Here are the results of The Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies journalism competition for Region 9.
These are the winners from Division B.
Please note: in a few categories, the judges found no winners. Those categories are not listed.
B1
General News
First Place
Sara Israelsen-Hartley
“The Pull of Pills: Many Are Abusing Legal Prescriptions”
Deseret News
Comment: A thorough story that used compelling personal narratives to convey the gravity of a statewide problem.
2nd Place
Baylie Evans
“400 Days Apart”
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Honorable mention:
Laura Hancock
“A Rolling Protest Ride”
Deseret News
B2
Breaking news
First place:
Jason Auslander
Santa Fe New Mexican
“Burglars flee trail of bullets”
“The feature-style story telling the reporter used effectively explains and builds suspense in this story. Readers can feel the anxiety this victim must have endured.”
B 3 – Gen. Reporting Series or package
1 Elaine Jarvik and Lois Collins – Deseret News – Gray Area: Utah as it ages
2 Karen Hunt Lambert – The Herald Journal – New neighbors
3 J Adrian Stanley – Colorado Springs Independent – Not here, not yet
4B, Investigative/Enterprise
first place: Laura Snider, Daily Camera, Boulder’s fall from the Kyoto protocol
judge’s comments: The package explains easily a complex matter. It offers several sidebars that allow the reader to reach his own conclusions.
second place: Josh Loftin, Salt Lake City Weekly, They are watching you
Honorable mention: Adrian Stanley, Colorado Springs Independent, Tabor Tyranny
B5
News Feature
First Place:
Baylie Davis
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
“Crashing Halt”
Comment: Davis told a compassionate story about a tragic accident and then used it to look at the history of drinking in Wyoming and the state’s political and social attitudes towards drinking. The context added complexity and interest to the Enyeart’s story and highlighted what a big problem drunk driving is in Wyoming.
2nd place
Lois M. Collins
Caught in the Middle
Desert News
Honorable Mention
Laura Snider
Looking Back on a Brush with Destruction
Daily Camera
B6
First place:
Personal columns
Doug Robinson
Deseret News
B7
Editorials
First place:
D. Reed Eckhardt
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
“Agenda 2009: Education”
“Thoughtful, persuasive well-written argument”
B8
Headlines
First place:
Dale Shrull
Glenwood Springs Post-Independent
“None Given”
“Creative and clever while still explanatory and of all the entries, Dale was the only one who wrote all heds in his entry.”
Second place:
Staff
Denver Business Journal
Honorable mention:
Copy desk
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
B9
Education reporting
First place:
Kirsten Akens
Colorado Springs Independent
“Sample problems”
10B
Political Reporting
1st — Julie Ann Grimm, The Santa Fe New Mexican, “Transfer Tax Showdown”
Comments: A very thorough examination of a transfer tax ballot issue, with great use of the MLS database to determine how many recent home sales would have been affected. Well-sourced and clearly written.
2nd — Lee Davidson and Bob Bernick, Jr., Deseret News, “‘Reform’ creates big, new loophole for gift reporting”
3rd — Ed Sealover and Bob Mook, Denver Business Journal, “Rating Ritter”
11B
Legal Affairs
1st — Pamela White, Boulder Weekly, “Until Proven Guilty”
Comments: An exceptionally thoughtful, well-researched story about what has gone wrong with the juvenile justice system. Very nice exploration of all sides of the issues, brought to life by compelling stories of several juvenile offenders.
12 B Science/Environmental/Healthcare Reporting – 12B
1st Place winner: J. Adrian Stanley, Colorado Springs Independent, “The Tick and the Time Bomb”
Judge’s comments: A fascinating account of a man’s battle with a mysterious illness. Excellent research and explanatory reporting on the medical debate surrounding Lyme disease.
2nd Place winner: Staci Matlock, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Tracing Water’s Hidden Journey”
Judge’s comments: A capable analysis of a complex issue that affects people’s everyday lives. This report shed light on the reasons some wells run dry, using government research and interviews to explain how aquifers work.
Honorable mention: Eric Peterson, Salt Lake City Weekly
13B
Sports General Reporting
First place:
Morgan Stanfield
The O&P Edge
“Beautiful Rebels: Paradox Sports Celebrates Guts, Gimps and Glory”
“Eye-opening article. An easy, entertaining article that was a pleasure to read.”
14B Sports Feature – 14B
1st Place winner: Ian St. Clair, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, “Lane Frost”
Judge’s comments: A sensitive portrayal of a rodeo legend who is remembered with affection 20 years after his death. Solid research, good use of quotes and a well-crafted story.
2nd Place winner: Wren Abbott, Salt Lake City Weekly, “Child’s Play”
Judge’s comments: Vivid descriptions made this feature on children’s motocross come to life. The story provides an intriguing look into this controversial sport.
3rd Place winner: Dale Shrull, Glenwood Springs Post Independent, “Stonehouse dreams big”
15B Sports Columns
first place: Dale Shrull, Post Independent, Sports columns
Judge’s comments: Dale’s columns reveal a lot of reporting and a good eye for detail. His readers are not drowned in verbiage, but emerge with strong impressions of the people and events. Dale should watch his length, though, or break stories up with sidebars.
dshrull@postindenpendent.com
second place: Ralph Routon, Colorado Springs Independent, Sports Columns
honorable mention: Ian St. Clair, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Sports Columns
istclair@wyomingnews.com
16 B General Reporting Business
Eric Peterson, “Jacked” City Weekly
Good read, you felt you got the whole enchillida when you finished Peterson’s story. He took a complicated subject and made it understandable. Nice work
2nd Renee McGaw “Losing HQ’s” Denver Business Journal
I do have to commet on Ms McGaw’s work for this story. This was exceptional work by the reporter…. It was tough to separate the first two place finished because both are
what superior reporting is about.
3rd Renee McGaw “Banks Struggle to Lend” Denver Business Journal
17B Feature Writing Business
Greg Avery “Remembering the Cable Boom” Denver Business Journal
Reporter Avery has written a fact filled, fast passed and interesting read on the cable industry and
the influence of Denver on the industry and the industry on Denver. Award worthy for sure.
2nd Jasen Lee “Blind Real Estate-Keen Insights” Deseret News
3d. Greg Campbell “Street Smart” Yellow Scene Magazine
18B Investigative/Enterprise Business
Eric Peterson “All Bets Are Off” Salt Lake City Weekly
A fast talking con man is taken down. Looks like this story was part of an ongoing series of
reports on Mr. Koerber. The reporter did a good job of covering this from A to Z.
Interesting read—
2nd Renee McGaw “Lenders Bitten by Jaguar” Denver Business Journal
rmcgaw@bizjournals.com
3rd Paula Moore “Advisor Faces Legal Trouble” Denver Business Journal
pmoore@bizjournals.com
19B Business Columns
First place:
Neil Westergaard
Denver Business Journal,
“Consistently well written and informative columns.”
nwestergaard@bizjournals.com
B 20 – A&E Reporting – News of feature
1 Edie Adelstein – Colorado Springs Independent – Big and Beautiful
edie@csindy.com
2 Andra Coberly – Yellow Scene magazine – The Glass House
editorial@yellowscene.com
3 Bill Foreman – Colorado Springs Independent – Dead Air
bill@csindy.com
B 21 – A&E Reporting – Criticism
1 Kevin Wingert – Wyoming Tribune Eagle – Video game reviews
kwingert@wyomingnews.com
2 Lacy Boggs – Yellow Scene Magazine – Cuisine reviews
editorial@yellowscene.com
24B — News Photography
1st — AAron Ontiveroz, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, “Off to War”
Comments: This photo is very nicely framed and captures a sweet moment in a different way, with the little girl crouched at her father’s feet and gazing up at him.
aontiveroz@wyomingnews.com
2nd — Kathleen Lavine, Denver Business Journal, “For their Future”
klavine@bizjournals.com
3rd — Michael Smith, AAron Ontiveroz and Jerret Raffety, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, “Photo Story: Divine Disorder”
msmith@wyomingnews.com
aontiveroz@wyomingnews.com
jraffety@wyomingnews.com
25B – Feature Photography
1st — Shauna Stephenson, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, “Western legend won’t die”
Comments: The moody lighting and depth of this photo make it a winner.
sstephenson@wyomingnews.com
2nd — Kathleen Lavine, Denver Business Journal, “RK”
klavine@bizjournals.com
3rd — Kathleen Lavine, Denver Business Journal, “Fall”
klavine@bizjournals.com
26B — Sports Photography
1st — Michael Smith, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, “All strung up for CFD”
Comments: An excellent action shot. The details are perfect — the rolling eye of the bucking horse, the clenched jaw of the rider. You can almost feel the weight of the horse as it comes down on the rider’s shoulders.
msmith@wyomingnews.com
2nd — Dan Vukelich, Sun Country Golf Magazine, “Missing Right”
dvukelich@comcast.net
3rd — AAron Ontiveroz, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, “Riding for Him”
aontiveroz@wyomingnews.com