First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Jacalyn Carfagno
Pointed and hard hitting. A winner because it points toward solutions offered. Very effectively pointing at problems.

Second Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Larry Dale Keeling
Strong writing, strong reasoning, firm, clear and forceful. Good job!

Third Place - Messenger Inquirer, Steve Vied
Sound logic, solid writing, this editorial educates while it opines.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Delano Massey
Excellent breaking news coverage of a student death on the UK campus with important background information on previous, similar incidents. The page layout and graphics, coupled with the sidebars on campus drinking make this a very in-depth report!

Second Place - Kentucky Enquirer, Jim Hannah, William Croyle, Brenna R. Kelly
Good detail and very helpful graphic on bus crash that injured 22 people.

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Bill Estep
Excellent detail and pathos on the senseless murder of a pizza delivery man. This could have been a routine crime/murder story but the reporter dug deeper and made it much more compelling.

Honorable Mention - Lexington Herald Leader, Andy Mead, Cassondra Kirby
Another example of great detail work on what otherwise might be seen as a routine crime story.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Sarah Vos
Dramatically readable telling of the making of a crime.

Second Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Brandon Ortiz
Expert use of adjectives adds zest to an interesting story.

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Beth Musgrave
Nice interweaving of personalities in a complex explanation that could otherwise have been dry and technical.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Mary Meehan
A compelling story told with incredible compassion. Ms. Meehan’s reporting shows readers volumes about the lives of obese children and their families and the struggle to change. Beautiful writting, excellent detail. The clear winner!

Second Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Jim Warren, Charles Bertram, Beth Musgrave
Outstanding reporting filled with emotion. Kudos to the Herald-Leader for its coverage, especially Ms. Musgrave’s very personal account. Well done.

Third Place - Messenger Inquirer, Renee Beasley Jones
A joy to read! Not only is this a story about a two-legged dog, it’s a great story about a two-legged dog. Terrific writing. Full of humor.

 

First Place - Messenger Inquirer, Steve Vied
Columns on refurbishing the 60-year old coffee cart and Anna at Brooker’s service station are beautiful slices of Americana.

Second Place - Messenger Inquirer, Dan Heckel
Two “bravo” columns about journalism. One on teens; vows of First Amendment and other on deciding when/when not to use photos in paper are important issues for readers and all of us to think about.

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Larry Dale Keeling
Column on Religious McCarthyism is needed critique of hypocracy of ultra-conservative vote in U.S.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, John Clay
Outstanding read! Makes you want to re-read it over and over, each time leaving you with the feeling that Clay hits home with his words. Stays to the point with flair!

Second Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Mark Story
Kudos to words written about EKU player.

Third Place - Messenger Inquirer, Jim Pickens
Good variety and great flow to all of his columns.

 

First Place - Kentucky Enquirer, Shannon Russell
A fantastic game story! Paints the picture of game’s emotional impact ... just enough play-by-play. Great quotes. Super story!

Second Place - Kentucky Enquirer, Ryan Ernst
Extremely well-written. Presented the “Football Landscape” in the area and documented its year-round importance. Numerous sources quoted.

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Janet Patton
Remarkably thorough. Good before/after images of jockey’s life were given to the reader. Story was a long read, but did not bog down.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Chip Cosby
Not just the best sports feature in this category, but one of the best I’ve ever read in 30+ years. Wonderful tale, wonderfully told.

Second Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Jennifer Smith
Super from beginning to end. Evocative lead, smooth transitions, just right quotes. It all adds up to a first-rate read.

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Mary Meehan
A well-written piece that deserves its page one placement. Great job

Honorable Mention - Lexington Herald Leader, Jennifer Smith
Come back Kid, dyanamic story!

Honorable Mention - Messenger Inquirer, Scott Hagerman

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Karla Ward
Comprehensive enterprise package. Well-written and well researched. Fascinating look inside a megachurch.

Second Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Brandon Ortiz, Linda J. Johnson
Comprehensive look at highway deaths. This story has wide impact since so many Kentuckians travel those roads. Statewide focus made this a mammoth task. One Ortiz and Johnson were up to. Good job!

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Valarie Honeycutt Spears
Fascinating topic that looks at unusual taxpayer expense. Strong writing and reporting.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Staff
Beautifully packaged, comprehensively reported with touch of details and the all-important feature for investigative project: spurs powerful people to act.

Second Place - Kentucky Enquirer, Patrick Crowley, Dan Horn, Ken Alltucker
Exhaustively-reported take on an issue that many communities are facing. Very informative, covered every possible base.

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Delano Massey, Beth Musgrave
Well-researched package with intriguing findings.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Mary Meehan
Stories about Katrina evacuees both touching and riveting. Great ‘slice of life’ stories. Really enjoyed your trip to the coast.

Second Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Brandon Ortiz
Who would have thought mass transit could be interesting? I bet your readers enjoyed this. I like the way you found people to talk to.

Third Place - Kentucky Enquirer, Jim Hannah
Series on jail frightening and fascinating. So many times newspapers ignore those behind bars. The comments from the inmates were wonderful.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Sarah Vos, Greg Kocher, Steve Lannen, Peter Mathews
Outstanding work. A close look at a big business story built on solid reporting. Balanced, full of information, detail and opinion. Well done!

Second Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Steve Lannen
Excellent reporting on a business story that definitely deserved its 1A placement. Great reporting, easy to read, even the math-heavy graphs. Good work!

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Janet Patton
Fascinating story that would appeal to non-business readers. Terrific writing and great detail!

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Will Scott
Fantastic! Clever headline with a clever photo illustration. The lead-in is hilarious. “This isn’t about a mother” simple, but sensational. The clear winner.

Second Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Vicky Broadus
All three are terrific! “Detatchment” is the best. That one work speaks volumes.

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Tawana Brown
Excellent work “Creepy Crawlers” a subtle but perfect play.

 

First Place - Messenger Inquirer, Gary Emord-Netzley
Tough reaction.

Second Place - Messenger Inquirer, Jenny Sevcik
Nice composition and reaction.

Third Place - Messenger Inquirer, Jenny Sevcik
Good moment.

Honorable Mention - Kentucky Enquirer, Patrick Reddy
Would have placed higher, but composition too loose and distraction from action framed by window.

 

First Place - Messenger Inquirer, Jenny Sevcik
Different photo that caught judges’ eyes.

Second Place - Messenger Inquirer, Robert Bruck
Good reaction.

Third Place - Paducah Sun, Stephen Lance Dennee
Not bad!

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Janet Worne
Great action, great composition, great use by editor.

Second Place - Kentucky Enquirer, Sarah Conrad
Great picture, what else can we say.

Third Place - Messenger Inquirer, Jenny Sevcik
A cute moment captured at that decisive time. Great photo.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Charles Bertram
Wow! What a great package! Good job being sensitive to your subjects too.

Second Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Charles Bertram
Very nice story from beginning to end.

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Janet Worne
You missed the end of the story. We wanted more shots of just the parents coping. Great otherwise!

Honorable Mention - Lexington Herald Leader, Janet Worne
Too many similar photos.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Charles Bertram
Great heads up to the drop long lens and shoot wide.

Second Place - Messenger Inquirer, Jenny Sevcik
Judges felt the guy’s pain.

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Charles Bertram
Nice moment.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Charles Bertram
This package stood out.

Second Place - Messenger Inquirer, John Dunham
Photos were at least well composed.

Third Place - Paducah Sun, Stephen Lance Dennee

 

First Place - Messenger Inquirer, Staff
Well-balanced section. Good writing information.

Second Place - Kentucky Enquirer, Ryan Ernst
Well put together, good layout, excellent section.

Third Place - Messenger Inquirer, Staff
Excellent cover, layout, informative. Jim Pickens writing is outstanding!

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Staff
Excellent style and story interpretation.

Second Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Brian Simms, Bob Kandt
Excellent visual communication. Informational graphic that work well to tell a story.

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Chris Ware
Fun, informational graphics that grab attention, enhance story.

Honorable Mention - Lexington Herald Leader, Brian Simms
Attention-grabbing, information graphics.

Honorable Mention - Lexington Herald Leader, Staff
Eye-popping graphics that work.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Brian Simms
Energetic graphic style. Nice use of typography with photos. Good local feel. Targets readers.

Second Place - Messenger Inquirer, Staff
Nice feature photos and balance of stories.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Brian Simms
Simple, easy to read graphics that help the reader and entertain while holding one’s attention.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Marilyn Kitchens Cecil
Vibrant design! Excellent use of photography, type and color. Very appealing and easy to navigate. “Good, Better, Best” page is the best. Good work!!

Second Place - Messenger Inquirer, Staff
Great use of photography. Love the index rail.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Editorial Staff
This is the kind of editorial section every newspaper needs. One filled with important local, state, national and international issues, with voices of readers, staff and columnists, with photography illustration. “Don’t Turn Away” is the finest work in the entry. Outstanding!!!

Second Place - Paducah Sun, Linda Locke, Mac Thrower
Clean design with good balance of content. Great use of local letters. Strong local editorials.

 

First Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Brian Simms
All of these front pages reflect a visual energy combined with hard news. Two of the three are very local oriented. The photo chosen for the front of 9/15/05 edition reflects the governor under seige and the trumoil in his administration can be immediately determined on this page.

Second Place - Messenger Inquirer, Eugene Embry, Hunter Reigler
Strong, visual front pages with a good mix of local, state and national stories.

Third Place - Lexington Herald Leader, Alyssa Sims
Great, visual centerpieces that include interesting information and let the reader participate.

© Kentucky Press Association