Category 1 - Best Editorial

First Place - Maysville Ledger Independent, Betty Coutant

In a category with a wealth of wordy editorials, this one hit hard and fast. It brought the facts to life without retelling the whole story. Made me want to write to the parole board.

Second Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Ronnie Ellis

Asked the tough questions in a sticky controversy. Could have hit them harder, but stuck to the facts. Your readers benefited by being shown the city’s failings in a clear fashion.

Third Place - Harlan Daily Enterprise, John Henson

Clear, concise summation of the situation. Took a tough stand on cutting corners while standing by homegrown talent.

Honorable Mention - Maysville Ledger Independent, Mary Ann Kearns

Good historical context and argument against First Amendment violation.

Honorable Mention - Middlesboro Daily News, Jay Compton

Urged awareness and involvement in a key problem facing us all. Well done piece with good mix of background and argument.

Category 2 - Best Spot News Coverage

First Place - Commonwealth Journal, Jeff Neal

Lede had wonderful details and set up the story well. Those details put you right at the scene of despicable crime. I enjoyed the information about the church’s history which helped convey a real sense of loss. Congratulations!!

Second Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Stacy Neitzel

Good solid reporting here. I liked the way the reporter emphasized the safety aspect of this story. Good background on the officer who was wounded. Well-written story!

Third Place - Winchester Sun, Jamie Vinson-Sturgill

Yeah, it’s a gimmie lede. But hey, it’s not every day you get to write about a duck surviving a fire. Loved the reporter’s use of quotes and glad to know the story had a happy ending for one lucky duck. Photo were great too, they made the package.

Honorable Mention - Frankfort State Journal, Beth Crace, Susan Riddell

Solid reporting. Good background information, obviously well researched story.

Honorable Mention - Madisonville Messenger, Lori Harrison

Reporter got out of the way and let the jailer tell the story. Nice job, good quotes.

Category 3 - Best General News Story

First Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Stacy Neitzel

This entry was far and away the number one story, an obvious choice! Excellent lede, awesome details. A fascinating read, even with the somewhat gritty subject matter. The sidebar on Bass was just as strong as the main story. Just a fabulous effort on a topic that seems quite popular now with all the forensic shows on TV. Terrific work, terrific writing. Congratulations!

Second Place - Maysville Ledger Independent, Danetta Barker

Wow! Great lede! Just a very readable story with details that surely kept readers’ attention, though it was a good decision to capture the flavor of quotes as they were, not corrections for grammar. Made the story more real. Riveting reading, excellent details.

Third Place - Commonwealth Journal, Jeff Neal

Obviously a huge story. Reporter did a fine job portraying cast of characters. Wonderful quotes, details, solid courtroom reporting. Demonstrated in lede how fear was a major part of testimony, then carried it through story. Excellent work!

Honorable Mention - Madisonville Messenger, Lori Harrison

Nice details in this story, especially the chicken behind the freezer. You feel as if you are in the middle of church’s village of Bethlehem. Very good work and use of quotes!

Honorable Mention - Richmond Register, Bryan Marshall

Nice details on student Rusty Day. Solid reporting on the GED program and graduation ceremony. Good balance between statistics and quotes keeps the story moving.

Category 4 - Best Feature Story

First Place - Frankfort State Journal, Mary Branham

Of all the feature entries this story on Glassworks was “clearly” the best. Writer does a great job of explaining process of glassblowing while capturing personalities of folks she interviewed through some great quotes. I loved the ending quote: Talk about the spirit of Christmas, you spirit is in this story. These people all obviously enthusiastic about glassblowing. Congratulations!!

Second Place - Corbin Times Tribune, Fred Petke

Fine, fine writing here. Such a heartbreaker that the drive-in’s last show was “Bad Santa.” I can’t imagine a worse fate. Great detail in a great, image-filled story of folks she interview through some great quotes.

Third Place - Corbin Times Tribune, Jennifer Hinkle

Goes to show that true love always makes for good reading. Reporter spent enough time with the couple to report about both their past life together and their new life at the nursing home. She did a fine job of expressing the fact that the most important thing for the couple is being together. Very nice job.

Honorable Mention - Frankfort State Journal, Gayle Coulter

Just when you think you’ve read it all, we have a couple remarrying in a convenience story. Reporter did a great job of capturing the major moment when the nuptials were exchanged, nobody came in to buy a Bud.

Honorable Mention - Glasgow Daily Times, Ronnie Ellis

This short story about the regulars at a local restaurant was a hoot. What a great slice of life story. Captures all the fun and good-natured insults.

Category 5 - Best Column

First Place - Commonwealth Journal, Jeff Neal

Jeff Neal writes with authority and clarity on a variety of issues. Mike Tyson, the police department, radio station format changes, his columns have a flow and rhythm that belie the careful crafting that went into them. He makes it look so easy and effortless, yet gives the reader great information and details. Congratulations!!

Second Place - Commonwealth Journal, Tricia Neal

Life as a mom is interpreted wonderfully well in Tricia Neal’s capable hands. She writes about things we moms think about: class treats, offensive radio lyrics, and are we really that old? Just delightful reading.

Third Place - Madisonville Messenger, Tom Clinton

I am sure readers enjoy Clinton’s columns on stubbornness, impending grandparenthood and dogs. Lots of details folks can relate to. Very nice and very enjoyable reading.

Honorable Mention - Corbin Times Tribune, Bill Hanson

Writer does a good job of injecting his personality into common issues (death in the family, effects of smoking), and does it in a way to which the reader can relate.

Honorable Mention - Murray Ledger & Times, Constance Alexander

Good variety. Reporter is obviously knowledgeable of and speaks intelligently about current events. The night she spends with her terminally ill friend is heartbreakingly wonderful column.

Category 6 - Best Sports Column

First Place - Maysville Ledger Independent, Matt Mulcahey

Good mix of humorous and serious, at times run together. Good, tight writing makes these columns stand out.

Second Place - Harlan Daily Enterprise, Jarrod Sherman

Good sense of humor and creativity.

Third Place - Richmond Register, Nathan Hutchinson

Tight word choice makes this entry solid. Stream of consciousness style is engaging.

Category 7 - Best Sports Story

First Place - Frankfort State Journal, Susan Riddell

Good detail in story. Did well explaining confrontations. The reporter made you want to keep reading to find out what happened during the game.

Second Place - Glasgow Daily Times, James Brown

I really liked the portion where he’s describing the game being decided by a foot in the coach’s quotes on that.

Third Place - Madisonville Messenger, Adam Pruiett

Very good flow. Just a nice, overall read.

Honorable Mention - Corbin Times Tribune, Joe Marchilena

Great description throughout.

Honorable Mention - Madisonville Messenger, Don Perryman

Great lead on this story.

Category 8 - Best Sports Feature Story

First Place - Winchester Sun, Keith Taylor

A lu-lu of a feature. Brilliant. What else can I say?

Second Place - Madisonville Messenger, Don Perryman

An inspiring feature of a poignant athlete. Excellent.

Third Place - Frankfort State Journal, Cameron Thibes

A remarkable and unique feature which was written by a writer with a great command for the English language.

Third Place - Madisonville Messenger, Don Perryman

I lived this nostalgic story. You are very talented.

Honorable Mention - Winchester Sun, Keith Taylor

Accolades again, this was a great story!

Category 9 - Best Enterprise or Analytical Story

First Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Stacy Neitzel

Great story. Powerful emotions. Excellent use of research and interviews to examine a tragic event still unresolved.

Second Place - Frankfort State Journal, Mary Branham

Very thorough look at a unique topic. Well researched, good use of fact box on rail to explain specifics. Excellent sidebar.

Third Place - Frankfort State Journal, Charles Pearl

This could have won if it was not a single-source story. Awesome story telling lead and good use of narrative throughout. Should have interviewed some of the many people mentioned in story to add depth.

Honorable Mention - Madisonville Messenger, Don Perryman

Well done, but a bit repetitive early on. Good use of data and statistics. Very original and thorough. Unique for sports page.

Category 10 - Best Investigative Story or Series

First Place - Winchester Sun, Tim Weldon

Incredible! A powerful, well-packaged look at this issue. A colossal piece of work. A great read all the way through. I could go on ...

Second Place - Madisonville Messenger, Lori Harrison

A very good series of stories examining Special Ed in your area, as well as related to national trends. A solid effort, well thought out and presented.

Third Place - Frankfort State Journal, Gayle Coulter, Cameron Thibes

Intriguing. Very well researched and a good read. Should have been multiple parts.

Honorable Mention - Hardin County Independent, Adrienne Steinfeldt

In a crowded field, this piece stood out. Well documented and moving.

Category 11 - Best On-Going/Extended Coverage Story

First Place - Frankfort State Journal, Charles Pearl, Gayle Coulter

Very thorough coverage of an important local issue.

Second Place - Frankfort State Journal, Gayle Coulter

Dogged reporting on an amusing turn of events for a local politician.

Third Place - Winchester Sun, Tim Weldon

Did a good job presenting facts, but could have done more to show the potential impact on average citizens.

Honorable Mention - Corbin Times Tribune, J. Andrews, Jennifer Hinkle

Category 12 - Best Business/Agribusiness Story

First Place - Frankfort State Journal, Gayle Coulter

A lawsuit story that probably won’t get the paper sued. Also, it’s a legitimate business story that talks to most sides. In this group, that’s good enough.

Second Place - Harlan Daily Enterprise, Adrienne Steinfeldt

Interesting little story. Held my attention.

Third Place - Frankfort State Journal, Mary Branham

Good lead. Nice choice of verbs near top. Decent background.

Category 13 - Best Headline

First Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Layne Bruce

Clever pays on words. Not sure why “Arnold” was on front of Kentucky daily, but witty use of catch-phrase.

Second Place - Frankfort State Journal, Susan Riddell

Simple heads, but clever.

Third Place - Madisonville Messenger, Tom Clinton

Nice vocabulary.

Category 14 - Best Spot News Picture

First Place - Murray Ledger & Times, John Wright

Johnny-on-the-spot.

Second Place - Frankfort State Journal, Amy Wallot

Nice moment, could be cropped tighter on left.

Third Place - Glasgow Daily Times, David Scott

Category 15 - Best General News Picture

First Place - Madisonville Messenger, Lowell Mendyk

Great moment! Love the foreground and face on the hugging grad. Nice tech with slow shutter. Should have run solo larger!

Second Place - Richmond Register, Nancy Taggart

Strong emotions and willingness to wait, watch and nail the pix.

Third Place - Maysville Ledger Independent, Bob Warner

“The moment,” under difficult shoot.

Category 16 - Best Feature Picture

First Place - Frankfort State Journal, Amy Wallot

Nice light, sweet moment.

Second Place - Madisonville Messenger, Jim Pearson

Nice light and very clean. Great color.

Third Place - Winchester Sun, James Mann

Funny moment, way to get your feet wet.

Honorable Mention - Frankfort State Journal, Suzanne Feliciano

Pretty light.

Category 17 - Best Picture Essay (Spot, General or Feature)

First Place - Frankfort State Journal, Suzanne Feliciano

Each picture has a moment and is telling. The photographer clearly connected with the story. Very well done.

Second Place - Corbin Times Tribune, Nikki Fox

Excellent job of telling a story through pictures. Photographer captures the spectrum of activities. Excellent cropping.

Third Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Gina Kinslow

Very simple tale of a simpler time.

Honorable Mention - Glasgow Daily Times, James Brown

Beautiful pictures. Needed more substance.

Category 18 - Best Sports Picture

First Place - Corbin Times Tribune, Nikki Fox

Solid high school football frame, excellent timing.

Second Place - Frankfort State Journal, Amy Wallot

Excellent use of high angle to clean up background.

Third Place - Maysville Ledger Independent, Bob Warner

Good moment.

Category 19 - Best Sports Picture Essay

First Place - Murray Ledger & Times, Michael Dann

Good range of action and emotion. Needs a much tighter edit and to play the lower right photo as the dominant art.

Second Place - Corbin Times Tribune, Nikki Fox

Strong but repetitive photos, needs a tighter edit. Kudos for the size of the dominant photo. Would like to see more “behind-the-scenes” moments.

Third Place - Glasgow Daily Times, James Brown

Nice variety of images. Would like to see tight images of individual players.

Category 20 - Special Sections

First Place - Madisonville Messenger, Staff

I loved this section. There’s no better way to learn about a community than through the people who live there, and the staff of the Messenger have given readers a great look at Madisonville with their “Storytellers” special section. Nice design, editorial content and photography. A great publication all the way around.

Second Place - Murray Ledger & Times, Staff

A nice look at Murray through interesting editorial engaging photos and clean design. A nicely handled project.

Third Place - Corbin Times Tribune, Staff

A good idea handled with great execution. I liked the idea of spotlighting the students and loved the way it was handled. Result is a very clean, accessible special section.

Category 21 - Best Graphic

First Place - Madisonville Messenger, LaMar Bryan

Great use of mixed media to create a stand out graphic. The map is by far the best in this class. The fact box, photos and images take it to the next level

Second Place - Maysville Ledger Independent, Ian Lawson, Jeremy German, Matt Mulcahey

Very creative. Not flashy, but informative. A good way to illustrate statistics without burying them in the story.

Third Place - Richmond Register, Nancy Taggart, Lance Easter

Very good quality. Well polished. The photos blend well. I wouldn’t want to play these guys.

Honorable Mention - Commonwealth Journal, Steve Cornelius

The illustration is a good use of photo blended with text to illustrate a witty headline. Good creativity.

Category 22 - Best Sports Page/Section

First Place - Corbin Times Tribune, Mike Moore

Good modular layout with crisp, colorful pictures, well placed with an emphasis on local and staff writer articles. Various sports advertisers, but again emphasis is on covering local sports well. Layout, photos, writing and color all good. Watch largeness or headlines and running quotes from different speakers together.

Second Place - Richmond Register, Lance Easter, Nathan Hutchinson, Kelly Snow

Clean layout with heavy emphasis on graphics. Like the creativity and color of graphic. Writing is straightforward and flows well. Not fond of headlines that are all caps or headlines with one word on one line. “Cubs Rally Past Reds” for example.

Third Place - Winchester Sun, Keith Taylor

Good banner. Informative and colorful. Nice soccer shot well placed. Good mix of local, college and pro sports coverage. Writing’s clear and adequate. While I like the layout, all the entries are similar, would like to see more creativity.

Category 23 - Best Business/Agribusiness Page

First Place - Richmond Register, Nancy Taggart

Overall, the best in its class. Good use of photos, but a bit formulaic. Vary the template from time to time. Good mix of stories highlighting local business and trends.

Second Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Joel Wilson, Gina Kinslow

Great local coverage. Especially liked “The Biz” theme. Good job highlighting local business activity and milestones.

Third Place - Corbin Times Tribune, Kellee Edwards

Good volume of business reports. Given that this appears to be a Thursday feature, I think more effort could be made in deeper stories.

Category 24 - Best Lifestyle Page

First Place - Madisonville Messenger, Tom Clinton

Nice use of photos, color and layout. Good variety in section. All three entries have very interesting stories, on front with nice layout.

Second Place - Richmond Register, Erin Parsons, Nancy Taggart

Good photos and layout on front page stories. All very eye-catching and interesting. Nice flow and personal interest give it a good local feel.

Third Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Gina Kinslow, Cassie Pickett

Good interest stories and photos on front pages. Good personal interest variety inside. Great photos, but layout could’ve been a little more creative.

Category 25 - Best Editorial Page

First Place - Commonwealth Journal, Ken Shmidheiser

All the content is locally generated and oriented. Clean appearance. Leading of text could be tighter to allow for white space between text blocks.

Second Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Layne Bruce

Locally oriented content. Not very news oriented, but the columns are well written. Layout is clean.

Third Place - Harlan Daily Enterprise, Staff

Nice layout. Lots of content. Like the fact that non-local editorials still come from regional papers, most in Kentucky.

Category 26 - Best Front Page

First Place - Commonwealth Journal, Jeff Neal

The HazRat front page is best, by far in category. Great use of photography, color and headlines on all entries.

Second Place - Corbin Times Tribune, Staff

Nice layout, good photos and use of color on all entries. Easy to follow and interesting timely articles.

Third Place - Winchester Sun, David Stone

Great use of photos and layout. Easy to read format. Readers can easily get a good sense of flow and newsworthiness on page.

© Kentucky Press Association