is but a succinctly illustrated piece enveloped by evocative undertones related to Native America’s struggles with Manifest Destiny. In other words, the writing is so simple, so easy to follow, that the quotes used explode with the harshest of impact. To think, one source – Florence Millett – admitted that the conditions of boarding school were in fact better than life on the reservation? That thought will stay with me for a long time.

Conveying complicated subjects on social issues with succinct simplicity is key, and these pieces did just that. In addition, they were in-depth, used great quotes from sources and just possessed an overall earth-shattering impact. I feel compelled to feed these writers heavy sedatives, and somehow extract their brains for my own personal use.
2. Dennis McBride
Reno News & Review
Stripped rights
Judge’s comment: First term that comes to mind: In-depth. This piece has it all – palpable pathos, logistical language and complete clarity. The context by itself is truly evocative; the writer simply ripped the bleeding heart of its chest and gave the reader an opportunity to quaff the dripping blood. Not to mention, this ignites sheer outrage for how some in our society think, as well as the misdirection, the ignorance and recklessness of the American judicial system. This is one of the best pieces I’ve read in a long time.
3. C. Moon Reed
Las Vegas Weekly
SEARCHING FOR A CONNECTION AMONG NEVADA’S ALIEN LORE
Judge’s comment: This was an excellent write. The reason: many Americans are aware that UFO sightings intertwine with the desolate “dead” of the desert. Reed brought it to life with her illustrative writing. Plus, it conveyed how the UFO crowd has diversified over the years. Not to mention, I live the simile – “holier than a Parisian cathedral.” If I could get away with it, I’d steal that line.

Best Nonstaff Story

1. Rob Miech
The Sunday
The Slow Death of Capital Punishment
Judge’s comment: Beautifully written story, with a fantastic design to make it pop even more. The team behind this, from the writers to the copy editors to the designers, deserve all of the acclaim they get.
2. Danielle Kelly
Las Vegas Weekly
LASSO OF TRUTH: WHY WE NEED WONDER WOMAN NOW MORE THAN EVER
Judge’s comment: Well-written and researched. Made me want to watch the new movie again and again.
3. Danielle Birkin
Vegas Inc.
Airbnb’s growth soars
Judge’s comment: Very interesting story on a topic I would have never thought about. Good job!

Best Business Spot News Story

1. Mick Akers
The Sunday
Still on the Rails
Judge’s comment: Does a great job of breaking down the core issues. A map of the proposed route would have been appreciated.
2. C. Moon Reed
Las Vegas Weekly
Could Las Vegas support a world-class zoo? This group believes so
Judge’s comment: It deftly explores opportunities the community affords along with unique complications, such as the climate.
3. Adam Candee
Vegas Inc.
Industry Touchdown
Judge’s comment: Provides a great overview of the still unfolding story of the new stadium.

Best Business Feature

1. Jeri Chadwell
Reno News & Review
On the rails
Judge’s comment: Jeri Chadwell’s “On the rails” piece hooked me right away. It was splendidly vivid and delightfully bipolar. Chadwell guided the reader into a peaceful lede and then washed the happiness away with a treacherous thunderstorm.
These pieces suck a reader in at full force. I truly loved “On the rails.” It’s a perfect example of providing the reader an emotional rollercoaster ride when it comes to the economic sanctity of a business. Set ‘er up and knock ‘er down.
2. Kaleb Roedel
Northern Nevada Business Weekly
Biggest Little Warehouse: Inside outdoor giant Patagonia’s massive Reno operations
Judge’s comment: This article has it all: it’s poetic, it’s logistical, and amid the short attention span of modern day, its brevity speaks volumes. This was a good read. Only misgiving: place a paragraph between quotes; quote after a quote – despite it being an extension of the original thought – can seem redundant.
3. Mike Prevatt
Las Vegas Weekly
VIRTUAL VEGAS: HOW WILL VR TECHNOLOGY CONTINUE TO ENHANCE OUR EXPERIENCES?
Judge’s comment: By the sheer fact that, as a reader, I was immediately taken into a scene of virtual reality in the lede paragraph, I was truly smitten. It was very interactive – great piece.

Best Explanatory Journalism

1. Chris Kudialis, Geoff Carter, C. Moon Reed
Las Vegas Weekly
Recreational Cannabis Goes Live
Judge’s comment: Covers every detail I an imagine as a first-time buyer. I can only imagine the office discussion when it came to volunteering to write the “right strain” component.
2. Adam Candee
The Sunday
The Raiders Are Coming to Vegas
Judge’s comment: Exceptionally eye-grabbing cover page. Great visual layout of proposed schedule and construction projection.
3. Ricardo Torres-Cortez
The Sunday
The Evolution of Gangs
Judge’s comment: Skillfully explores how technology is changing gangs. I am thankful someone thought of the “If someone you know is in a gang sidebar.”
I also loved the breakdown of the National Gang report.

Best News Feature Story

1. Ricardo Torres-Cortez
The Sunday
Summer of Violence
2. April Corbin
The Sunday
Congress Considers Lethal Methods to Manage Rangeland
3. Staff
The Sunday
Nevada’s Nuclear Dilemma

Best Investigative Story

1. Jeri Chadwell
Reno News & Review
What the doctor ordered?
Judge’s comment: A good choice for an investigative series by an alternative newspaper. It goes into detail on important corners of the medical profession.
2. Staff
Las Vegas Weekly
10 Things Las Vegas Needs
Judge’s comment: Not the traditional “investigative” story, but it was a good read and showed a high degree of familiarity with the community and its issues.

Best Local Column

1. Brock Radke
Las Vegas Weekly
Brock Radke is The Incidental Tourist
Judge’s comment: Clearly the best columns in the category.
Very nice flow and a great voice that makes reviewing things (restaurants and casinos, in this case) enjoyable to read.
I particularly liked the column on Circus Circus.
Surprising to only see three entries in a Local Columns category, but I enjoyed them very much.
A good mix of local flavor that touch on a wide range of subjects, from restaurant reviews to a nice nostalgic piece on Circus Circus to lobbying for legalized marijuana clubs.
2. Mike Prevatt
Las Vegas Weekly
Mike Prevatt’s Intersection
Judge’s comment: A light, easy-to-read style. The piece on marijuana clubs was by far the most issue-oriented of the columns submitted in this category.
3. Brad Bynum
Reno News & Review
Editor’s note
Judge’s comment: A readable column that probably works better with your local readers who know you and your columns a little better than someone reading them cold. I was intrigued by the music tour, but was longing for more detail. Are you in a band? It seems so, but dosn’t say that. Maybe a more specific anecdote from on of the tour stops.
Through the online entry system, it’s difficult to tell what kind of publication the News & Review is, but it has the tone of an editor’s column I’d expect from an alt pub, which I like very much.

Best Local Non-staff Column

1. Sheila Leslie
Reno News & Review
Left foot forward
Judge’s comment: Wide-ranging topics with insightful, intelligent commentary.
2. Bruce Van Dyke
Reno News & Review
Notes from the Neon Babylon
Judge’s comment: Chatty style makes this an easy, engaging read.
3. Brendan Trainor
Reno News & Review
Let freedom ring
Judge’s comment: Weighty topics, but no doubt of great value to readers wishing to learn.

Best Sports Feature Writing

1. Ray Brewer
The Sunday
Ed Gomez Will Forever be a Wildcat
Judge’s comment: 1. First and foremost, if a feature makes me cry, the writer succeeded in the mission of evoking emotion. This feature was pure emotion from start to finish.
2. The overall theme of taking the reader on the same descriptive tour of the high school as the daughter, then surrounding that with the details was an excellent presentation.
3. The multiple sources were important and well used without having more or less weight than another
4. Overall, a great feature that captured the intended story line without being unnecessarily too long.
Much like for sport spot news, I stuck with the category criteria as my main decision-making factors.
Again, all the entries were well deserving and made for tough choices. Leaving Remember the Dustdevils out of the top three was tough for me. It was really good, but left me with a question the writer should’ve addressed of why the team was disbanded after two years.
I just felt these three features would stick with me more into the future, and were of great interest to your readership.
2. Ray Brewer
The Sunday
Hard-Hitting Women
Judge’s comment: 1. Second and third place are very similar of what I call feature packages with great presentation and packed with information.
2. What separated this from third place was the originality of the overall theme of the growth of women’s sports, especially on many levels.
3. Great use of information boxes, short stories and fun facts.
Much like for sport spot news, I stuck with the category criteria as my main decision-making factors.
Again, all the entries were well deserving and made for tough choices. Leaving Remember the Dustdevils out of the top three was tough for me. It was really good, but left me with a question the writer should’ve addressed of why the team was disbanded after two years.
3. Jesse Granger
The Sunday
Boxing vs. MMA
Judge’s comment: 1. Second and third place are very similar of what I call feature packages with great presentation and packed with information.
2. The writer clearly demonstrated a deep knowledge of boxing and MMA, thus presented a good debate between the two.
3. To continue from above, the originality of the theme was good. Who hasn’t heard or engaged in the same debate in a sports bar?
4. Much like second-place, great use of information boxes, layout and providing relevant details to support the feature package.
Much like for sport spot news, I stuck with the category criteria as my main decision-making factors.
Again, all the entries were well deserving and made for tough choices. Leaving Remember the Dustdevils out of the top three was tough for me. It was really good, but left me with a question the writer should’ve addressed of why the team was disbanded after two years.

Best Entertainment Writing

1. Brock Radke
Las Vegas Weekly
Brock Radke’s Entertainment Writing
2. Kris Vagner
Reno News & Review
Entertainment writing, Kris Vagner
3. Brad Bynum
Reno News & Review
Entertainment writing, Brad Bynum

Best Critical Writing

1. Jessica Santina
Reno News & Review
RN&R theater reviews
Judge’s comment: Very nice writing style! Very enjoyable!
2. Kris Vagner
Reno News & Review
3. C. Moon Reed
Las Vegas Weekly

 

Best Editorial Writing

1. Ric Anderson
The Sunday
Editorials by Ric Anderson
Judge’s comment: Thoughtful and well-written, with good context, these editorials are worthy of the readers’ time. I especially like the creative ‘quiz’ approach to the EPA editorial.
2. Dennis Myers
Reno News & Review
RN&R Editorial Writing
Judge’s comment: These editorials sometimes take an unexpected angle to arrive at their point, and that’s a good thing. Keep us on our toes.

Best Editorial Page

1. Ric Anderson, Mike Smith
The Sunday
The Sunday – Vegas Inc for Best Editorial Page
Judge’s comment: Refreshing approach, easy for a reader to enter the pages and find plenty of thought-provoking material.

Best Overall Design

1. Elizabeth Brown, The Sunday Design Staff
The Sunday
The Sunday for Best Overall Design
2. Staff, Oscar Crespin, Jorge Betancourt
El Tiempo
3. Staff
Las Vegas Weekly

Best Page One Design

1. Kate O’Hara, Margaret Larkin, Maria Ratinova, Serene Lusano
Reno News & Review
RN&R Page One Design
Judge’s comment: Great work from all entries. RN&R stood out above the rest.
Best Page One Design
2. Elizabeth Brown
The Sunday
3. Staff
Las Vegas Weekly
Judge’s comment: Great work from all entries. RN&R stood out above the rest.

Best Graphic Designer

1. Ian Racoma
Las Vegas Weekly
2. Corlene Byrd
Las Vegas Weekly
3. Elizabeth Brown
The Sunday

Best News Photo Coverage

1. Greenspun Media Group Photo Staff
The Sunday
Unbreakable Vegas: Stories of Heroism and Resilience In The Face of Tragedy
Judge’s comment: The cover photo and others of the vigil capture the emotion of the moment.

Best Feature Photo

1. Wade Vandervort
Las Vegas Weekly
Rock Climbers
Judge’s comment: Beautifully composed with great use of lines and action.
Overall a weaker category.
2. Wade Vandervort
Las Vegas Weekly
Homeless – 3 AM in Vegas
3. Wade Vandervort
Las Vegas Weekly
Just Married – 3 AM in Vegas

Best Multiple Photo Essay

1. Wade Vandervort
Las Vegas Weekly
3 AM in Vegas
Judge’s comment: Interesting concept. Very interesting and variety of photos.
2. Mikayla Whitmore
The Sunday
What it Means to be an American
3. Mikayla Whitmore
Las Vegas Weekly
SEARCHING FOR A CONNECTION AMONG NEVADA’S ALIEN LORE

Best Portrait

1. Wade Vandervort
Las Vegas Weekly
Dizzy Wright
2. Wade Vandervort
Las Vegas Weekly
Alex Honnold and Sanni McCandless
3. Christopher DeVargas
Vegas Inc.
Jen Barnet of XCycle

Best Illustrated Photo

1. Christopher DeVargas, Elizabeth Brown
The Sunday
Minimalist Lifestyle
Judge’s comment: Very weak category.
2. Christopher DeVargas
Las Vegas Weekly
Boating Outdoor Cover
Judge’s comment: Very weak category.

Best Editorial Cartoon

1. Mike Smith
The Sunday
Spending Tax Dollars on Football Stadium
Judge’s comment: Tough stance on a popular local topic, addresses education priorities as well as the stadium.
Issues on local topics that haven’t been overdone received priority.
2. Mike Smith
The Sunday
YUCCA
Judge’s comment: Issues on local topics that haven’t been overdone received priority.

Best Special Section (Editorial)

1. Greenspun Media Group Staff
The Sunday
Unbreakable Vegas: Stories of Heroism and Resilience In The Face of Tragedy
Judge’s comment: Cover is simple but eye catching and most ads are tasteful in relation to editorial content. Las Vegas shooting stories are featured well on each page
Interesting submissions with nice variety from the shooting, to pop culture, to local businesses to nonprofits
2. Staff
Las Vegas Weekly
Best of Issue
Judge’s comment: There is lots of color and eye catching pages, with good use of photos in the readers’ choice section

Best Special Section (Editorial)

3. Craig Peterson, Michelle Hamrick, Vegas Inc Staff
Vegas Inc.
Giving Guide
Judge’s comment: Interesting display of profiles, seems well organized
Interesting submissions with nice variety from the shooting, to pop culture, to local businesses to nonprofits

Best Print Ad

1. Dany Haniff
The Sunday
Whist
2. Dany Haniff
The Sunday
South Point Loves Vegas
3. Dany Haniff
The Sunday
Paiute Smoke Shop

Best Advertising Innovation

1. Emma Cauthorn, Elizabeth Brown, Sean Rademacher, Dany Haniff, Greenspun Media Group Advertising Staff
Las Vegas Weekly
Greenspun Media Group Native Advertising
2. Staff
Reno News & Review
Pilates for the People

Best Ad Series

1. Staff
Reno News & Review
Battle Born Couture
Judge’s comment: Great pictures
2. Emma Cauthorn, Elizabeth Brown
The Sunday
Station Casinos Native Content
Judge’s comment: Good catchy pics used
3. Emma Cauthorn, Elizabeth Brown, Sean Rademacher
The Sunday
HCA Native Content

Best Special Section or Campaign (Advertising)

1. Staff
Reno News & Review
Kids News & Review

Best-In House Promotion

1. Dany Haniff
The Sunday
High School Football Media Day
2. Dany Haniff
Vegas Inc.
Women to Watch
3. Jorge Betancourt, David Sly, Angela Johnson
El Tiempo
El Tiempo Media Kit

Best Niche Magazine

1. Craig Peterson, Michelle Hamrick, Vegas Inc Staff
Vegas Inc.
HealthCare Quarterly
2. Mark De Pooter, Brock Radke, Lesile Ventura, Corlene Byrd, Ian Racoma, Sean Rademacher
Las Vegas Weekly
Industry Weekly 2017
3. Mark De Pooter, Brock Radke, Lesile Ventura, Corlene Byrd, Ian Racoma, Sean Rademacher
Las Vegas Weekly
Industry Weekly 2018

Advertising General Excellence

1. Staff
Reno News & Review
Best of Northern Nevada
2. Mark De Pooter, Las Vegas Weekly Advertising Staff, Greenspun Media Group Advertising Staff
Las Vegas Weekly
3. Greenspun Media Group Advertising Staff
The Sunday

Best online advertising

1. Dany Haniff
Vegas Inc.
Book of Lists 2018
Judge’s comment: Gorgeous design, the ad promotes the quality of the event.

Best Digital News Feature Storytelling

1. Kaleb Roedel
Northern Nevada Business Weekly
VIDEO: What’s driving a Tesla Model X like for a first-time electric vehicle user?
Judge’s comment: Simple, steady and reporting and film techniques coupled with reader value pushed this story into first.
2. C. Moon Reed, Mikayla Whitmore
Las Vegas Weekly
SEARCHING FOR A CONNECTION AMONG NEVADA’S ALIEN LORE
Judge’s comment: Great writing and added material for the reader to explore.