SPANISH LANGUAGE REPORTING

A1. NEWS REPORTING (26 entries)

Judge: Alfredo Carbajal is managing editor of Dallas-based Al Día, Texas’ largest Spanish-language newspaper.

First place: Eduardo Bernal, La Voz Arizona, “Prestamos rapidos”

Carbajal: “One of the finest examples of practical and explanatory journalism lately. It provides readers with a blow-by-blow account of the legislative process to regulate these financial services, but in all the series' stories explains the impact on customers. Very good reporting and clear writing too.”

Second place: Mariana Alvarado and Stephanie Innes, La Estrella de Tucson, “Obesidad infantil”

Carbajal: “Kudos to La Estrella de Tucson for tackling a health issue that has risen to epidemic levels. The story is well reported, has clean and clear writing and offers stats and testimonies that help readers easily understand the complexities of this public health concern.”

Third place: Eduardo Bernal, La Voz Arizona, “La proposicion 302 afectara la educacion”

Carbajal: “This is a story that offers readers relevant information on the impact on education by government budget cuts. The story succeeds at explaining to readers the severity of the proposed cuts.”

A2. FEATURE REPORTING (22 entries)

Judge: Dino Chiecchi is editor of Hispanic publications for the San Antonio Express-News, overseeing the weekly bilingual publication, Conexión, and the all-Spanish, twice-a-week publication Cancha.

First Place: Maritza Lizeth Felix, Prensa Hispana, “La vida entre las sombras”

Second place: Maritza Lizeth Felix, Prensa Hispana, “¿Felices fiestas?”

No comments from the judge.

Third place: Eduardo Bernal, La Voz Arizona, “Su valentín le regala vida”

No comments from the judge.

Honorable mention: Javier Arce, Prensa Hispana, “Pero sigo siendo el rey”

No comments from the judge.

A3. COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS (18 entries)

Judge: Alfredo Carbajal is managing editor of Dallas-based Al Día, Texas’ largest Spanish-language newspaper.

First place: Samuel Murillo, La Voz Arizona, “Inmigración infantile”

Carbajal: “This column addresses one of the most tragic aspects of the immigration crisis in this country. The analysis incorporates appropriate sourcing and gives the reader enough detail into the personal stories to illustrate the growing problem of minors being victims of human smuggling groups. Very nice read, nicely written.”

Second place: Samuel Murillo, La Voz Arizona, “Las razones de Anna Gaines”

Carbajal: “Very good piece. I congratulate the writer and the newspaper for making the effort to represent ALL points of view on polarizing issues like immigration. The story gives voice to speech that might be deemed ‘unpopular’ to certain audiences, but as responsible news media, your obligation is to give an accurate and fair representation to all voices on a story.”

Third place: Maritza Lizeth Felix, Prensa Hispana, “La frontera: Una zona de Guerra”

Carbajal: “This editorial offers a simple, yet effective perspective on the situation of violence along the U.S.-Mexico border.”

NON-METRO WRITING

B1. BEST BUSINESS REPORTING (24 entries)

Judge: Steve Eder, who writes about hedge funds for the Wall Street Journal, was part of a team of reporters named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2006 and won the Gerald Loeb Award for business reporting. Separately, he was named Ohio Staff Reporter of the year by the Cleveland Press Club in 2009.

First place: Joe Ferguson, Arizona Daily Sun, “Too risky business”

Eder: “Ferguson’s reporting on the failure of a Flagstaff bank offered a close look at one bank’s demise.”

Second place: Bridget Lewison, Mohave Valley Daily News, “The Domino's Pizza saga”

Eder: “When a Domino's franchise owner abandoned his six local stores, Lewison was there to tell hungry readers what happened. What’s so impressive about this story is that the reporter didn’t let it go, sticking with it until she eventually landed a revealing interview with the franchise owner more than five months after the initial story broke.”

Third place: Jeremy Duda, Arizona Capitol Times, “Going nuclear?”

Eder: “Duda’s look at Arizona’s future in the nuclear-energy business is the kind of journalism that put life into a topic that otherwise would appear distant to readers.”

B2. BEST PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTING (16 entries)

Judge: Barbara Laker, an investigative reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News, shared the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism for “Tainted Justice,” a series about a rogue narcotics squad in the Philadelphia Police Department.

First place: Evan Wylodge, Arizona Capitol Times, “Scared at school”

Laker: “Masterfully reported and written. This story was not told from his desk, at a distance, instead he took the reader on a journey. He got inside the lives of illegal immigrants and reached the heart of the story. He gained the trust of a family so the reader can feel how one family in search of the American Dream lives in fear of deportation. He also did a beautiful job of weaving advocates for the Hispanic community, school resource officers, politicians and experts into the article to give the story depth. He gave the reader fodder to discuss the national debate over illegal immigration. Very well done.”

Second place: Jonathan Clark, Nogales International, Court reporting

Laker: “Clark is a gifted court reporter. He gets the nuances of a trial and the aftermath. So much is said in court, but Clark does a great job of picking just the best quotes to grip readers so they feel like they have a front row seat in the courtroom. The coverage of the Alan Patrick Woods trial was particularly well done with descriptions not only of what people said, but their actions in and out of court.”

Third place: Shar Porier, Bisbee Daily Review, “Beloved rancher’s slaying”

Laker: “A great job covering the senseless murder of rancher Robert Krentz. Porier paints a nice portrait of Krentz and at the same time explains the debate over illegal immigration and rising crime near the border, along with fear and safety issues. A well-reported, thorough package.”

B3. BEST POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT REPORTING (32 entries)

Judge: James Drew, an investigative reporter for the The Dallas Morning News, was a finalist for the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for public service.

First place: Jonathan Clark and Wren Abbott, Nogales International, “Authorities call mayor’s actions a ‘betrayal of trust’” and related stories

Drew: “Comprehensive and even-handed coverage of the mayor's arrest on corruption charges. What distinguished the reporting was the Nogales International obtaining audio recordings of the mayor through the state's public information law.”

Second place: Bill Hess, Sierra Vista Herald, “Vets will honor slain soldier” and related stories

Drew: “Went beyond coverage of an Army veteran's controversial funeral to reveal the actions of a soldier who survived combat in Afghanistan only to die in America."

Third place: Jim Small, Arizona Capitol Times, “Covert, bipartisan budget plan unveiled”

Drew: “Fine example of a story going well beyond government process to explain the tale of a bipartisan group of lawmakers holding secret meetings to develop a budget plan. Story delved into their motives and how their critics saw it as a blow to open government.”

B4. BEST HEALTH REPORTING (16 entries)

Judge: Dave Murray is managing editor of The Toledo Blade.

First place: Bill Hess, Sierra Vista Herald, “Carondelet deal to bring changes at local hospital”

Murray: “You can tell Bill Hess knows his beat and his community by the depth of his reporting on the health care institutions in his circulation area. His stories on the Carondelet deal were detailed and showed the impact the merger would have on the community and health care delivery.”

Second place: Luige del Puerto, Arizona Capital Times, “Like it or not, here comes ‘Obamacare’”

Murray: “I’ve read many stories about national health care reform, but this reporter’s take on Arizona’s implementation of the new federal health care law was different. As Del Puerto said so well in his lead it’s quite ironic that the Arizona GOP finds itself in the position of helping to implement ‘Obamacare.’”

Third place: Cindy Yurth, Navajo Times, “Hoofed healers”

Murray: “I love a good feature story about local people leading extraordinary lives, and Yurth delivered with her story about using horses as therapists. She did a great job of setting the scene by describing how for years Navajo parents sent their troubled kids out on horseback ‘to regroup and think about things.’”

B5. BEST ENVIRONMENTAL/SCIENCE REPORTING (22 entries)

Judge: Lowell Brown, city hall reporter for the Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle, won a 2009 Society of Environmental Journalists award for outstanding small-market reporting for “Behind the Shale,” a five-part narrative series he co-wrote exploring the societal and environmental effects of natural gas drilling.

First place: Seth Muller, Arizona Daily Sun, “After the river”

Brown: “Muller takes readers deep into the world of Grand Canyon river guides, exploring their unique relationship to nature and what they lose when they leave the rapids behind for more mundane work. In a category filled with solid reporting, ‘After the river’ stands out for its heart and emotional depth.”

Second Place: Cindy Yurth, Navajo Times, “Tsé Nani’ ahi monument turns 100” and “Doing it the old way, or not, area offers beauty”

Brown: “Yurth marks the centennial of the Rainbow Bridge National Monument with two stories detailing the site’s history and the different ways people experience it today. As told by Yurth, the story of the bridge — sacred ground to some, mere curiosity to others — becomes an avenue for exploring larger issues of spirituality, tradition and the clash between preservation and commercialization.”

Third place: Cyndy Cole and Joe Ferguson, Arizona Daily Sun, “Winding the Schultz fire down” and related stories

Brown: “Fires and floods provide the backdrop for these stories from Timberline, but human dramas are the real focus. These are told with well-crafted descriptions and attention to detail.”

B6. BEST SOCIAL ISSUES REPORTING (25 entries)

Judge: Suki Dardarian, managing editor at The Seattle Times, oversees news, metro, features, business, sports and investigations. Before becoming an editor, she was a reporter at The News Tribune, where she was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

First place: Marley Shebala and Bill Donovan, Navajo Times

Dardarian: “For a collection of stories that shed light on questionable practices surrounding the eviction of residents after their rent-to-own agreements were voided and their rents increased by a corporation contracting with the tribal housing authority. The stories wove together fresh reporting on the agencies involved with tales of the families themselves — as well as a recap of the sordid history of the housing program.”

Second place: Larry Lockhart, Casa Grande Dispatch

Dardarian: “For stories providing a snapshot of people whose faith helped them find new paths after losing their jobs. A story too many of our readers can relate to, the coverage offered solace and encouragement in challenging economic times.”

Third place: Mary L. Holden, Raising Arizona Kids

Dardarian: “For a well-crafted story about the medical and emotional toll of child abuse. While it is a well-covered subject, this reporter used strong cases and compelling writing to draw the reader through her story.”

B7. EDUCATION REPORTING (15 entries)

Judge: Linda Shaw, a reporter at The Seattle Times, has covered public schools for more than a decade and has won a number of regional and national education writing awards, including 2008 national beat reporter of the year by the Education Writers Association.

First place: Hillary Davis, Arizona Daily Sun, “FUSD to overcollect taxes by $1.5M” and related stories

Shaw: “Davis not only told readers that their school district had overcharged them by $1.5 million, but clearly explained why and how that happened, leading them through the complicated world of school finance.”

Second place: Cindy Yurth, Navajo Times, “Finding the heartbeat: Monument Valley High veterinary science program unique”

Shaw: “A nicely told story about a successful high-school veterinary science program. Yurth uses good detail to show us just how successful it has been – from gang members bringing in sick puppies to students listening to the heart of a sheep fetus on an ultrasound machine.”

Third place: Liz Manring, Sierra Vista Herald, “Banning books in the 21st Century”

Shaw: “Manring takes her hometown to task in a passionate yet reasoned column about why she’s embarrassed that the school board banned a book, and how that decision differs from what she’s seen in other small towns.”

B8. BEST IMMIGRATION REPORTING (12 entries)

Judge: Susan Ferriss, lecturer in immigration reporting at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, is the former immigration and government reporter for the Sacramento Bee and former Mexico-Latin America correspondent for Cox Newspapers.

First place: Jonathon Shacat, Bisbee Daily Review, “Documents detail what led to illegal immigrant’s shooting”

Ferriss: “Applause for aggressively pushing federal authorities to release a surveillance tape that captured some enforcement activity prior to the Border Patrol shooting death of a migrant on the Arizona border. The paper revealed an email from a federal official urging sheriff’s deputies not to release the tape because the official suggested it might fall into the hands of a lawyer who might file a ‘frivolous’ lawsuit. The paper rightly challenged this inappropriate reason to shroud potential evidence that could help determine the truth of what happened in a volatile region where lives are at stake. The paper succeeded in forcing the tape’s release, an important precedent in seeking truth, and it braved criticism from some readers who suggested that since prosecutors found the shooting to be justified the paper shouldn't pursue the release of evidence.”

Second place: Marisa Gerber, Nogales International, SB 1070 coverage

Ferriss: “Gerber’s stories about Arizona’s controversial police-immigration law were some of the few entries grounded in gumshoe reporting that weighed rhetoric against reality on the street. While politicians repeatedly sold this proposal by insisting that the public supports police carding and arresting suspected illegal immigrants, Gerber went out of the office and spent time observing Arizonans actively recruiting immigrant workers. She featured migrants’ tales of working for Americans – tales that are in short supply in the media – and illustrated how the police proposal has upset traditional political alliances.”

Third place: Christian Palmer, Arizona Capitol Times, “Vulnerable on the border”

Ferriss: “Palmer’s coverage of ranchers took the story to a higher level by honestly showing how they themselves helped perpetuate illicit crossings through their land for years – a pattern that is now ingrained in U.S.-Mexico relations and a shared economy. The story explored the ranchers’ fears and frustrations with what is now a much more dangerous smuggling industry, and showed that U.S. officials are divided over how to distribute Border Patrol resources along the border.”

B9. BEST SPORTS REPORTING (28 entries)

Judge: Jason Whitlock, a sports columnist for FOXSports.com, won the 2008 Scripps Howard National Journalism Award for Commentary. He is the only sports writer to win the award. 

First place: Candace Begody, Navajo Times, "A long shot: Female boxer works to qualify for Olympic trials"

Whitlock: “This story had a strong opening that hooked the reader. Begody found an interesting, uplifting story about a woman taking a unique approach to overcome family hardship.”

Second place: Sunnie Redhouse, Navajo Times, "For the Peshlakai family"

Whitlock: “A good story that captured the emotion of a community during a time of tragedy.”

Third place: No award.

B10. BEST COLUMN WRITING (9 entries)

Judge: Sandra Shea, editorial page editor of the Philadelphia Daily News, has won numerous national, state, regional and local awards for her writing and editing. Her 2002 editorial series on the Philadelphia park system was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

First place: Amy Hirshberg Lederman, Arizona Jewish Post

Shea: “Consistent voice, thoughtful pieces that begin with small situations that she turns to universal truths. It’s rare to see this kind of reflection in newspapers.”

Second place: Matt Hickman, Sierra Vista Herald

Shea: “Engaging. Just the right amount of attitude without being a smart-aleck, and a varied palette of subjects.”

Third place: Bill Donovan, Navajo Times

Shea: “Clearly knowledgeable about his subject, which can’t be easy covering tribal politics. Donavan is not afraid of taking provocative stances, and I get the sense from these columns that he provides important coverage for his subjects and for readers at large.”

B11. BEST PERSONALITY PROFILE (18 entries)

Judge: Scott Fontaine, a reporter for Air Force Times, won the award for best personality profile in Society of Professional Journalists' Pacific Northwest Excellence in Journalism contest for his profile of a young officer rebuilding his life after losing both legs in a bomb blast in Afghanistan.

First place: Seth Muller, Flagstaff Live, “Action figures”

Fontaine: “A fun take on a bit of sci-fi counterculture. Also answers a question many readers likely have: Just who are these people that feel the need to dress as storm troopers?”

Second place: Luige del Puerto, Arizona Capitol Times, “Unassuming but rarely under-estimated: Sen. Jorge Garcia”

Fontaine: “This read like no normal obituary; rather, it seemed the reporter knew Garcia and his family well enough to write a respectful, informed remembrance.”

Third place: Betsey Bruner, Arizona Daily Sun, Profiles

Fontaine: “Bruner manages to capture the true fabric of any community — the average person. She is at her best in her profile of elite runner Alicia Shay and her journey to regain her life and her love of the sport after the sudden loss of her husband.”

B12. HUMAN INTEREST WRITING (19 entries)

Judge: Ashley Powers is Las Vegas bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times.

First place: Liz Manring, Sierra Vista Herald, Portfolio

Powers: “Manring profiles local athletes who’ve overcome adversity – including cancer and a parent’s death – without resorting to clichés. Instead, her stories pop with rich details, well-chosen quotes and crisp, authoritative writing.”

Second place: Debra Utacia Krol, Arizona Capitol Times, “Losing the wisest generation”

Powers: “Utacia Krol’s deeply reported story explains why some Native Americans don’t seek treatment for Alzheimer’s. She deftly handles a touchy subject with clarity and even-handedness.”

Third place: Betsey Bruner, Arizona Daily Sun, Portfolio

Powers: “Bruner’s firefighters eat scrambled eggs with green chili. Her snowbound silversmith lives in an eight-sided home. Such you-are-there details pep up her features about average folks.”

METRO WRITING

C1. BEST BUSINESS REPORTING (14 entries)

Judges: The business staff of the Los Angeles Times.

First place: Josh Brodesky, Arizona Daily Star, “Pinal County’s housing boom and bust”

Judges: “Brodesky's stories on Pinal County as ground zero for the region’s housing bust bring the reader into the complicated subject of economic distress and recovery through strong writing and well-reported details. The stories are full of great images and quotes, including this one from Maricopa councilman Marvin Brown, whose house had lost half its value: ‘That’s painful. That’s like Mike Tyson hitting you in the jaw....’”

Second place: Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, Real estate coverage

Judges: “Reagor has a gift for breaking down incredibly difficult topics and showing us why we need to really, really care.”

Third place: Ray Stern, Phoenix New Times, “Gold rush”

Judges: “A great yarn and important investigative work.”

C2. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTING (17 entries)

Judge: Jordan Smith, an investigative reporter for the Austin (Texas) Chronicle, has won numerous awards including the John Jay College Excellence in Criminal Justice Reporting award, the Texas Civil Rights Project's Molly Ivins “Give 'Em Hell” award, and two awards from the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies.

First place: Tim Vanderpool, Tucson Weekly, "Predators and prey"

Smith: “Vanderpool does a nice job of making a personal experience the jumping off point to navigate the often-charged topic of sex offender laws. The subject matter is complex and often under-reported outside of spot news related to individual arrests. Vanderpool does a good job of navigating the core issues of crime and punishment in this area of the law without succumbing to the sensational.”

Second place: Shanna Hogan, Times Publications, "Accused Baseline Killer Mark Goudeau: The exclusive jailhouse interview"

Smith: “Hogan has clearly been following closely the high-profile Baseline Killer case, and her attention to detail and fair-minded approach to the case is clearly what earned her an exclusive interview with accused killer Goudeau. Where other coverage of the case has, at times, seemed to assume Goudeau’s guilt, Hogan remembers that a criminal defendant, no matter how heinous his alleged crimes, should be considered innocent until proven guilty.”

Third place: Paul Rubin, Phoenix New Times, "Phantom murder”

Smith: “The sad tale of the mysterious and sudden death of Dillon Uutela after being taken to a home-based daycare, and the rush to conclude that the woman responsible for watching him that day must have done something to cause his death. Rubin does a fine job of detailing the case and how the system failed to carefully consider all possible causes of death before deciding that shaken baby syndrome — an increasingly discredited diagnosis — was responsible for the death.”

C3. THE JOHN KOLBE AWARD FOR POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT REPORTING (13 entries)

Judge: Sean Kirst, a metropolitan columnist with The Post-Standard in Syracuse, is a recipient of the national Capitolbeat commentary award for columns involving statehouse issues, the Ernie Pyle Award for human interest writing, the Sigma Delta Chi award of excellence for column writing and two national Clarion Awards for opinion writing.

First place: Alia Beard Rau, The Arizona Republic

Kirst: “In a year in which national attention was riveted on Arizona and the justice of a new law intended to curtail illegal immigration, Rau — in a readable, compact and evenhanded way — gave readers an early breakdown of exactly what the law would entail. She later introduced her audience to a Kansas lawyer, an immigration activist, who all but put the words of the law down on paper. Rau's entry included a revealing piece on the goals and leaders of an under-the-radar lobbying group whose strategy led to a slew of legislation on social issues that, as Rau put it, ‘impacted the daily life of nearly every ArizonaN in some way or another over the past 14 years.’”

Second place: Dan Nowicki, The Arizona Republic

Kirst: “For a piece on the political transformation (and survival) of John McCain, and especially for a piece that explained the essential philosophies and goals of the movement known as the Tea Party – a valuable resource for anyone confused about a sometimes amorphous groundswell, credited with reshaping the political landscape.”

Third place (tie): Rob O’Dell, The Arizona Daily Star

Kirst: “For his detailed reporting — both topical and historical — on the all-too-familiar disintegration of a downtown project once perceived as a kind of catapult that would lift the city.”

Yvonne Wingett and JJ Hensley, The Arizona Republic

Kirst: “For their work on an acrimonious political dispute between Maricopa County leaders and a powerful local sheriff – a breach that revealed a long history of county tolerance for questionable dealings in the Sheriff's Office.”

C4. BEST HEALTH REPORTING (6 entries)

Judge: Meg Kissinger, a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, has won multiple national awards, including being a 2009 finalist for a Pulitzer Prize and winning the George Polk Award for Environmental Reporting, two National Journalism Awards and the Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment.

First place: Tim Vanderpool, Tucson Weekly, “Death by study”

Kissinger: “This story was as effective in telling what is known about cancer cluster studies as it was fleshing out the frustration of what is not known. Compelling examples. Excellent writing.”

Second place: Ray Stern, Phoenix New Times, “Chronic future”

Kissinger: “ Engaging writing, lots of details. Loved the lede.” 

Third place: Amanda Crawford, Phoenix Magazine, “Shocking truth”

Kissinger: “A detailed look at a controversial procedure.”

C5. BEST ENVIRONMENTAL/SCIENCE REPORTING (8 entries)

Judge: Paola Banchero, assistant professor and chair of the department of journalism and public communications at the University of Alaska Anchorage, has won national reporting awards from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.

First place: Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, “Native species”

Banchero: “An engaging, readable and important series for all Arizonans. The reporter mixed biology with public policy to a fruitful end. Each story was well conceived and reported.”

Second place: Tony Davis, Arizona Daily Star, Rosemont Mine coverage

Banchero: “Davis provides sustained coverage on a proposed mine in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson and the reaction of environmentalists to the notion of an open-pit copper mine in Southern Arizona’s wilderness. The coverage is thorough and balanced.”

Third place: Niki D’Andrea, Phoenix New Times, “High science”

Banchero: “About six months before national news media figured out there was a story with synthetic marijuana, D’Andrea reported and wrote an entertaining, informative piece about ‘spice’ and what the impact may be to users and communities. This article is a very good example of a trend piece that should interest everyone from college kids to legislators.”

C6. BEST SOCIAL ISSUES REPORTING (7 entries)

Judge: Sally Kestin, an investigative reporter at the South Florida Sun Sentinel, has won awards from IRE, Scripps Howard, Sigma Delta Chi, National Headliners and SPJ, and was a finalist for the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting.

First place: Paul Rubin, Phoenix New Times, “Honor thy father”

Kestin: “This is a chilling tale, compellingly written with great detail. Rubin captured the atrocity of the crime while providing the cultural context for how something so unimaginable in the western world could occur.”

Second place: Sarah Fenske, Phoenix New Times, “‘Til death do us part”

Kestin: “Beautiful writing in this heartrending story of love and tragedy. Fenske captured the range of emotions, from anger and heartbreak to hope and resignation, while artfully detailing the struggles with government bureaucracies and the bonds between a young couple caught in a horrific predicament.”

Third place: Amanda Crawford, Phoenix Magazine, “High society”

Kestin: “A wonderful way to illustrate the faces and stakes behind the legalization of the medical marijuana debate. Crawford helped readers identify with those who will be affected while clearly spelling out the implications of the ballot initiative.”

C7. BEST EDUCATION REPORTING (14 entries)

Judge: Katherine Leal Unmuth, education reporter for The Dallas Morning News, has been honored for beat reporting by the Education Writers Association.

First place: Anne Ryman, The Arizona Republic, "Defaults on student loans rising" and "Grading teachers"

Unmuth: “Both of these articles address timely issues being discussed nationally in an in-depth manner. Her story on for-profit colleges and students defaulting on loans illuminates concerns about the often-devastating financial impact on students. Her story on whether teachers should be rated based on their students’ test scores should prove to be of great interest to parents concerned about teacher quality.”

Second place: Rhonda Bodfield and Tim Steller, Arizona Daily Star, "Desegregation, 3 decades later: What has $1 billion bought our kids?"

Unmuth: “Good job evaluating the situation in Tucson and illuminating how despite efforts, black and Hispanic students still attend largely segregated schools and lag behind their white peers in academic performance. The issues of using money to address the problem and questions about whether it’s being properly allocated are important ones.”

Third place: Carmen Duarte, Arizona Daily Star, "Educator: Teachers told kids to cheat"

Unmuth: “Questions about widespread cheating on standardized tests have cropped up in numerous cases across the country. This story does a good job of showing examples of how such cheating may occur. “

C8. BEST IMMIGRATION REPORTING (15 entries)

Judge: Jaxon Van Derbeken, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, won an Associated Press public service award and a California Newspaper Publishers Association investigative reporting award for his reporting on how an immigrant Salvadoran gang member -- later arrested for killing a father and two sons en route home from a picnic -- had been repeatedly sheltered by San Francisco’s immigrant sanctuary policy.

First place: Malia Politzer, Phoenix New Times, “Return to sender”

Van Derbeken: “Searing portraits of children of illegal immigrants — now reaching adulthood — caught in the middle of Arizona's immigration policies. The story showed the real stories and trauma suffered by a generation brought to the U.S. with illegal immigrant parents, now living in fear of deportation from the only country they have known as home.”

Second place: Daniel Gonzalez and Dan Nowicki, The Arizona Republic, “Crossings”

Van Derbeken: “A prodigious exploration of immigration issues, specifically in Europe, where the reader learned about how three countries variously dealt with the tide of immigrants, at first welcomed, later despised. Stories shed new light on the wisdom and effectiveness of U.S. efforts.”

Third place: Brady McCombs, Arizona Daily Star, “Decade of Death”

Van Derbeken: “For exploring a decade-long surge of desert border-crossing fatalities, an unforeseen consequence of beefed up enforcement elsewhere in California and Texas. Important contribution to the debate on immigration and the unforeseen fallout of U.S. border enforcement.”

C9. BEST SPORTS REPORTING (14 entries)

Judge: Gary Miles, deputy sports editor for the Philadelphia Inquirer, has won awards for writing and editing from the Associated Press Sports Editors Association and is the author of “Inside Hockey: Players, Pucks and Penalty Boxes.”

First place: Javier Morales, Tucson Citizen, “Ex-UA prolific scorer Coniel Norman, feared lost, found living in Detroit”

Miles: “These stories captured with poignancy the pain and suffering by a former star and his family and friends in troubled times.”

Second place: Jimmy Magahern, Times Publications, “Speed’s little leaguers”

Miles: “This story about very young racers shows in great detail and with an interesting manner the trials and successes of young people and their families as they pursue midget racing.”

Third place: Jeff Metcalfe, The Arizona Republic, Winter Olympics

Miles: “Interesting, local and comprehensive coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.”

C10. DON SCHELLIE AWARD FOR COLUMN WRITING (12 entries)

Judge: Mike Thomas is a columnist for the Orlando Sentinel.

First place: Renee Downing, Tucson Weekly

Thomas: “Downing has what I like to call writing genetics. Her topics were clever and her writing crisp. She ably turned mockingbirds into villains and Phoenix into, well, something almost desirable. Being from Orlando, I certainly could relate!”

Second place: Sarah Fenske, Phoenix New Times

Thomas: “A combination of good writing and research, with interesting insight into Laura Bush and the complex moral issues surrounding the science of fertility medicine.”

Third place: Josh Brodesky, Arizona Daily Star

Thomas: “He does what a metro columnist should do. He finds things that are wrong, clearly writes about them and ruins a lot of mornings for people who deserve to have ruined mornings.”

C11. BEST PERSONALITY PROFILE (19 entries)

Judge: Tracy Ahrens, a freelance writer for the Chicago Tribune, previously wrote for a chain of 10 weekly newspapers based in the south Chicago suburbs. There she was also a feature story editor. Her many awards include first place for feature writing from the Illinois Associated Press Association. She also is a poet and author of two children’s books.

First place: Tom Danehy, Margaret Regan, Emily Bowen, Linda Ray and Anna Mirocha, Tucson Weekly, "Local Heroes: Meet Tucsonans whose deeds have made our community a better place"

Ahrens: “A beautiful blend of five short portraits of community heroes. The works are easy to read and hold the reader. These pieces make you want to meet every person showcased. More publications should do routine personality profiles like this of often hidden, unsung heroes in every community.”

Second place: Gary Nelson, The Arizona Republic, "Iron will drives Pearce, agenda"

Ahrens: “This personality profile paints a vivid picture of why this lawmaker is vigilantly trying to keep the candle of liberty lit.”

Third place: Adam Curtis, Sierra Vista Herald, "Step into Ray’s world"

Ahrens: "Intimate, inspirational look at a young rising artist with autism – Ray Thomas. This profile shows what is possible when many think it is impossible. Kudos also to Ray’s mother, Diane."

Honorable mention: Niki D’Andrea, Phoenix New Times, "Over the rainbow"

Ahrens: "A revealing look at one religion’s views of homosexuality and the struggles gays face regarding family, religion and equal rights."

C12. BEST HUMAN INTEREST WRITING (22 entries)

Judge: Tracy Ahrens, a freelance writer for the Chicago Tribune, previously wrote for a chain of 10 weekly newspapers based in the south Chicago suburbs. There she was also a feature story editor. Her many awards include first place for feature writing from the Illinois Associated Press Association. She also is a poet and author of two children’s books.

First place: Dennis Wagner, The Arizona Republic, "In the Crossfire: Mexico Red Cross workers put lives at risk to save lives of others"

Ahrens: “Amazing, descriptive piece showing outsiders the battle inside. Thank you for showing the risks that these angels take trying to save others in peril.”

Second place: Zachary Fowle, Phoenix New Times, "Zach vs. Food"

Ahrens: “Tasty, descriptive glance at why food warriors do what they do - and living with the side effects of being a competitive eater. A fun and lively read.”

 Third place: Claire Lawton, Phoenix New Times, "Tag, you’re art"

Ahrens: “Great inside look at what viewers simply see on the surface. An equal examination of muralists and taggers and what drives them.”

BEST IN ARIZONA

G1. BEST CRITICISM (13 entries)

Judge: Mark Feeney, an arts writer for The Boston Globe, won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for criticism. The author of "Nixon at the Movies: A Book About Belief," he has taught at Brandeis, Princeton and Yale universities.

First place: Margaret Regan, Tucson Weekly, “The whole picture,” “Tile roofs and borrowed style” and “Deposited by angels”

Feeney: “Serious without being solemn, Regan’s reviews demonstrate intelligence, range, and a consistent ability to provide context and make larger connections.”

Second place: James DiGiovanna, Tucson Weekly, “Tolstoy plus boobs,” “Emotion exposed!” and “Tragic remake”

Feeney: “Possessing an impressive knowledge of film, a knowledge he wears lightly, DiGiovanna writes with frequent verve and consistent passion.”

Third place: Robrt L. Pela, Phoenix New Times, “Surreal Estate” column

Feeney: “What distinguishes this series of articles is its awareness of, and commitment to, architecture’s being as much about lives lived as designs built.”

G2. BEST ARTS REPORTING (9 entries)

Judge: Roberta MacInnis, assistant features editor in arts and entertainment at the Houston Chronicle, also writes a recreational running column for the paper.

First place: Larry Rodgers, The Arizona Republic

MacInnis: “Rodgers approaches his music writing with the determination and thoroughness of an investigative journalist. His innovative angles and extensive reporting strengthen the stories and make for compelling, educational reads.”

Second place: Niki D’Andrea, Phoenix New Times

MacInnis: “D'Andrea brings cutting-edge pop culture from the fringe to the forefront in readable, well-researched features.”

Third place: Robrt L. Pela, Phoenix New Times

MacInnis: “Pela digs deep into the local music scene to provide fun, fresh portraits of the players who have made it happen.”

G3. BEST EDITORIAL WRITING (6 entries)

Judge: Mark C. Mahoney, editorial page editor for The Post-Star in Glens Falls, New York, won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.

First place: Linda Valdez, The Arizona Republic, “Stop Failing Arizona, Start Fixing Immigration,” “State Must Find Way to Bridge Ethnic Divide” and “Dream Act Merits McCain, Kyl Help”

Mahoney: “These editorials on immigration demonstrate the newspaper’s willingness to tackle this volatile issue head-on, with strong writing, no-holds-barred criticism of the public officials involved and a comprehensive presentation of the facts and the arguments. Editorials are bold and convincing.”

Second place: Bob Romantic, East Valley Tribune, “Yes on 420: Keep Cubs, revenue in Mesa,” “Arizona not first state to tackle immigration” and “Politics as usual isn’t working; time for nonpartisan elections”

Mahoney: “The one word that kept popping into my mind as I read these editorials was “perspective.” The writer makes a great effort to put matters into perspective for the readers, whether it’s setting the scene for the Cubs’ new complex, to surprising readers with the Missouri-Arizona immigration connection, to establishing the California connection on the voting editorial, the paper uses a vast amount of research to put matters into full and proper perspective. That allows readers not only to understand the issue, but to feel comfortable with the position the paper is taking. Very effective writing and delivery.”

Third place: Kathleen Ingley, The Arizona Republic, “Congress can avert a disaster,” “Measure is wrong for parents, kids” and “Sound bites don’t cut it when it comes to budget”

Mahoney: “Effective use of sound bites to argue for and against proposals to balance the budget. Overall, strong writing combined with a solid presentation of the facts sets these editorials apart from so many others.”

G4. THE DON BOLLES AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (8 entries)

Judge: Charles Duhigg, a reporter for the New York Times, won a 2007 George Polk Award, Sidney Hillman Award, a Deadline Award and a Heywood Broun Award for a series that examined how businesses and investors are seeking to profit from the soaring number of older Americans. In 2009 his series exploring the worsening pollution in American waters and regulators' response won multiple national awards.

First place: Robert Anglen and Pat Kossan, The Arizona Republic, “Probate Court: A troubled system”

Duhigg: “This series won through its relentlessness and scope. The large number of stories and The Arizona Republic’s commitment to the topic wrought real change. As the series describes, that reform only occurred because of the paper's doggedness.”

Second place: Chris Hawley, The Arizona Republic, “Boys’ deaths spur cries of cover-up”

Duhigg: “This is an amazing example of deep reporting and gifted storytelling. Hawley’s extensive recreation of a tragic killing – and his careful inclusion of both sides' version of events – resulted in a gripping and condemning account of the unintended costs of Mexico’s drug crackdown.”

Third place (tie): Yvonne Wingett, JJ Hensley, Michael Kiefer and Craig Harris, The Arizona Republic, Coverage of Joe Arpaio and Andrew Thomas

Sarah Fenske, Phoenix New Times, “Mr. Big Stuff”

Duhigg: “Both these series succeeded at exposing potentially corrupt officials by cultivating sources and lifting back the veil on local institutions. Stories on Joe Arpaio kept readers abreast of ongoing investigations of alleged misuse of power. Fenske’s profile of Doug Lingner exposed incompetence and cronyism, and led to Ligner’s firing and an overhaul of the Housing Authority. Both series helped readers see what officials would have rather keep hidden from sight.”

G5. BEST PROJECT, EXPLANATORY REPORTING OR PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM (9 entries)

Judge: Peggy Bellows, managing editor for Media General’s consolidated editing center, was previously managing editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and helped lead the team that won the National Headliner Award for breaking news for Richmond's coverage of the April 1997 shootings at Virginia Tech.

First place: Michael Lacey, Monica Alonzo and Stephen Lemons, Phoenix New Times, “Amongst us”

Bellows: “A deeply sourced series that tells the stories of what happens to Latino immigrants in America and those trying to come here. The strength of this undertaking is its humanity – this is no retelling of events based on official records. These reporters are at the border, in Mexico, in the courtroom, in jail, in the health center, in people’s homes and in a story like this, nothing replaces face to face. These stories paint a picture that is compelling, heartbreaking, infuriating – and all too real.”

Second place: Craig Harris, The Arizona Republic, “Public pensions: A soaring burden”

Bellows: “This is a beautiful project that has it all: aggressive use of FOIA and thorough number-crunching that led to fearless reporting that lays out the problem with the state’s pension system without concern for whose toes might be stepped on. Harris names elected officials, teachers, cops and firefighters who are abusing the system. The series also does a good job of hammering home why these problems with the pension system are important for taxpayers. It’s well-written and edited and a great read.”

Third place: Jay Bennett, Phoenix New Times, “Nothing not new”

Bellows: “Bennett reported this series on overcoming ‘aesthetic atrophy’ by spending a year listening only to new music. This project is a welcome reminder that not everything important is about crime and government. These stories speak to the quality of one’s life, a more than worthy topic.”

G6. BEST BREAKING NEWS (2 entries)

No award.

G7. BEST SHORT-FORM WRITING (4 entries)

Judge: Susan Ellerbach, managing editor of the Tulsa World in Tulsa, Okla., is a member of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame.

First place: Hillary Davis, Arizona Daily Sun, "A princess goes to her kingdom"

Ellerbach: “A very touching memorial to the young victim of the storms that hit the area. Enough weather-related information to give the reader context to the death and then some excellent writing to remember this young girl. Perfect combination.”

Second place: Josh Brodesky, Arizona Daily Star, "Sale today closes a week in praise of all things goat"

Ellerbach: “This story made me smile. Enough information to let me know about the event and why I should care, delivered with good writing and a touch of humor. I will be looking at goats with more respect.”

Third place: Shelley Shelton, Arizona Daily Star, "Legend marks birthday with many folks from the circuit"

Ellerbach: “Well-written with good information. Nice tribute to an interesting man.”

G8. BEST OPINION BLOG (6 entries)

Judge: Carolyn Lumsden, editorial page editor of the Hartford Courant, has been honored as Times Mirror Journalist of the Year and won a national Sigma Delta Chi award for editorial writing from the Society of Professional Journalists.

First place: Martin Cizmar, Phoenix New Times

Lumsden: “Very funny and clear. His columns are wonderfully explanatory and hilarious commentaries on politics and music. His barbs can get personal and mean (calling Jan Brewer ‘leather-faced’), but are irresistible. A delight to read.”

Second place: Stephen Lemons, Phoenix New Times

Lumsden: “He was brave and resourceful in his reporting, as in the case of the Hispanic woman whose arm was broken while in police custody.”

Third place: No award.

G9. BEST NEWS BLOG (5 entries)

Judge: Foon Rhee, associate editor at The Sacramento Bee, previously was city editor and deputy national political editor at The Boston Globe, and Capitol/State editor and local news editor at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C.

First place (tie): Monica Alonzo, Phoenix New Times, “Valley fever”

Rhee: “With great persistence reporting on a revealing story about a powerful politician, Mayor Phil Gordon, Alonzo neatly marries the great tradition of watchdog journalism with the new Internet age. If there had been more links to original source material and perhaps even video – not just links to prior coverage – this would have been the clear winner.”

James King, Phoenix New Times, “Valley fever”

Rhee: “King follows the great tradition of ‘alternative’ media by writing with attitude and verve about what otherwise could be mundane election doings. His items harness all the Web makes available with photos, videos and links. “

Second place: No award.

Third place: Martin Cizmar, Phoenix New Times, “Up on the sun”

Rhee: “Cizmar finds real news in popular culture, a realm too often uncovered or populated mostly by reviews. He makes good use of the web; particularly helpful were links to the websites and Facebook pages of the subjects of the items.”

G10. BEST FEATURES BLOG (9 entries)

Judge: Taylor Batten, editorial page editor of The Charlotte Observer, leads an editorial board that has won numerous awards. Most recently, he won first place for editorial writing in the large papers category in the North Carolina Press Association contest.

First place: Jayson Peters, East Valley Tribune, “Nerdvana”

Batten: “Peters’ blog is a must-read for anyone interested in science fiction, fantasy, comic books and the like. His reporting is exhaustive, his writing clear. He strikes a strong balance by not being boosterish but also not being hyper-critical. His blog posts are filled with links to underlying documents, photos, useful user-friendly information and timely, level-headed writing that indulges readers’ appetite for in-depth treatment of the topic.”

Second place: Karen Davis Barr, Raising Arizona Kids, “Behind the ’zine, Ethiopia”

Batten: “Barr produces memorable storytelling from an emotional and at times dangerous trip. She is a powerful writer who captures the emotion of her subject while also revealing a bit about herself in an authentic way. Fantastic photos.”

Third place: Michele Laudig, Jonathan McNamara, Wynter Holden, Erica O’Neil, Phoenix New Times, “Chow Bella” 

Batten: “The Chow Bella writers have fun, connecting readers with topics they can instantly relate to. ‘Why your pizza guy hates you’ was a fun read, with memorable lessons, and packed with photos and links. Other posts were well-reported, engaging and user-friendly.”

G11. BEST NEWS HEADLINE WRITING (6 entries)

Judge: Michael King, news editor of the Austin Chronicle, has been the editor of the Houston Press and The Texas Observer.

First place: Michael Petrovsky, Casa Grande Dispatch, “Call Tuesday independents' day in Pinal,” “Virtual fence cost $800M in real money” and “Many shopped, some dropped”

King: “Good headlines are not just eye-catching, but thought-provoking, and the best ones also hook readers into the story. These three do all those jobs well, with a lagniappe of wit and effective compression. Well done!”

Second place: Joe McDermott, Arizona Daily Star, “The fastest thumbs in the West,” “Tune in tonight, watch him buy a vowel” and “Retailers fear another blue Christmas”

King: “Catchy use of traditional phrases to inventive ends.”

Third place: No award.

G12. BEST FEATURE HEADLINE WRITING (12 entries)

Judge: Debbie Cenziper, an investigative reporter for the Washington Post, won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting.

First place: Sylvia Cody, The Arizona Republic, “Immaculate Inception,” “There was a boy...who met a chef who changed his life” and “The gauche of Christmas present”

Cenziper: “Clever, original and engaging. They quickly drew me into the stories — exactly what headlines are supposed to do.”

Second place: Mare Jenkins, The Arizona Republic, “Queen Creek students get under Sharks' skin,” “There's something in the way he Brews” and “Supplies party”

Cenziper: “Smart and nicely written, with great play on words.”

Third place: Sylvia Cody, The Arizona Republic, “Theatre buffs,” “Beaucoup” and “Losing a son, gaining a country”

Cenziper: “Powerful and smartly written all the way around.”

NON-METRO DESIGN

D1. BEST PAGE ONE LAYOUT/DESIGN (3 entries)

Judges: The design staff of the Los Angeles Times.

First place: Gabe Turner, Arizona Capitol Times, “Passing the buck”

Judges: “Bold, clean, attention-grabbing page. Quickly conveys concept of story.”

Second place: No award.

Third place: No award.

D2. BEST NON-DEADLINE LAYOUT/DESIGN

Judges: The design staff of the Los Angeles Times.

First place: Hugo Torres, La Estrella de Tucson, “Inicia la pasion del mundial”

Judges: “Designed with readers foremost in mind, La Estrella de Tucson’s informative and colorful presentation is a stand-out.”

Second place: Jan LaValley, Sierra Vista Herald, “Love letters to Emma”

Judges: “The writing pulls you in, and the design respects that. The page is well-organized and attractive, and the material it presents is engaging.”

Third place: Greg Burns, Arcadia News, “Little League Opening Day 2010”

Judges: “Aside from the headline, there are no words here. And that’s all right, because while this page is busy, it perfectly reflects its subject matter and serves the community proudly.”

METRO DESIGN

D4. BEST PAGE ONE LAYOUT/DESIGN (33 entries)

Judges: The design staff of the Los Angeles Times.

First place: Christopher George, The Arizona Republic, “Power shift”

Judges: “Boldly and simply delivers the big news of the election. Well-organized page that packs a lot of information in an easy-to-navigate way. Very nice hierarchy.”

Second place: Jen Levario Cieslak, The Arizona Republic, “Stop failing Arizona; start fixing immigration”

Judges: “Powerful use of typography to deliver a message. Layout is clean and concise. This simple design stays out of the way of the message. The design is successful in conveying the seriousness of the topic.”

Third place: Christopher George, The Arizona Republic, “Public pensions: A soaring burden”

Judges: “Good use of graphics as lead art to quickly deliver key information from the story. The bold design immediately tells the reader this is special.” 

Honorable mention: Mike Rice and Jeff Randall, Arizona Daily Star, “GOP takes House”

Judges: “Interesting use of front page to deliver key information from the day’s election. Well organized while packing in a lot of information on multiple levels.” 

D5. BEST NON-DEADLINE LAYOUT/DESIGN (35 entries)

Judges: The design staff of the Los Angeles Times.

First place: Ayrel J. Clark, The Arizona Republic, “Fresh faces, fresh ideas”

Judges: “Pulling in readers visually is often a difficult task for a business section designer, but this cover suffers no such pitfalls. Smartly designed section front with an inviting centerpiece highlighted by a well-executed illustration. A clear-cut winner.”

Second place: Jen Levario Cieslak, The Arizona Republic, “Animals in the Gulf: 7 ways you can help”

Judges: “A ‘list’ package can offer a designer many options. These pages can often lack impact by being too regimented or suffer from the clutter of too many pieces, turning the page into an unorganized mess. But this is a fine example of taking these elements and making them work in a structured yet lively manner. Clean and well executed.”

Third place: Ayrel J. Clark, The Arizona Republic, “Life & Debt”

Judges: “It’s interesting how such a simple subject matter – the decision to pay, or not pay, a bill – can lend itself to such a clever design. Readers can’t help but empathize with the perplexed avatar, as she learns the financial ramifications of not making a timely payment. The calendar-aided breakdown spells it all out for readers. A perfect marriage of illustration and information.”

D6. BEST MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE (3 entries)

Judges: The design staff of the Los Angeles Times.

First place: Jonathan McNamara and Claire Lawton, Phoenix New Times, “Hero worship”

Judges: “This entry easily stood out from the field in its ability to leverage several key storytelling formats — thoughtfully compiled vignettes, tightly-edited video, great photography and playful interactivity — with impressive dexterity. Its editors and producers exhibit a clear understanding that this type of multimedia packaging and storytelling is what makes our industry indispensable. This is a shining example of the quality of work that multimedia journalists should strive to produce. Nice work.”

Second place: No award.

Third place: No award.

D7. BEST TABLOID/MAGAZINE COVER (29 entries)

Judges: The design staff of the Los Angeles Times.

First place: Peter M. Storch, John Walters and Jamie Peachey, Phoenix New Times, “Tater tot”

Judges: “The image says it all. Love the restraint here. Not many publications have that kind of discipline. It allows the bold and brilliant concept to have the stage exclusively.”

Second place: Peter Storch and John Walters, Phoenix New Times, “This bud's for you”

Judges: “Clever idea and wonderful execution, right down to the faux Budweiser type used for the flag. I bet this issue literally jumped out of newsstands in Phoenix.”

Third place: Gabe Turner, Arizona Capitol Times, “2011 Political Almanac”

Judges: “Beyond the cool retro feel (Benjamin Franklin would be proud), what we admired about this cover was the attention to detail with typography. Nicely done.”

D8. BEST MULTI-PAGE DESIGN (22 entries)

Judges: The design staff of the Los Angeles Times.

First place: Jen Levario Cieslak, The Arizona Republic, “Crossings”

Judges: “If you're going to embark on an exhaustive special report, this is a fantastic example of how it's done. Thoroughly compelling, smart, informative and brilliantly executed — with the space in print to match the ambition. And what a great story to boldly tell in Arizona in 2010.”

Second place: Keri Hegre, The Arizona Republic, “Arizona teeters on budget cliff”

Judges: “Not an easy story to tell in a visually pleasing manner. The degree of difficulty is very high. Great balance of important stories, interesting graphics and compelling visuals. If I'm a reader, I feel like I have to know about this, but you made it much easier.”

Third place: Peter Storch, Jamie Peachey, Jasmine Hobeheidar and John Walters, Phoenix New Times, “Best of Phoenix”

Judges: “Keeping annual issues of anything fresh and creative is a tough task. Kudos for doing just that and maintaining the theme throughout the issue.”

Honorable mention: Jesus Soto, La Voz Arizona, “La ley del odio”

Judges: “Addresses the immigration issue head-on with a combination of useful information and interesting visuals. If I'm a Spanish-speaking Arizona resident, I'm thankful on the days these pages hit my doorstep.”

D9. BEST ILLUSTRATION (23 entries)

Judges: The design staff of the Los Angeles Times.

First place: Kyle T. Webster, Phoenix New Times, “Phantom murder”

Judges: “These compelling stories are often so difficult to illustrate. The content is certainly worthy, yet some publications struggle to make it THE thing because of a lack of visuals. This illustration hit that elusive high note, elevating the content where it belonged.”

Second place: Graham Smith, Phoenix New Times, “Seized”

Judges: “An overwhelmingly arresting image. The combination of the tiny chick peering from the escapable fangs of a terrifying wolf is harrowing. You can't help but be drawn into this story.”

Third place: Tim Gabor, Phoenix New Times, “Get out!”

Judges: “Talk about hitting the nail on the head. Love the illustration's authenticity — body language, style, color usage — of that familiar Uncle Sam image.”

NON-METRO PHOTOGRAPHY

F1. SPOT NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY (8 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Hartford Courant, including John Scanlan, Sherry Peters, Bettina Hansen and Rick Harford.

First place: Jacob Petersen, Sierra Vista Herald, “Chase”

Judges: “This picture is a dramatic moment with peak action in a difficult situation.”

Second place: Jim Poulin, Phoenix Business Journal, “Protesters”

Judges: “Nice framing, emotion and composition. It's easy to read and the impact is immediate.”

Third place: Oscar Perez, Casa Grande Dispatch, “Smoke”

Judges: “The framing in this one is great. It's clean and pulls the reader in.”

F2. GENERAL NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY (12 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Hartford Courant, including John Scanlan, Sherry Peters, Bettina Hansen and Rick Harford.

First place: Beatrice Richardson, Sierra Vista Herald, “Brewer”

Judges: “This picture has very strong emotion in a great moment. Her defiant look gives this very high news value, which overtakes some of the technical flaws. It could benefit from a tighter crop.”

Second place: Josh Biggs, Arizona Daily Sun, “Veterans”

Judges: “This picture has nice framing and is a good use of color. The clean composition gives it an ageless feel.”

Third place: Josh Biggs, Arizona Daily Sun, “Celtic Fest”

Judges: “Nice scene here to bring details into a wider view.”

F3. PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY (21 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Hartford Courant, including John Scanlan, Sherry Peters, Bettina Hansen and Rick Harford.

First place: David Zickl, Tucson Weekly, “Krentz”

Judges: “Great environmental portrait - the location is used well here to create a nice mood, fitting for the subjects.”

Second place: Jim Poulin, Phoenix Business Journal, “MacMillan”

Judges: “This image is technically sound.”

Third place: No award.

F4. FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY (17 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Hartford Courant, including John Scanlan, Sherry Peters, Bettina Hansen and Rick Harford.

First place: Dave Brown, Arizona Range News, “Dancer”

Judges: “The hands and arc of composition make this picture rise above the rest. It is graceful and dynamic. Well done.”

Second place: Josh Biggs, Arizona Daily Sun, “Snowmegeddon”

Judges: “Pretty scene.”

Third place: No award.

F5. PICTURE STORY (8 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Hartford Courant, including John Scanlan, Sherry Peters, Bettina Hansen and Rick Harford.

First place: Josh Biggs, Arizona Daily Sun, “Flagstaff for Haiti”

Judges: “This was the only true picture story of the bunch. The pictures create a strong narrative that tells a story about the volunteers, and have nice moments and good composition throughout. It is apparent that the photographer spent time working on it.”

Second place: Josh Biggs, Arizona Daily Sun, “Flagstaff floods”

Judges: “This is a good collection of news photographs.”

Third place: No award.

F6. SPORTS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY (21 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Hartford Courant, including John Scanlan, Sherry Peters, Bettina Hansen and Rick Harford.

First place: Oscar Perez, Casa Grande Dispatch, “Rodeo”

Judges: “This is a good clean moment with strong expression.”

Second place: Dale Messmer, Arcadia News, “Titan football”

Judges: “The eyes in this are great, and the moment leaves the viewer anticipating what’s going to happen next.”

Third place: Paul Natonabah, Navajo Times, “Whoa, Nelly!”

Judges: “This picture has a painterly, classic feel to it. All of the elements come together here, especially the horse being up on a single leg.”

F7. SPORTS FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY (11 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Hartford Courant, including John Scanlan, Sherry Peters, Bettina Hansen and Rick Harford.

First place: Donovan Quintero, Navajo Times, “PBR”

Judges: “This is a good angle to give the picture interesting framing.”

Second place: Rick Wacha, Arizona Daily Sun, “Pre-game”

Judges: “This cute moment is highlighted by a clean composition.”

Third place: No award.

F8. PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY (9 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Hartford Courant, including John Scanlan, Sherry Peters, Bettina Hansen and Rick Harford.

First place: Josh Biggs, Arizona Daily Sun, “Track”

Judges: “The texture of the footprints in the snow and good composition by the photographer make this an excellent pictorial.”

Second place: Oscar Perez, Casa Grande Dispatch, “Fog”

Judges: “This is an unexpected picture, and the body language of the two doves ties it together. The environment is mysterious-looking with the fog and leading line of the fence is nice.”

Third place: No award.

METRO PHOTOGRAPHY

E1. SPOT NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY

Judges: The photo staff of the Houston Chronicle, including chief photographer Smiley Pool and staff photographers Mayra Beltran, Brett Coomer and Johnny Hanson.

First place: Michael Chow, The Arizona Republic, “Arquette”

Judges: “An intense moment that then unfolds into the corners of the frame to juxtapose the active from the inactive. You start with a fight breaking out at a basketball game (and an actor breaking it up) and then unveil another spectator in the background who looks like he should be saying, ‘Just don't spill my beer.’ It is a fascinating juxtaposition — one spectator jumps into the fray while another kicks back and watches the show.”

Second place: Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic, “Storm”

Judges: “A nicely layered image that doesn't need a caption and gives you a strong sense of how the subject feels.”

Third place: Nick Oza, The Arizona Republic, “Rescue”

Judges: “Immediate, gritty and interesting.”

E2. GENERAL NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY (17 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Houston Chronicle, including chief photographer Smiley Pool and staff photographers Mayra Beltran, Brett Coomer and Johnny Hanson.

Judges’ note: “This category was one of the strongest of the contest, with some very sophisticated images from one of the biggest news events of this year.”

First place: Cheryl Evans, The Arizona Republic, “Protest”

Judges: “A spectacularly well-composed image. This protest photo could have been so ordinary, but instead it is made interesting by its graphic appeal. There is a lot to see and this image chops it up into five distinct pieces and lays the information out for the reader.”

Second place: Mark Henle, The Arizona Republic, “Arrest”

Judges: “Starts with a great expression then uses the photo’s composition to set the subject apart and highlight that expression.”

Third place: Michael Chow, The Arizona Republic, “Vigil”

Judges: “A great job of seeing the details. You can almost feel the wax on the subject’s hands. The subtle hint of the Mexico bracelet adds to the image. This photo is exquisitely well done.”

E3. PORTRAIT/PERSONALITY PHOTOGRAPHY (9 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Houston Chronicle, including chief photographer Smiley Pool and staff photographers Mayra Beltran, Brett Coomer and Johnny Hanson.

First place: Nick Oza, The Arizona Republic, “Pilot”

Judges: “Just a fun image. You get a strong sense of the person and her personality, which is what a portrait should do.”

Second place (tie): Charlie Leight, The Arizona Republic, “Study”

Judges: “A beautiful frame that prompted one judge to quip, ‘You can never go wrong with beards and hats.’”

Jamie Peachey, Phoenix New Times, “Gold”

Judges: “Great expression, and good light for an interesting subject. An appropriate use of a sepia tone.”

Third place: Michael Chow, The Arizona Republic, “Kidnapping”

Judges: “An intriguing glimpse of a person in a difficult circumstance.”

E4. FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY (15 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Houston Chronicle, including chief photographer Smiley Pool and staff photographers Mayra Beltran, Brett Coomer and Johnny Hanson.

First place: David Wallace, The Arizona Republic, “Neuroblastoma”

Judges: “A heartbreaking, yet gorgeous and insightful, image. The light and composition work to delicately expose the small details in this photo that give you a peek into what this child is living through.”

Second place: David Kadlubowski, The Arizona Republic, “Angels in waiting”

Judges: “A great job of looking behind the scenes to find a beautiful image.”

Third place: Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic, “The wave”

Judges: “Nice job of using a long lens to compress the image so it’s all about the arms. Of course, after this photo the judges were all craning our heads to the right and had to straighten up so we could go to the next category.”

E5. PICTURE STORY (14 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Houston Chronicle, including chief photographer Smiley Pool and staff photographers Mayra Beltran, Brett Coomer and Johnny Hanson.

First place: Michael Chow, The Arizona Republic, “Human smuggling”

Judges: “Several interesting images, well photographed, and provides an intriguing insight into the world of human smuggling.”

Second place: Mark Henle, The Arizona Republic, “Natives”

Judges: “Helped by a tight edit, visual variety and it stays true to its theme.”

Third place: Jack Kurtz, The Arizona Republic, “Thailand”

Judges: “Like the others, it’s not really a story. It’s a collection of images from a series of events, but much of the imagery was simply too strong to ignore.”

E6. SPORTS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY (21 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Houston Chronicle, including chief photographer Smiley Pool and staff photographers Mayra Beltran, Brett Coomer and Johnny Hanson.

First place: Dean Knuth, Arizona Daily Star, “Fight”

Judges: “Wow! What a great moment. None of us have ever seen anything like this at a prep soccer game. It is raw and immediate.”

Second place: Dean Knuth, Arizona Daily Star: “Flip”

Judges: “Great peak action.”

Third place: Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic, “Rollover”

Judges: “A really nice image that is hard to get.”

E7. SPORTS FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY (13 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Houston Chronicle, including chief photographer Smiley Pool and staff photographers Mayra Beltran, Brett Coomer and Johnny Hanson.

First place: Michael Chow, The Arizona Republic, “Loss”

Judges: “First place rose to the top immediately. All the elements and layers come together perfectly.”

Second place: Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic, “Victory kiss”

Judges: “A tender moment amidst chaos.”

Third place: Charlie Leight, The Arizona Republic, “Just missed by a nose hair”

Judges: “Catches the exact moment of a baseball to the face. How can you go wrong with that?”

Honorable mention: Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic, “Finished line”

Judges: “A beautiful finish line photo that is pleasing to the eye.”

E8. PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY (12 entries)

Judges: The photo staff of the Houston Chronicle, including chief photographer Smiley Pool and staff photographers Mayra Beltran, Brett Coomer and Johnny Hanson.

First place: Cheryl Evans, The Arizona Republic, “Birds of a feather”

Judges: “A really interesting juxtaposition of elements, balancing the large and small in nature.”

Second place: Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic, “Bicycles”

Judges: “A classic, done beautifully.”

Third place: Nick Oza, The Arizona Republic, “Feed”

Judges: “Great use of color. Beautiful yet intriguing.”

COMMUNITY JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

JUDGES

Raquel Rutledge is an investigative reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Watchdog Team. Her series on widespread fraud in Wisconsin’s child-care subsidy program won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting as well as a George Polk Award, the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting and the Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Journalism.

David Ashenfelter is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for the Detroit Free Press. He has won some 70 local, state and national news writing awards during a journalism career spanning more than four decades. He covers U.S. District Court for the Free Press.

Mike Holmes, the Omaha World-Herald's breaking news and online editor, spent the majority of his career with The Associated Press before realizing that once, before retiring, it would be nice to see a newspaper actually print his byline. 

Arizona Community Journalist of the Year

Thelma Grimes, San Pedro Valley News-Sun

Judges: “Impressive coverage on a wide range of issues, from a proposal to build a private prison to small-town athletics to the slaying of a border rancher. This reporter is clearly in touch with her readers and their concerns. She clearly relishes controversy and wades into it with abandon. She gets all sides of the story, writes with depth and authority and provides crucial information -- and clarity -- to her readers.”

First runner-up

Glenn Gullickson, Echo Magazine

Judges: “Gullickson doesn't shy away from the tough topics, using a feature-writing style while holding officials and others accountable for their actions. He adds layers to his stories using timelines, editor's notes and info boxes to rope in readers and, when applicable, let them know how to get involved. Great ledes backed by stories packed with facts and good color. Hard to believe this is a one-person editorial department!”

Second runner-up

Hillary Davis, Arizona Daily Sun

Judges: “Davis covers a vast variety of issues, both feature and news, with flair. One day it’s school funding, the next, a child’s funeral. Davis is clearly an asset to her community.”

VIRG HILL ARIZONA JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

JUDGES

Steve Padilla is an assistant national editor with the Los Angeles Times. He started at the Times as a night police reporter and joined the city desk of the Times Valley Edition three years later. He helped guide the Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of a botched bank robbery in North Hollywood in 1998. Padilla also serves as a writing coach and frequently lectures on writing.

M.L. Elrick is a Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter with the Detroit Free Press. He has also worked as an investigative reporter at WDIV-TV in Detroit; as an enterprise reporter at the Daily Southtown in Chicago; and government and politics reporter at the Concord (N.H.) Monitor. He and colleague Jim Schaefer are co-authors of "The Kwame Sutra: Musings on Lust, Life and Leadership from Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick."

Margaret Holt, standards editor of the Chicago Tribune, works closely with reporters and editors about issues of accuracy, fairness and ethics. She has held a variety of reporting and editing jobs at the Tribune and the Sun-Sentinel of South Florida, including business editor and sports editor.

Virg Hill Journalist of the Year

Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic

Judges: “As the Republic’s lead immigration reporter, he was at Ground Zero for some of the most critical news stories of American life. A new spin, though, was to take this global and examine how the United States is not alone in facing these stresses of immigration. In the Republic’s special report, he led a team that explored how immigration is growing throughout the world, even as the United States has the most such people in transition. He offered Arizona readers something they really needed in 2010 — greater perspective on immigration, and he did it with insight and, when necessary, a tender heart. His stories combined hard stats with compelling portraits of immigrants living on the margins of society.”

First runners-up (tie) 

Sarah Fenske, Phoenix New Times

Judges: “Her stories combine detailed reporting with snappy, conversational writing. But as shown in ‘The Court Tower Conspiracy,’ she also has the sensibility of a storyteller, even with complicated and confusing events. Such a sensibility is often lacking in investigative reporting, so it’s a delight to see it employed here. She's also hard-hitting. Her investigation into the Housing Authority shows that.”

Shanna Hogan, Times Publications

Judges: “Hogan is a stunningly versatile journalist who produced an impressive number of compelling stories in 2010. Each was well-reported, well-written and showed a keen eye for a good story. Hogan deftly handled both tongue-in-cheek stories and tragedies. So while I never seem to catch up on everything I set aside to read, I still would like a subscription to Hogan's publication so I can see what she's tackling next.”

ARIZONA DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

JUDGES

The design staff of the Los Angeles Times.

Arizona Designer of the Year

Jen Levario Cieslak, The Arizona Republic

Judges: “The range of work here is exceptional, from high-impact front pages to a full-page infographic and a special report that could serve as a guide for how to deliver ambitious news projects. The stellar attention to detail with type and color is a theme throughout the portfolio, as is a keen sense of news judgment. This is a polished and sophisticated presentation of the news.”

First runner-up

Peter Storch, Phoenix New Times

Judges: “If these covers are any indication, readers in Arizona must look forward to each and every issue of the Phoenix New Times. Brilliant creativity, top-shelf art direction and stop-in-your-tracks presentation radiate from them.”

Second runner-up

Ayrel J. Clark, The Arizona Republic

Judges: “Consistently arresting visual storytelling is a tall order, but the ante is upped significantly in Business. File photos of corporate HQs and CEOs persist, and many stories beg for conceptual solutions rather than traditional photojournalism. That's why this portfolio is so impressive. To have someone on staff who can come up with clever approaches, illustrate those ideas and design the pages — all at a high level — is an enviable combination.”

ARIZONA PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Judges: The photo staff of the Anchorage Daily News, including Richard Murphy, photo editor; Erik Hill, photographer, Bill Roth, photographer; Marc Lester, photographer; and Bob Hallinen, photographer

Arizona Photographer of the Year

Michael Chow, The Arizona Republic

Judges: “We were very impressed by this photographer's picture stories. They were tight, well edited, and built with insightful images. We learned things about Arizona by looking at this work, it was not just ‘clip contest’ photography, but real narrative, story-telling images. The desert militia story, for instance, eschewed simple stereotypical depictions of these people in favor of strongly composed images that built a comprehensive portrait.”

First runner-up

Dean Knuth, Arizona Daily Star

Judges: “The forensics story blew us away, perhaps the best single story we saw in the contest. Tightly edited, well paced, tastefully handled.”

Second runner-up

Pat Shannahan, The Arizona Republic

Judges: “Again, picture stories were the strongest part of this entry. The story following the family fleeing Arizona was built with sweet and intimate images. Nicely done.”