Congratulations to this year’s winners.

Radio

Newscast-unedited
2nd Place: Phil Farrar, NewsRadio 600 KOGO
1st Place: KPBS Newscast at 7 a.m., Dwane Brown, KBPS News

Judges’ Comments: A solid newscast.

Serious Feature Story/Series
2nd Place: Pearl Harbor remembered, Phil Farrar and Kevin Finnerty, KOGO
1st Place: Marine Loans, Alison St. John, KPBS

Judges’ Comments: Excellent story-way to dig into an issue.

Light Feature Story/Series
2nd Place: “Harry Potter,” Beth Accomando, KPBS
1st Place: “Brincos,” Amy Isackson, KPBS

Judges’ Comments: A fascinating and gripping story! Amy’s writing style is crisp and lively!

Talk/Interview
2nd Place: “These Days: Cunningham Special Coverage,” These Days staff, KPBS
1st Place: “These Days: Steve Estrada Sex Change,” These Days staff, KPBS

Judges’ Comments: Fascinating topic, even more fascinating guests. What a good talk show should be like.

Investigative/Enterprise Story/Series
1st Place: High School Smugglers, Amy Isackson, KPBS
Judges’ Comments: Damn! That is one good story! Shocking. Way to dig up a scoop!

Regular Beat
1st Place: Kenny Goldberg, KPBS

Judges’ Comments: Solid reporting!

Criticism or Commentary
2nd Place: Dog Act and Curse of the Starving Class, Pat Launer and Kurt Kohnen, KPBS
1st Place: 36 Views, Pat Launer and Kurt Kohnen, KPBS

Judges’ Comments: Lively, fresh commentary! You make me want to go to the theatre!

Use of Sound
1st Place: San Diego Jewish Film Festival, Beth Accomando, KPBS

Judges’ Comments: Nice use of original sound.

Community Service
1st Place: A Town in Turmoil, KPBS News Staff

Judges’ Comments: Nice job.

Magazines

Investigative/Enterprise Story or Series
2nd Place: A Church Divided, S. D. Liddick, San Diego Magazine
1st Place: The Paper Chase, S.D. Liddick, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: A very thorough examination of the Copley family dynasty, the history of the San Diego Union-Tribune and in many ways, the city itself. The writer uses fascinating anecdotes and solid statistics about declining circulation to weave together a lively, comprehensive read.

Feature Story or Series
Honorable Mention: Making the Most Out of Life, Jim Fitzpatrick, San Diego Magazine
Honorable Magazine: Second Chances, Bill Manson, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles
2nd Place: Old School Poker, S.D. Liddick, San Diego Magazine
1st Place: Mike Aguirre: The Raging Bull, Tom Basinski, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: The best in a competitive category. Michael Aguirre’s personality and heavy-handed approach are really driven home via writer’s gritty and no-nonsense description. First-person storytelling at its finest.

Business Story or Series
2nd Place: Southeastern Shall Rise Again, Larry M. Edwards, San Diego Magazine
1st Place: A City in Crisis, Larry M. Edwards and Rachel Laing, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: The detailed, complete reporting gave me–an outsider– a good feel for the situation and possible courses of action.

Real Estate Story or Series
2nd Place: Pop Goes the Bubble, Larry M. Edwards, San Diego Magazine
1st Place: The Kids are All Right, Eilene Zimmerman, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: A fresh topic for real estate. Your anecdotal style, along with statistical evidence, moves the reader along quickly.

Science/Technology/Health Story/Series
2nd Place: Stress? Here? Julia Beeson, San Diego Magazine
1st Place: Stem Cell Central, Eilene Zimmerman, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: Zimmerman tackles a complicated, timely subject matter and tells the story in clear, bold lines.

Sports Story or Series
2nd Place: Deep in the Heart of Hoffman, Tom Cushman, San Diego Magazine
1st Place: An Immodest Proposal, Ron Donoho, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: An immodest proposal, about the political maneuvering behind the San Diego Chargers’ search for a new stadium, could easily have been written in a dry, dull prose. Instead, Donotto used great writing and a sense of humor to explain a complicated and usually pretty boring issue. The story was well-reported, well-written and of import to the community. Crisp, clear with personality.

Arts/Entertainment Story/Series
Honorable Mention: Once upon a time in Mexico: The next chapter in cinema, Victor Payan, The Independent
2nd Place: Faces and Races, Marcia Manna, San Diego Magazine
1st Place: Interview with a Novelist, Eilene Zimmerman, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: A poignant interview with an eminently intriquing writer. Particularly evocative were Anne Rice’s reminiscing about her beloved New Orleans, her late husband and her revelations about rediscovering her Catholicism.

Review/Criticism
Honorable Mention: Pure and Simple Cuisine, Rowena Kelley, Décor & Style
1st Place: Inspired Italian, Rowena Kelley, Décor & Style
Judges’ Comments: Great description and highly readable.

Column
Honorable Mention: My Summer Vacation, Ame Stargensky, Rancho Magazine
2nd Place: Picture Window, Peter Jensen, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles
1st Place: Ron Donoho’s Journal, Ron Donoho, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: Strong sense of identity. His biting humor and sarcasm are highly effective, not overdone. An intelligent writer who makes his points with humor and wit, making you want to keep reading even if your interest in subject matter is minimal. Good job.

Opinion/Editorial
1st Place: President’s Letter, Jim Fitzpatrick, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: No-holds barred spanking of second-term mayor for failing to step up to the plate. A strong example of opinion writing with a purpose. Fitzpatrick has no fear, and uses no pretty prose to temper his distaste. Bravo!

Original Illustration or Drawing
Honorable Mention: Help! Laurie Miller and Peter Horjus, San Diego Magazine
2nd Place: Mike Aguirre: Raging Bull, Laurie Miller and Ismael Rolden, San Diego Magazine
1st Place: Fennel Flirtation, Blair Thornley, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles

Judges’ Comments: The detail in the illustration, as well as its entertainingly coy composition, made it simply irresistable.

Photography–Single Photo or Series
Honorable Mention: Globe Trotter, Will Gullette, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles
2nd Place: Viva Veggies, Gail Owens, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles
1st Place: Mending Heroes, Laurie Miller and Tim Mantoani, San Diego Magazine

Headline
2nd Place: Slaw and Order, Eva Ditler, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles
1st Place: Things that Go Hump in the Night, Ron Donoho, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: Attention grabbing and it tells the story. It made the judges laugh.

Layout and Design — Story or Series
2nd Place: The Paper Chase, Laurie Miller, San Diego Magazine
1st Place: The Taste of San Diego, Laurie Miller, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: Simple and elegant photos are combined with consistent type faces to form a package that is pleasing and appetizing.

Layout and Design — Publication as Whole
2nd Place: San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles May 2005 issue, Laura Grantham
1st Place: San Diego Magazine December 2005 issue, Laurie Miller, Heather Eubanks and Alyssa Holstrom

Judges’ Comments: Strong typography and placement. Type is both attractive and very legible. Nice overall editorial flow culminating with interesting final page. Strong photography. Nice choice of body copy font, size and column width. Nice overall use of color.

Non-Daily

Breaking news story
2nd Place: Troubled waters persist at Rainbow water district, Lisa Harpole, Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News
1st Place: Senior Center Director Fired, Jessica Long, Poway News Chieftan

Judges’ Comments: Good quotes, and nice job of providing important background into the issue to provide context.

Non-deadline news story
Honorable Mention: Specialty pharmas’ role grows in drug market, Katie Weeks, San Diego Business Journal
2nd Place: Unions plan to make push at larger hotel projects, Connie Lewis, San Diego Business Journal
1st Place: Chula Vista event center plan draws fire, Connie Lewis, San Diego Business Journal

Judges’ Comments: A complex topic with wide-ranging effects was told clearly and concisely, a shining example of how a newspaper can benefit a community by making the arcane relevant and accessible to readers.

Feature story or series
Honorable Mention: Fallbrook Garden Club 75 Years Strong, Sarah Bates and Karina Ramos, Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News
2nd Place: Student molds surprises from clay, Donna Hartings, Poway News Chieftan
1st Place: Finding themselves; Three lost boys of Sudan find life and fame in San Diego, Kate Kowsh, The East County Californian.

Judges’ Comments: A gripping tale on an important subject, the reporter has a good balance of the subjects’ lives both before and after their arrival in America. Inspiring and thought-provoking.

Investigative/Enterprise story or series – single subject
1st Place: Billion dollar deliberation, Mike Allen, San Diego Business Journal

Judges’ Comments: An important story well-told, this is the sort of deep article one normally expects from a large daily. Kudos for tackling a thorny topic with the depth and space it required.

Business story or series
2nd Place: Australians top list of foreign investors in United States, California, Mandy Jackson, California Real Estate Journal
1st Place: Tough Times in San Diego’s avocado groves, Pat Broderick, San Diego Business Journal

Judges’ Comments: Great analysis of how a foreign trade issue comes home to affect San Diego county’s agriculture and real estate markets. Well-sourced and engagingly written, and bolstered with a rich statistical breakout. Broderick covers lots of ground on an interesting subject.”

Real Estate story or series
Honorable Mention: Campus life in off-campus condo, Pat Broderick, San Diego Business Journal
2nd Place: Developers finding pay dirt in soiled ground, Pat Broderick, San Diego Business Journal
1st Place: For sale signs hang above four prominent properties, Connie Lewis, San Diego Business Journal

Judges’ Comments: The writer took a potentially dry topic and made it easy to read. Futhermore, I wanted to learn more about the San Diego hotel industry as soon as I read the first paragraph.

Science/Technology/Health Story or Series
2nd Place: Dry-cleaning discord, Pat Broderick, San Diego Business Journal
1st Place: AIDS and migrant workers, Susan Grant, The Coast News

Judges’ Comments: Incorporates compelling narrative into a story that could have otherwise come up dry with important facts and figures. This is a great example of how to, and the importance of, making a health story come alive.

Education story or series
Honorable Mention: Rosie the riveter, Ron Jonason, Fallbrook Village News
2nd Place: $1 million still needed for FHS athletic facilities, Sarah Bates, Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News
1st Place: Bonsall fails second charter school, Lisa Harpole, Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News

Political/Government story or series
Honorable Mention: The Ecke Question, Stephen Keller, The Coast News
2nd Place: Voting Machines, Miriam Raftery, The East County Californian
1st Place: Biz leaders saw . . . , Pat Broderick, San Diego Business Journal

Legal story or series
1st Place: Bankruptcy attorney’s take, Mike Allen, San Diego Business Journal

Judges’ Comments: An interesting story about the changes in Chapter 7 laws. Very readable. Other submissions seemed ill-suited for this category.

Multicultural story or series
Honorable Mention: Latinos comprise 30 percent of Fallbrook’s population, Sarah Bates, Debbie Ramsey, Sayna Cisneros, Fred Chase and Ron Jonason, Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News
2nd Place: Hotels, eateries wooing the gay visitor, Connie Lewis, San Diego Business Journal
1st Place: Faces of immigration, Sun staff, Fadiah Mati, Steve Taffolla, Viridiana Pacheco-Isaac, Alicia Bailey, Sheilah Dasher, Rico Quinn and Justin Cooper, Southwestern College Sun

Judges’ Comments: Very thorough and interesting look breaking down topical issues surrounding immigration and multiculturalism. The clear standout in this category.

Sports story or series
Honorable Mention: Faster than a speeding bullet, Joe Naiman, Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News
2nd Place: Boxer, bodyguard to the stars now lives in Fallbrook, Joe Naiman, Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News
1st Place: New breed races against Del Mar, Connie Lewis, San Diego Business Journal

Judges’ Comments: Ms. Lewis brings to light the problems facing longtime track. Well-reported, with historical perspective and somewhat dim future prospects clearly mapped out. A dilemma well-illustrated.

Arts/Entertainment story or series
2nd Place: Rhymin’ Ruminators, Stephen Keller, The Coast News
1st Place: Papa’s dream: the San Diego roots of Chicano music, Victor Payan, San Diego City Beat

Judges’ Comments: Great description and highly readable story about a one-man cultural revolution.

Opinion/Editorial
Honorable Mention: Donnie Boyle, The Telescope, Palomar College
2nd Place: Dan Auld, San Diego Business Journal
1st Place: Rick Bell, San Diego Business Journal

Judges’ Comments: His editorials went a long way toward clarifying tough issues. He supports his arguments in a clear, concise manner and comes across as logical and firm.

Column
Honorable Mention: Nathalie Taylor, Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News
2nd Place: Laurie Walcher, Presidio Sentinel
1st Place: Editor’s Notebook, Rick Bell, San Diego Business Journal

Judges’ Comments: Accessible–he takes difficult subjects and makes them reader friendly. Strong writing, solid grammarian–all-around good reads.

College Media

Best Newspaper
Honorable Mention: The Telescope, Palomar College
2nd Place: City Times, San Diego City College
1st Place: Southwestern College Sun

Judges’ Comments: Judges can tell your reporters are having fun–and showing much passion for their work. Great Coverage of extremely controversial issues! Is there anyone on campus not protesting something?

News Story or Series–Print
Honorable Mention: Books Not Bullets, Rico Quinn, Southwestern College Sun
2nd Place: Clubs Call for Boycott of Paper, Jose Lara, Southwestern College Sun
1st Place: SRTV Closure series, Matt L’Heureur, Vladimir Kogan and Charles Nguyen, UCSD Guardian

Judges’ Comments: An exhaustive, well-written and researched series of articles that dealt with, besides the news, how major players were affected by the SRTV closure. Captured the diverse emotions. Great reporting!!!

In-Depth Reporting, Story or Series-Print
Honorable Mention: University releases restaurant health grades, Vladimir Kogan, UCSD Guardian
2nd Place: Battle for a sacred mountain, Sheilah Dasher, Southwestern College Sun
1st Place: Bordering on Tension, Viridiana Pacheco-Isaac, Southwestern College Sun

Judges’ Comments: Excellent lead-in. Good balance. Great at explaining the issue. Incredible quotes. Good job of interweaving descriptive prose. You show real promise of becoming a professional journalist.

Feature Story or Series-Print
Honorable Mention: Born out of necessity, Judy Sarup, City Times, San Diego City College
2nd Place: Finding success in the middle, Dashiell Kuhr, City Times, San Diego City College
1st Place: Finding his voice, Andrew Phelps, The Telescope, Palomar College

Judges’ Comments: Writing about a handicapped student can sometimes be stereotypical but Phelps takes this young man’s story to an intriguing level. The deaf student’s story truly shines through. Excellent details. Great action!

Sports Story or Series–Print
Honorable Mention: To the extreme, Marwan Razouk, The Telescope, Palomar College
2nd Place: Sun lights up Jaguars, Sergio Ascencio, Southwestern College Sun
1st Place: Beyond Palomar, Matt Null, Marwan Razouk, The Telescope, Palomar College

Judges’ Comments: Excellent forward spin regarding transferring students. Good job of putting together stories on issue that is always there but deserved attention. Nice personality profiles on all three student athletes.

Arts/Entertainment Story or Series–Print
Honorable Mention: Looking for Laramie, John Asbury, The Telescope, Palomar College
2nd Place: That professor rocks!, Mitchell Kalb, Southwestern College Sun
1st Place: Biology: Eastlake hot spot Café Salotto is Chula Vista’s new cool haunt, Michael Garcia, Southwestern College Sun

Judges’ Comments: Excellent lead-in narrative. Very colorful and descriptive. I really felt like I was there in the same room as Marroquin. And now I really want a vanilla latte with caramel! This story definitely had spice!

Review/Criticism–Print
Honorable Mention: DVD gives Grateful Dead New Life, Donnie Boyle, The Telescope, Palomar College
2nd Place: Sushi Deli 2 Ranks No. 1, Lauren Ciallella, City Times, San Diego City College
1st Place: Twisted savants of the bizarre convert to the church of rock ‘n roll, Ian S. Port, UCSD Guardian

Judges’ Comments: Review flowed well and reviewer had a good grasp of the music. Snappy prose despite a rookie inclination to over do it. ‘Artsy-fart holes’ probably should have been edited out. But a good, interesting review.

Regular Column–Print
Honorable Mention: Date Rape Drugs a New Menace, Paola Ivette Monroy and David Vera, Southwestern College Sun
2nd Place: Thomas May, The Telescope, Palomar College
1st Place: Lines in the San, Ian S. Port, UCSD Guardian

Judges’ Comments: His style was combative and provocative, he probably raises the temperatures of readers. His research is thorough and adds weight to his opinions.

Headline–Print
Honorable Mention: SWC Free Speech Area Proves to be Costly, Southwestern College Sun staff
2nd Place: Ensalada Just North of Ensenada, Jonathan Pivar, City Times, San Diego City College
1st Place: The Whine of Sideways, Lauren Ciallella, City Times, San Diego City College

Judges’ Comments: It makes the reader want to read the review. Quirky hed that sums up the reviewer’s opinion of film in a nutshell.

Photography–Print
Honorable Mention: Basketball has Eye on Repeat Championship, Mike Sullivan, City Times
2nd Place: He was Born Special, Carlos Moreno, Southwestern College Sun
1st Place: Bordering on Tension, Josh Calley, Southwestern College Sun

Judges’ Comments: Very good photo/news that showed the emotions of both sides affected in the debate.

Layout & Design–Print
Honorable Mention: Coach’s Pipeline Helps Catcher Transfer, Matt Null, The Telescope, Palomar College
2nd Place: City Times Wins Key Grant, Sandi Garcia, City Times, San Diego City College
1st Place: Roaring Start, Jose Lara, Southwestern College Sun

Judges’ Comments: Nice, big photo with batter’s extended foot draws the reader in. Accompanied by a strong hed, smaller baseball photo add to story but don’t clash with lead photo. Secondary stories have presence but don’t rob lead of its top presence.

High School Essay Contest
The San Diego Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to recognize three local high school students, who considered the value of free media in SPJ’s recent annual high school essay contest. The winners each received $100, and an invitation to tonight’s banquet. The winners are also eligible for college scholarships awarded by the national SPJ. The top three local essayists are Brian Sapper, Rachel Cromida and Hailey Hu.

Newspaper Design

News Design — Single Page, Daily
Honorable Mention: Yellow Fever, Josh Penrod, San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: The Dragon Awaits, Dave Wilson, San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Cycling’s Elite Hub, Craig Blanchard, San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: Way to go bold! This graphic treatment surprises and informs — it’s unpredictable in a rewarding way with the wraparound.

Feature Design — Single Page, Daily
Honorable Mention: Motor Fuel, Mike Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Like Clockwork, Chris Meighan, San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Annus Mirabilis, Michelle Carlin, San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: Creative and evocative — nice color, balance, word play, historical elements and information . . .especially timeline.

News Design — Single Page, Nondaily
1st Place: Butterflies, Tom Chambers, Rancho Sante Fe News

Judges’ Comments: Butterflies across the page pleasantly surprises with a light and whimsical touch.

Original Illustration or Drawing
Honorable Mention: Embryonic State, Cristina Martinez, San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Healthy Choices, Cristina Martinez, San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Society’s Forgotten, Lucas Turnbloom, The Southern Cross

Judges’ Comments: Stark and powerful, matching the subject. Clean clear and compelling without being dark and overpowering.

News Photo
Honorable Mention: Homeowners Still Battling Landslide, Michael J. Kacmarcik
2nd Place: Standoff, Don Boomer, North County Times
1st Place: Drenched, Sean M. Haffey, San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: Technically excellent with thoughtful framing. This image, simultaneously complex and simple, invites lingering.

Feature Photo
Honorable Mention: Getting ‘Gussied Up’ for a Hot Summer Night, Ron Jonason, Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News
2nd Place: Top Dog, Jim Baird, San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Floating and Fishing, Sean DuFrene, Today’s Local News

Judges’ Comments: Classic setting with harmonious composition, appropriate framing, and evocative mood.

Sports Photo
Honorable Mention: Finding Nevinland, Earnie Grafton, San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Roar at the Shore, Sean M. Haffey, San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: A Pick-Me-Up for the Offense, Sean M. Haffey, San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: Literal balance; great composition; human emotion and context.

Photo Essay
Honorable Mention: Close Encounters, Nadia Borowski Scott, San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Minute by Minute, Don Boomer, North County Times
1st Place: Waves of Healing, Jamie Scott Lytle, North County Times

Judges Comments: Sensitive, varied — some images full of motion and fun, others quiet and calm like the B-7 photo, which is tender and truly touching.

News Headline
Honorable Mention: Radio Ad Execs Wonder Why Star Fell So Quickly, Rick Bell, San Diego Business Journal
2nd Place: The Gulp of Mexico, Rich Scannell, San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: 10 Commandments, 2 Rulings, Joe Taylor, San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: Quickly conveys news of national significance while setting up contrast between biblical legalism and judicial interpretation.

Feature Headline
Honorable Mention: The Yuck Stops Here, Steve Adamek, San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: A Lion, a Zebra and a Penguin Walk into a Bar, Martin Zimmerman, San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Horton Hearts a Cha-Ching, Brad Sondak, San Diego Business Journal

Judges’ Comments: Pun is not obvious, reflects some contemporary cultural context and tells the story.

Special Newspaper Section
Honorable Mention: San Diego’s Wealthiest, San Diego Business Journal
2nd Place: Pope John Paul II: A Pope for the World, San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Building Hope, Darrin Mortenson and Hayne Palmour, North County Times

Judges’ Comments: Wow! While most Americans heard about the historic Election Day in Iraq, few experienced the event the way readers of North County Times did through the writing and lens of hometown journalists. Gathering images and information from Iraqis and from area Marines stationed in Najaf, Mortenson’s compelling writing and Palmour’s vivid photographs are storytelling at its best.

Online

News Site–Staff of Five or Fewer
2nd Place: ValleyCenter.com, ValleyCenter.com staff
1st Place: Nursezone.com, Nursezone staff, Carol Burke, Claire Brocato, Judy Xi and Paul Taylor Judges’ Comments: This site is clean, organized and easy to navigate. It’s simple to find the latest news, featurees and archives. Search appears to work well. Photos are consistently used. Site would seem to be effective in building a community, with information about nursing for immigrants, student and travel nursing resources, and self care and relationship offerings.

News Site–Staff of Six or More
2nd Place: NCTimes.com, Andrew Kleske and NCTimes.com staff
1st Place: SignOnSanDiego.com, SignOnSanDiego.com staff

Judges’ Comments: This polished site features high-quality reporting and writing. Home and section pages are congested, but full of interest. The site felt vast, but easy to navigate. The forums appear to be very active, and a good community builder. “Today’s Paper” is a great offering as are the surf report, maps, webcams and a strong traffic product.

Entertainment Site
2nd Place: Preview Magazine, Andrew Kleske and NCTimes.com Staff
1st Place: Entertainment Guide, SignOnSanDiego.com Entertainment Guide staff

Judges’ Comments: Lots of interesting stuff to choose from, from Bartender of the Month to fairs and festivals, plus all of the regular subjects. It’s like being in an online candy store.

Multimedia Package
Honorable Mention: 20th Anniversary, AMNHealthcare.com, Christina Orlovsky, Shelley Wright and Susanna Pagan
2nd Place: Building Hope, Hayne Palmour IV, NCTimes.com
1st Place: Street Scene 2005, SignOnSanDiego.com Entertainment Guide Staff, Maya Kroth, Mark Balanky, AnnaMaria Stephens, Yvette de la Garza, Jonathan Berry, Leah Laux, Andy Pates and Mark Gariss

Judges’ Comments: This presentation benefited from years of previous work on the event. Offerings were watchable and benefited from editing. A comprehensive packaging plan, with ticket information, schedules, transportation, dining and other services gave visitors incentive to spend a considerable amount of time with this multimedia project. It no doubt enhanced the experience of those able to attend the performances, and it fulfilled the curiosity of those who couldn’t, with its edgy style.

Design
Honorable Mention: Hit the Pavement, AnnaMaria Stephens and Jonathan Berry, SignOnSanDiego Entertainment Guide
2nd Place: Balboa Park, SignOnSanDiego Entertainment Guide Staff
1st Place: NCTimes.com, Andrew Kleske and NCTimes.com Staff

Judges’ Comments: This site is very thorough, incorporating impressive design elements with easy browsing. Very readable, with good artwork and photographs to draw people in. Very nice work.

Breaking News Story
Honorable Mention: Murphy Resigns, Jeff Dillon, SignOnSanDiego.com
2nd Place: Murphy’s Tenure Marked by Missed Warning Signs, Andrew Donohue, voiceofsandiego.org
1st Place: No Major San Diego Bases on BRAC List, NCTimes.com Staff

Judges’ Comments: The base closure package is an example of breaking news coverage that emphasized the assets of the Internet. In addition to a well-written, comprehensive story on deadline, the page included the BRAC report itself, a break-out box of jobs lost and gained, previous coverage and an evocative photo. Plus it offered readers a chance to comment. It’s difficult to pull all this together, but this effort showed great teamwork.

Non-Deadline News Story
Honorable Mention: Officials Could Lose Thousands if Benefits Judged Illegal, Evan McLaughlin, voiceofsandiego.org
Honorable Mention: Hungry, Fed Up, San Diegans have all but Given Up on County’s Food Stamp System, Will Carless, voiceofsandiego.org
2nd Place: A Question of Ethics, Evan McLaughlin, voiceofsandiego.org
1st Place: Convictions cement San Diego’s political upheaval, Andrew Donohue, voiceofsandiego.org

Judges’ Comments: Wow. A succint round-up of the chaos and corruption swirling around City Hall. Told with clarity, vivid description and color.

Feature Story or Series
2nd Place: Metal of Honor, Gary Warth, NCTimes.com
1st Place: Life in the Shadow of Tarps, Will Carless and Evan McLaughlin, voiceofsandiego.org
Judges’ Comments: “This is a great idea with a strong lead, good pictures and a well-thought out story.

Business Story or Series
2nd Place: Do your Homework Before Picking a Place to Donate, Andrew Kleske, NCTimes.com
1st Place: Traffic Sucks and Other Lessons from the Highway –Three-part series, Catherine MacRae Hockmuth, voiceofsandiego.org

Judges’ Comments: Terrific reporting and skillful handling of statistics to create a well-rounded profile of the San Diego car-nation. Nice blend of “live” reporting and analysis of various reports and sources. Good job!

Real Estate Story or Series
2nd Place: Buyers Beware–Four-part series, Will Carless, voiceofsandiego.org
1st Place: The Great Wall of University City, Will Carless, voiceofsandiego.org

Judges’ Comments: Good grabby lead. Thorough reporting. Definitely got a sense of the bureaucracy run amok simply through the accumulation of evidence rather than partisanship. Subheads would have been helpful–photos are great–and the corrections, while minor, area a drawback. Great story!

Science/Technology/Health Story/Series
Honorable Mention: A Laser Quest, Will Carless, voiceofsandiego.org
2nd Place: Nurse valiantly fights neurological disorder, Christina Orlovsky, Nursezone.com
1st Place: Into the Eye of the Storm, Literally, Will Carless, voiceofsandiego.org

Judges’ Comments: Vivid writing, along with sharp topic and character selection make this a good read. A compelling mix of science, Hollywood and machismo.

Arts/Entertainment Story/Series
Honorable Mention: Word is Born, Will Carless, voiceofsandiego.org

Review/Criticism
1st Place: Great Looks Prove Not Enough at Pacific Beach’s Tower 23, AnnaMaria Stephens, SignOnSanDiego Entertainment Guide

Judges’ Comments: Great beginning. Smooth writing throughout the piece. Concise and well-executed.

Photography–Single Photo or Series
2nd Place: Summer Storm, Hayne Palmour IV, NCTimes.com
1st Place: Migrant Workers, Jessica Horton, voiceofsandiego.org

Headline
1st Place: From Bunions to Bird Flu, Andrew Kleske, NCTimes.com

Judges’ Comments: Alliterative and provocative.

Blog
Honorable Mention: Andrew Phelps, andrewphelps.com
1st Place: Alan Drooz, SignOnSanDiego.com

Column
Honorable Mention: Scott Lewis, voiceofsandiego.org
2nd Place: Alan Drooz, SignOnSanDiego.com
1st Place: Insites, Andrew Kleske, NCTimes.com

Judges’ Comments: Clean writing entertains and informs without preaching. Clever, witty and very readable — lots of punch for the buck!

Newspaper

Breaking News Story
2nd Place: 6 Officials Charged, Philip J. LaVelle and Greg Moran, San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Split Decisions, Kelly Thornton, Greg Moran and Caitlin Rother, San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comment: A masterful job of comprehensive reporting of a complex and fast-moving story.

Non-Deadline News Story
Honorable Mention: Old Hotel Yields Historical Cache, Martin Stolz, San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Prison Transfer Program Plagued by Escapes, Joe Cantlupe and Dave Hasemyer, San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Illegal Immigrants: The Disappeared, Leslie Berestein, San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: A brilliant piece of writing and reporting. Done with great empathy and insight. This is a story that too few Americans ever see.

Feature Story or Series
Honorable Mention: Crowning Achievement, Alex Roth, The San Diego-Union Tribune
2nd Place: Vanished: The Mystery of the Gina Lisa, Alex Roth, The San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: The Wreck of the Emerald Jane, John Wilkens, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: What an utterly compelling story. I could not stop reading once I got started. Well-structured and well-reported with the kind of detail that could only be had by delving into the lives of a remarkable family. Honest, direct and never maudlin. Very powerful.

Investigative/Enterprise Story/Series
Honorable Mention: Food for the Taking, Jeff McDonald, The San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Landlord of Opportunity, Leslie Wolf Branscomb and Tanya Sierra, The San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Randy “Duke” Cunningham takes $2.4 Million in Bribes, Marcus Stern, Jerry Kammer and Union-Tribune Staff

Judges’ Comments: This is the kind of work that makes one proud to be a journalist: tally truth to power through the careful accumulation of one damning detail after another. What a public service this series of stories performed. Bravo.

Business Story or Series
Honorable Mention: The New Grapes of Wrath, Diane Lindquist, The San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Insurance is Unlikely to Address Landslides, Lori Weisberg, The San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: In Harm’s Way: Titan in Iraq, David Washburn and Bruce Bigelow, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: The reporters tackled this story with a vengeance. A very thorough and eye-opening report on the very real human costs of government experimentation in a war zone.

Real Estate Story or Series
Honorable Mention: Burden of Debt, Emmet Pierce, The San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Baja’s Building Boom, Sandra Dibble and Lori Weisberg, The San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: A Paycheck and a House, Lori Weisberg and Emmet Pierce, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: The reporters employed an impressive outside-the-box approach to this story about affordable housing and the widening gap between housing costs and wages. An impressive package that leaves no stone unturned.

Science/Technology Story or Series
Honorable Mention: Wi-Fi Hot Spots, Ruth Marvin Webster, Today’s Local News
2nd Place: Heartwork, R.J. Ignelzi, The San Diego Union Tribune
1st Place: A Cure for Adam, Terri Somers, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: A heart-wrenching story about a family desperately seeking a cure for their young son. Somers executed an extraordinary balancing act delving into the family’s hope, the issues surrounding the unproven treatment and the national debate over stem cells.

Education Story or Series
Honorable Mention: Kindergarten or Kindergrind?, Helen Gao, The San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Academic Isolation, Eleanor Yang, The San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Reading, Writing and Retail Tours, Sherry Parmet, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: The story tackes and important topic–the growing commercialization of public education — in a very readable and balanced way.

Political/Government Story or Series
Honorable Mention: America’s Cheapest City, Lori Weisberg and David Washburn, The San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Boat Use by Cunningham Stirs Debate, Mark Walker and Will Bennett, North County Times
1st Place: Watchdog Report: Digging into San Diego’s Money Mess, The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff

Judges’ Comments: For such a beautiful city, San Diego has certainly been the motherlode of malfeasance, corruption and dysfunctional government. These stories live up to the classic role of a newspaper: to identify the problems clearly. This series is exceptional in its scope, ingenuity and clarity.

Legal Story or Series
Honorable Mention: Foreigners’ Consul Rights a Major Issue, Jose Luis Jimenez, The San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Life or Death, Teri Figueroa, North County Times
1st Place: Slain Officer’s Widow Awaits Justice, Scott Marshall, North County Times

Judges’ Comments: So many things went wrong in this murder, but to think that an officer’s murder might have been prevented by a better bullet-proof vest is truly tragedy compounded. A good thorough look at the issues and context of a lawsuit.

Multicultural Story or Series
Honorable Mention: Trabajadores, Heather Chambers, Today’s Local News
2nd Place: Reviving a Legacy, Chet Barfield, The San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Highway Safety Signs Become Running Story on Immigration, Leslie Berestein, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: A fascinating story told in a clear and intelligent way. Good stories should always tell us something we’ve never heard before and certainly this one meets that standard. A clear winner.

Sports Story or Series
Honorable Mention: Clean Getaways, Mark Zeigler, The San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Hot Winter Nights, Ed Graney, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges Comments: Mr. Graney seems to find the great stories that are seemingly right under our noses, and brings great heart as well as great writing to his pieces. Threads cultural issues that inform so many sports stories and reveals simple joy inherent to the athletic endeavor.

1st Place: Steroids, Mark Zeigler, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: Well-researched on several fronts: uncovered the science and the skills behind America’s pastime, and behind the biggest scandal in sports today. Avoiding the easy demonizing found in most steroid-related stories, Ziegler seeks a deeper truth in a complicated issue. Appealing in its statistical bent and featuring a package to occupy a baseball-obsessed mind. Well-reported, well-researched and original.

Arts/Entertainment Story or Series
Honorable Mention: I Use the Power-Kanye West, George Varga, The San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: The Glass Curtain, Anne Marie Welsh, The San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Theater, Inc., Jennifer de Poyen and Anne Marie Welsh, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: A very interesting and unique take on the economic value of local theater. These stories live up to their vibrant subject.

Review/Criticism
Honorable Mention: Taking a Ride with All the Pretty Killers, Arthur Salm, The San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: See Footnote, Arthur Salm, The San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: On Erratic Course, Playhouse in Danger of Getting Lost?, Anne Marie Welsh, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: This is an authoritative piece of writing that draws its power from the critic’s open-minded and serious attention paid over time to a theater company. Harsh as this review is, the artists should be grateful that someone takes their work so seriously.

Opinion/Editorial
Honorable Mention: Chaos at City Hall, William Osborne, The San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Dan McSwain, North County Times
1st Place: Criminals Don’t Deserve Your Tax Dollars, Andrew Kleske, North County Times

Judges’ Comments: Clean, well-written, with strong lead and great kicker. This guy can write!! Persuasive and thought-provoking.

Column
Honorable Mention: Karla Peterson, The San Diego Union-Tribune
2nd Place: Tim Sullivan, The San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: Ruben Navarrette Jr., San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: Well-researched, strong arguments, unwavering logic, all wrapped up in wonderful, concise writing. Unbeatable.

Television

Breaking News
2nd Place: Council Sentencing, Steve Fiorina, KGTV-10News
1st Place: Fleeing from Fire, Tena Ezzeddine, KSWB-TV

Judges’ Comments: Writing and sound complement each other. Stand-up moved story forward editing created sense of urgency.

Serious Feature–Day of Airing
1st Place: Kidnapper Caught, Tena Ezzeddine, KSWB-TV

Judges’ Comments: Easy to understand. Focus on mother learning daughter raped dramatic, heart wrenching, yet didn’t seem sensationalized. Good visual/audio flow.

Serious Feature–Pre-produced
2nd Place: Missing Submarine, J.W. August, Rett Lawrence and Thom Jensen, KGTV-10News
1st Place: Tsunami: Mission to Heal, Carol LeBeau, Kyle Majors and Janine Nakama, KGTV-10News

Judges’ Comments: Multiple sources, good editing made you feel as if there.

Sports Story/Series
1st Place: Broken Dreams, J.W. August, Rett Lawrence and Thom Jensen, KGTV-10News

Judges’ Comments: Kept viewer interest. Well shot. Loved framing on mother’s interview.

Regular Segment
1st Place: Drugged, Driver, Bad Botox, Rats, Marti Emerald, Kristen Castillo, Tim Gaughen, J.W. August and Heidi Ortiz, KGTV-10News

Judges’ Comments: Cool rat shots. Excellent rodent video. Good flow of information.

Investigative/Enterprise Story
2nd Place: eBay Bully, Marti Emerald, Kristen Castillo, Tim Gaughen, J.W. August and Heidi Ortiz, KGTV-10News
1st Place: Policing the Police, J.W. August, Rett Lawrence and Thom Jensen, KGTV-10News

Judges’ Comments: The stat that sold us was the number of calls/percentage reports. Then comparing percentage to L.A. and S.D. sheriff. Strong bites from chief and non-reported crime victims.

Investigative/Enterprise Series
2nd Place: Airline Safety, J.W. August, Rett Lawrence and Thom Jensen, KGTV
1st Place: Neighborhood House, J.W. August; Rett Lawrence and Thom Jensen, KGTV

Judges’ Comments: Obtained documents to prove case. Gave specific details (salaries, cost per child, travel money and destinations). Covered both sides. Put story in perspective.

Community Service
1st Place: Dirty City, Marti Emerald, Kristen Castillo, Tim Gaughen, J.W. August and Heidi Ortiz

Judges’ Comments: Series dealing with real problem. Showing how community can get involved. View e-mails/web link. Great video. Very promotable. Also station steps up to clean up.

Special Awards

Herbert Lockwood “Woody” Award
Honorable Mention: Sniffing Our Way to New Friendships, Catherine MacRae Hockmuth, voiceofsandiego.org
2nd Place: My Personal Home Shopper, Sharon Whitley Larsen, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles
1st Place: Planners Pooh Pooh No Toilet, David D. Ross, Valley Roadrunner

Judges’ Comments: Wryly written!

Sol Price Prize for Responsible Journalism
Honorable Mention: Preserving Paradise, Tom Blair, San Diego
2nd Place: The Other War, Anna Cearley, The San Diego Union-Tribune
1st Place: High School Smugglers, Amy Isackson, KPBS News

Judges’ Comments: There were so many good, powerful entries that spoke of the power of the press. This entry moved the judges emotionally. The backstory is equally remarkable.

Diversity Prize
2nd Place: Faces of Immigration, Southwestern College Sun Steve Taffolla, Viridiana Pacheco-Isaac, Sheilah Dasher, Rico Quinn, Fadiah Mati and Alicia Bailey
1st Place: Los Indocumentos, Kevin Cox, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: A good read that gives you a sense of the complexity of the debate.

First Amendment Award
2nd Place: Romeo’s Revenge, Marti Emerald, Kristen Castillo, Tim Gaughen, J.W. August and Heidi Ortiz, KGTV-10News

Judges’ Comments: A close one for first.

1st Place: Tri-City Hospital Records Battle, Adam Klawonn, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Judges’ Comments: Good show of the muscle of public records laws, even if the results were small (nothing in the records).

James Julian Memorial Prize
The Personification of Unconditional Love, Denis Grasska, The Southern Cross

Comments: A good read.

Best of Show

Best of Show–Radio
Brincos, Amy Isackson, KPBS News

Judges’ Comments: It was fascinating to hear this story unfold. How disturbing-or encouraging-of a story. Top notch journalism.

Best of Show-Non Daily
Tough Times in San Diego’s Avocado Groves, Pat Broderick, San Diego Business Journal

Judges’ Comments: Solid reporting on a story that lays out volumes of information on a simple subject-avocados-that has immense implications.

Best of Show–Design
Waves of Healing, Jamie Scott Lytle, North County Times

Judges’ Comments: This essay tells a multifaceted, touching story with balance, restraint, and sensitivity. This is unusual enough, with its mix of photos, to merit best overall in the division.

Best of Show-College
Finding His Voice, Andrew Phelps, The Telescope, Palomar College

Judges’ Comments: Reporter Andrew Phelps wrote an incredible story about a Palomar student who is deaf and has no oral voice. Phelps captured the unusual quality of sign language, “an organic, three-dimensional environment where the language of the body is as important as the words.” That understanding is difficult for a hearing person to accomplish. The deaf student is a champion debater and his story is best of its class.

Best of Show-Television
Dirty City, Marti Emerald, Kristen Castillo, Tim Gaughen, J.W. August and Heidi Ortiz

“Dirty City” impacts community, involved viewers through e-mails and showing how to help. Well shot–made trash on side of road interesting. Very promotable series. Good image builder for station. Shows commitment and partnership with community.

Best of Show – Online
Street Scene 2005, SignOnSanDiego Entertainment Guide Staff, Maya Kroth, Mark Balanky, AnnaMaria Stephens, Yvette de la Garza, Jonathan Berry, Leah Laux, Andy Pates and Mark Gariss

Judges’ Comments: Comprehensive, well written and easy to follow.

Best of Show-Magazine
The Paper Chase, S.D. Liddick, San Diego Magazine

Judges’ Comments: This two-part series chronicles the Copley newspaper dynasty and its profound effects on San Diego County. Writer S.D. Liddick gives the family mixed grades but leaves the readers with a glimmer of hope that the Union-Tribune will provide better service to the community under the stewardship of current publisher David Copley. This effort should inspire a larger, historical work based on more extensive research.

Best of Show-Print
Randy “Duke” Cunningham takes $2.4 million in Bribes, Marcus Stern, Jerry Kammer and Union-Tribune Staff

Judges’ Comments: Any other year, this would be a difficult choice. So many strong stories:

The Wreck of the Emerald Jane, absolutely riveting. Illegal Immigrants: the Disappeared; powerful, poignant, exactly the kind of story a responsible paper in this border town of ours should be pursuing.

But this year, there’s an elephant in the print shop. The Marcus Stern/Copley/Union-Tribune stories on Randy “Duke” Cunningham simply tower above all regional and state reporting this year. From the first tiny inkling that something was wrong with the Dukester’s house sale, to this corrupt man’s farewell to freedom just months later, Stern’s reporting validated all those things we tell ourselves about our profession at its best:

Its mission is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable,

Give light, and the people will find their own way

And finally, validating Thomas Jefferson’s astonishing statement: “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate for a moment to prefer the latter.”

The Cunningham series embodies what should constitute prize-winning journalism: It should require both “smarts” and sweat on the part of the writer; it should be difficult and demanding, and it should ask of the publication involved both a moral and a financial commitment.

And for the reporters on all those other good stories, there remains the advice of Victor Fleming, who directed “The Wizard of Oz” in 1939:

“I’ve learned never to make my best movie in the same year somebody else makes ‘Gone with the Wind.'”

last modified 2006-07-19 16:25