Category 1 - Best Editorial

First Place - Appalachian News-Express, Mike Moore
Forthright, blunt and to the point. You’ve spoken eloquently for your readers.

Second Place - Frankfort State Journal, Todd Duvall
Solid. Would’ve been stronger without the italicized phrases.

Third Place - Times Tribune, Staff

Category 2 - Best Spot News Coverage

First Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Todd Garvin
Garvin brings you on the scene in the aftermath of a tornado, with a good mix of interviews that transmitted the impact the storm had on residents of Moore Road. Well written, engrossing descriptions.

Second Place - The Messenger, Sarah Magee
Comprehensive coverage of an F-3 tornado that provides both important information for those impacted by the storm as well as details and first-person accounts of damage. Fact packed and well written.

Third Place - The Messenger, Lori Harrison
Nicely-done interviews with homeowners and officials surveying storm damage. The impact of the tornado that hit Earlington is well-defined in Harrison’s very readable deadline work.

Category 3 - Best General News Story

First Place - The Messenger, Don Perryman
He did an excellent job of explaining a different subject. The writing style was easy to read.

Second Place - Ledger Independent, Wendy Mitchell
She provided readers with a detailed overview of events.

Third Place - Richmond Register, Kelly Foreman
The reporter has a solid writing style that brings a subject matter home for a reader. The article provides readers with information to develop emergency plans.

Category 4 - Best Feature Story

First Place - The Messenger, Lori Harrison
Ms. Harrison did a masterful job of recreating the tragedy that touched so many. I liked the organization, the storytelling, voice and the pictures she painted with her words. Very nice!

Second Place - Frankfort State Journal, Molly Williamson
Judging this contest there were more compelling stories, but not so well-written. Ms. Williamson told the story so deftly one could hear and feel the excitement of the band. A fun story to read, great description, lively quotes, and there is depth, considering the research and time that evidently went into the story.

Third Place - Harlan Daily Enterprise, Jennifer McDaniels
Masterful use of colorful writing about a quirky guy on a serious mission. Like that Ms. McDaniels had fun with story without making fun of the subject. Nice writing; love the ending, good story-telling.

Category 5 - Best Column

First Place - Commonwealth Journal, Tricia Neal
Whether it’s taking on the postal service, holiday greetings or an act of kindness, Neal writes with clarity, depth and style in “Learning As I Go.” Excellent column writing!

Second Place - Richmond Register, Don McNay
McNay’s straight-from-the-shoulder style and an ability to focus the reader on the issues, makes his snappy, well-written columns award winners.

Third Place - Murray Ledger & Times, Constance Alexander
There’s something about Alexander’s warm and witty writing style that would make anything she writes about fun to read. And when she tackles more serious subjects, she does so with the same warmth that is very appealing to readers.

Category 6 - Best Sports Column

First Place - Commonwealth Journal, Steve Cornelius
Stories about real people and how they affect sports. Nice work.

Second Place - Frankfort State Journal, Josh Claywell
For every kid with stars in his/her eyes.

Third Place - Frankfort State Journal, Susan Riddell
Solid analytical pieces. Clear writing.

Category 7 - Best Sports Story

First Place - The Messenger, Emily Burton
Fascinating insight into what has become a big-time sport. I wish it included some indication that you tried to get the “other side” of the story.

Second Place - Times Tribune, Les Dixon
A great human interest story. A little slow in developing at the beginning, but a great story.

Third Place - Richmond Register, Nathan Hutchinson
A great reminder that we need to look for the humanity in sports, not just play descriptions, stata and sound bite quotes. Writer found a great story in student assistant turned coach.

Category 8 - Best Sports Feature Story

First Place - Times Tribune, Chris Parsons
This story about a coach who had to lose weight is a big winner! Tackles a difficult storyline and handles it with professional aplomb!

Second Place - Frankfort State Journal, Susan Riddell
Exceptional lead to an exceptional story. Top-notch story-telling skills in this division.

Third Place - The Messenger, Lori Harrison
Very in-depth, very focused, and informative. Good job of letting the subject tell pertinent parts of the story.

Category 9 - Best Enterprise or Analytical Story

First Place - Winchester Sun, Tim Weldon
Draws attention to an important public safety issue.

Second Place - Winchester Sun, Brittany Griffin
Opens up an often suppressed topic for community debate. Good balance. Good art.

Third Place - Frankfort State Journal, Molly Williamson
Spots a potential trend that should interest parents everywhere. A rare look beyond typical school coverage.

Category 10 - Best Investigative Story or Series

First Place - Appalachian News-Express, Mary Music
This wins for its thoroughness of reporting, volume of research, variety of angles, balance and organization. Could have used a fourth part on the financial aspect of mining which drives the whole issue.

Second Place - Ledger Independent, Misty Maynard
Good mix of records research and interviews. Good art with story. Not sure it needs three parts to tell the story since there were no obvious controversies. A comparative chart would have helped.

Third Place - Winchester Sun, Tim Weldon
Good use of records research but could have gone farther. Were the hotel rates discounted? Were there reasonable alternatives? A good investigation doesn’t just try to prove a point it tries to disprove it too. Comparison graphs would have helped.

Category 11 - Best On-Going/Extended Coverage Story

First Place - The Messenger, Staff
Thorough, compelling coverage of a quick moving natural disaster. Lots of “news you can use” for readers needing help or wanting to volunteer, combined with solid stories and photography. Well done.

Second Place - Times Tribune, Fred Petke, Dean Manning
Well told and well presented package.

Third Place - Harlan Daily Enterprise, Brandon Goins, Jennifer McDaniels , Deanalee Sherman
Harland and its neighbors are all too well-versed in mine and plane disasters. Their professionalism shows.

Category 12 - Best Business/Agribusiness Story

First Place - The Messenger, Don Perryman
Perryman gives readers a clear and concise look at the impact the right-to-work law (or lack of it) is having on the Kentucky economy. Well written and comprehensive.

Second Place - Murray Ledger & Times, Tom Berry
Berry does a nice job in detailing the ins and outs of the tobacco farming business and the future changing smoking patterns will have on Kentucky’s tobacco farming industry. Lots of pertinent quotes.

Third Place - Richmond Register, Bill Robinson
Robinson’s highly readable, descriptive style makes what could be a ho-hum subject lively and of consequence. He touches on the right issues and asks the right questions for this information-filled piece.

Category 13 - Best Headline

First Place - The Messenger, LaMar Bryan
Snappy, smart and sometimes funny heads make readers want to look at the stories that follow.

Second Place - Murray Ledger & Times, Michael Dann
Some of the best headlines are usually found on the sports pages. This is no exception. They’re clever and eye-catching.

Third Place - The Messenger, Brian Lovvorn
Lovvorn has put just the right head on this AP story on a Wimbledon loss. “Wimble-done” is well done!

Category 14 - Best Spot News Picture

First Place - The Messenger, Lowell Mendyk
Clearly number one!!

Second Place - The Messenger, Jim Pearson
Really great emotion. Photographer there at right time. Focus on dog a smart decision.

Third Place - The Messenger, Jim Pearson

Category 15 - Best General News Picture

First Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Jamie Ray
Better with more shallow depth of field. What makes it a winner is girl peeking out of back.

Second Place - Times Tribune, Dean Manning
Like the over-the-top reaction/expression.

Third Place - Harlan Daily Enterprise, Debbie Caldwell
Nice portrait. Could have been nice to photograph what was written in the caption.

Category 16 - Best Feature Picture

First Place - Frankfort State Journal, Amy Wallot
Nice slice of life and different angle.

Second Place - Frankfort State Journal, Amy Wallot
Good tender moment between mother/daughter. Nice tight composition.

Third Place - Harlan Daily Enterprise, Chris Jones
Pretty sunset silhouette, rural farm community feeling.

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

First Place - Frankfort State Journal, Amy Wallot
Clear winner. Lots of energy. Good capturing energy in clean comps.

Second Place - Murray Ledger & Times, Michael Dann
Nice 3-picture package with different elements of her life.

Third Place - Harlan Daily Enterprise, Debbie Caldwell
The lede is a very nice, layered photo with good emotion.

Category 18 - Best Sports Picture

First Place - Appalachian News-Express, Jerry Boggs
Good timing of unique airborne ankle tackle.

Second Place - Frankfort State Journal, Amy Wallot
Faces, peak action, dust flying, well done.

Third Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Jamie Ray
Good job of photographer showing readers what the game means to these two brothers.

Category 19 - Best Sports Picture Essay

First Place - Frankfort State Journal, Amy Wallot
Best overall, good peak moments.

Second Place - Times Tribune, Chad Engle, Les Dixon
Good to see Chad is lighting basketball. Good package.

Third Place - Winchester Sun, Ron Osborne
Good action shots. Could switch up lensing and get closer for non-action.

Category 20 - Special Sections

First Place - Ledger Independent, Staff
Great cover photo, good local angles for stories. Nice, restrained design throughout. Gets a little gray but will be well-read regardless. Good use of photos inside, nice blend of wire and local, wire not just “filler.”

Second Place - Richmond Register, Nathan Hutchinson
Nice typography/design, use of photos. Modular ads at bottom pages is a huge plus. Special paper stock shows commitment to overall quality.

Third Place - Frankfort State Journal, Susan Riddell
Huge amount of useful information, well-organized. Readers have to love it.

Category 21 - Best Graphic

First Place - Times Tribune, Chris Parsons
Dramatic and compelling presentation of local players of the year. Very bold decision to use entire sports front for this package.

Second Place - Times Tribune, Bill Hanson
This “Wild and Wacky” concept works, not so much for its complexity, but instead, for its wonderful simplicity. It’s bound to suck readers into the story. Fun-faces are exploited ... and that always helps sell newspapers.

Third Place - The Messenger, LaMar Bryan
Wow! A good, old-fashioned locator map in a category dominated by photoshop wizardry. This map details the destruction of a nasty tornado. Very telling, but would like to have seen the twister’s path be better represented.

Category 22 - Best Sports Page/Section

First Place - Times Tribune, Chris Parsons
Love the idea of taking one package and letting it carry the page. Very readable and eye-catching packages.

Second Place - Richmond Register, Nathan Hutchinson
I’m a big fan of photos or packages that jump off the page, there was plenty of that here. Nice work on the loaded backfield package.

Third Place - Murray Ledger & Times, Michael Dann
Way to let the art be the story! Pictures that caught my attention. Clean layout and easy to read.

Category 23 - Best Business/Agribusiness Page

First Place - Appalachian News-Express, Rachel Stanley
This was the best in the category. This paper’s biz sections are intensely local with adequate writing. Photography could pump it up a notch and a bit of polish on headlines would help as well. Consider using secondary headlines on some of the major stories.

Second Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Todd Garvin
Strong use of color photography throughout. Cutlines could use some extra effort.The cover layout for Dairy Month was outstanding!

Third Place - Richmond Register, Lorie Love
Page layouts are generally snappy...but a little light on mix of content. Good use of color. Series on messy jobs is clever. McNay columns are interesting.

Category 24 - Best Lifestyle Page

First Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Todd Garvin
The design made these pages pop!! Clever use of cutouts combined with well-written stories. Nice job!

Second Place - The Messenger, Lori Harrison, Lowell Mendyk
Nice package of art with local stories. A couple of the pages were busy.

Third Place - Frankfort State Journal, Keren Henderson
Great front on mansion story with design on Renaissance, but you lost me with lab front.

Category 25 - Best Editorial Page

First Place - Richmond Register, Lorie Love
Above average design, especially like quotes. Barker columns good, informal. Same with Adams.

Second Place - Richmond Register, Jennifer Kustes
Above average design, especially like quotes. Barker columns good, informal. Same with Adams.

Third Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Todd Garvin
Best design. Nice use of white space. “Your View” a good feature. Editorial on mayor particularly strong and clear. Overall good variety of content.

Category 26 - Best Front Page

First Place - Commonwealth Journal, Chris Harris
Good use of headlines, better headline writing than other entries. Outstanding package and localization on air crash. Overprint on rodeo feature not a bad idea used sparingly. Close call, but best and most consistent and reader-friendly job overall.

Second Place - Richmond Register, Carrie Curry
A lot to like, lots of color, excellent local content, good story count, entry points. Issues: need consistency, hierarchy in heads, design doesn’t guide reader through page. Great photography, but few true dominant photos to carry pages.

Third Place - Glasgow Daily Times, Todd Garvin
Good photos, dominant elements on pages. Pretty creative and bold use of type and design on several pages. Pages could use more entry points, higher story count.

Category 27 - Best Newspaper Website

First Place - Times Tribune,
Visually pleasing design. Rotating images in banner and photos at top of front page helps make the page seem more dynamic. Inclusion of multimedia section on front page a nice touch. “Today’s poll” at bottom of front page is a good attempt to encourage reader participation in addition to the community forums. Stories current and easy to access. Good focus on local but nice to see national and state news also available.

Second Place - Ledger Independent,
Excellent use of ad space in the design, very pleasing to look at. Nice variety of easy to access stories. Two weeks seems a little long to leave the Election ‘06 banner at the top of the news section on a daily newspaper site.

Third Place - Glasgow Daily Times,
Nice overall design but seems to sometimes have a large hole below the scrolling headline box and above the section summaries. Good selection of local news but sometimes several front page stories are several days old. Non-web characters left in stories occasionally.

© Kentucky Press Association