Category 1 - Best Editorial

First Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Mike Alexieff
Excellent editorial. Clearly the best in the group. Well-reasoned and well-argued. Nice writing style.

Second Place - Kentucky New Era, Laura Noeth
Taking the side of advocates for smoke-free buildings is a gutsy one to take in Kentucky. Good arguments packaged in a simple but elegant writing style.

Third Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Mike Alexieff
Good editorial addressing sensitive topic. It’s good for newspapers to stand up against censorship attempts. This was written with just the right tone.

Category 2 - Best Spot News Coverage

First Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, C.J. Gregory
A lot of great news coverage in this category.This entry seemed to rise above the rest because it was done on perhaps the tightest deadlines and gave readers a lot of good information.

Second Place - Kentucky New Era, Joe Parrino
An outstanding effort on short notice. I thought this entry and the winner best exemplified the spirit of the category.

Third Place - The Advocate Messenger, Herb Brock
Another nice job on tight deadline. These are the type of stories that are real talkers and the more questions answered, the better. Very informative.

Category 3 - Best General News Story

First Place - The Advocate Messenger, Todd Kleffman
Excellent story examining life of a teen accused of murder. Delves into background of subject for a very revealing portrait. Excellent sourcing. Nicely written.

Second Place - The Gleaner, Victoria Marty
Powerful profile, hard to believe story was a setup for a local award winner advancing to national competition. The story is one of struggle, but ultimately one of triumph.

Third Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, Erica Walsh
Good examination of an unpopular decision by the school board. Examines both sides and gives even an outsider, such as the judge, a good view of the situation. Good work.

Category 4 - Best Feature Story

First Place - Kentucky New Era, Jennifer Brown
Wonderful storytelling and characterization. Nice effort to tell story of a remarkable woman, not puffy or overwritten. Fine writing.

Second Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, Holly Tabor
Excellent job of taking a fair advance and turning it into an outstanding profile. Great characterization, crafted well. Enjoyed reading the fine writing.

Third Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, Brian T. Kehl
Great job of making this unique store come to life. Can see, smell and taste it. Nice writing, characterization of the couple and the town.

Category 5 - Best Column

First Place - The Advocate Messenger, John Nelson
Good columns about public issues. The piece about the woman with a videotape and a complaint about the courts was an effective way to discuss open records.

Second Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, Holly Tabor
A nice set of columns. Nothing earth-shaking, but topics people can easily relate to. Very observational and very readable.

Third Place - The Gleaner, Ron Jenkins
Folksy style works well. Column about importance of humor was especially effective.

Category 6 - Best Sports Column

First Place - Kentucky New Era, George Robinson
Writer makes good point about collateral damage that comes from coach’s firing. Speaking for the voiceless is columnist’s best tool for exposing unfair situations.

Second Place - The Independent, Rick Greene
Concise story telling allows writer to demonstrate public dismay over board’s decision to hush criticism of coach. Proper amount of advocacy shown while acknowledging realities of situation.

Third Place - The Independent, Mark Maynard
Writer puts a good face on a sad moment and allows players and fans to put loss in perspective. Players given credit for exceeding expectations for season.

Category 7 - Best Sports Story

First Place - The Independent, Rick Greene
First-rate story about a guy who got a chance to fight his idol! Good story about the photo. Good detail throughout.

Second Place - The Advocate Messenger, Larry Vaught
Excellent story. Writer has a knack for detail and has an easy-to-read style.

Third Place - The Advocate Messenger, Larry Vaught
This could have been another of those early-season features that sometimes just serve to fill space. Writer did a nice job of finding an interesting angle and turning in a tight story.

Category 8 - Best Sports Feature Story

First Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Norm Haney
Great lead, great imagery. Attacks an interesting story from many angles. A most enjoyable read!

Second Place - The Gleaner, Haley Hughes
Talk about flexing one’s writing skills!! Writes with as much confidence as the body-building subject!

Third Place - The Advocate Messenger, Emily Toadvine
A bull’s eye at tying it all together on all you need to know about the sport. The facts don’t get in the way of the personality.

Category 9 - Best Enterprise or Analytical Story

First Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, Brian T. Kehl
A compelling collection of stories. The approach to focus on someone near the poverty line was effective in reminding readers how close poverty is to many.

Second Place - The Gleaner, Victoria Marty
Good job at looking at healthier options in school lunches and showing it is translating to fewer sales. Good to include reviews from students of new offerings.

Third Place - The Advocate Messenger, Herb Brock
Very effective look at immigration issues. I liked the approach of looking at the issue from the viewpoint of a legal immigrant. Solid reporting in the entire category.

Category 10 - Best Investigative Story or Series

First Place - The Advocate Messenger, Herb Brock
Wonderful blend of statistical data to help make your point and personal, anecdotal information blended into great story-telling. An important local and statewide economic story too.

Second Place - Kentucky New Era, Jennifer Brown
Great idea and wonderfully written (and illustrated). What’s missing is any evidence of how this impacted your town and Ft. Campbell. A great package and be sure to thank publisher for the space to play it well!

Third Place - The Independent, Carrie Kirschner
Writer could have stopped after writing news story about the investigation, but she kept digging. I just wish it hadn’t been spread over four months, almost not a “series” at that point.

Category 11 - Best On-Going/Extended Coverage Story

First Place - Kentucky New Era, Staff
One word: Wow! Tremendous first day coverage and then continuing coverage following progress and telling people how to get help. A spectacular job by everyone!!

Second Place - The Gleaner, Beth Smith, Kevin Patton
I hate to give this second because it represents an incredible amount of work. Using public records and talking to people, this is an amazing chronicle. First-class work!

Third Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, Sarah Berkshire
A very worthy thrid place finisher. Just two stories ahead of it that were huge. Reporter did an excellent job of following the story and seeking answers. There was a lot of great work in this class that was unrewarded.

Category 12 - Best Business/Agribusiness Story

First Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, Brian Kehl, Neal Cardin
This was an exhaustive and competitive category. If I read one more story about raising and harvesting tobacco, I might have to take up smoking again. Having said that, first place goes to “Saga of the Golden Leaf.” A well-researched and well told tale of an industry in transition. Excellent sourcing throughout. Series seemed to run of of energy toward end, but overall, a fine piece of journalism.

Second Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, John Friedlein
A near polar opposite of first place series. This was a relatively short, snappy explainer about the debate over goat’s milk, of all things. Efficiently and effectively told. I generally care and am curious about how this controversy is resolved. Again, another example of quality journalism. Oh, an excellent headline: “Got Goat?”

Third Place - The Gleaner, Chuck Stinnett
Well reported discussion of how mom and pop store intends to compete and survive in “Big-box era.”

Category 13 - Best Headline

First Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, Abigail Aiken
The use of “B” words was slightly clever without being obnoxious. It perfectly summed up elements of the story.

Second Place - The Gleaner, Stephanie West
Headline was a great fit for the playful story. It was cute, but not bothersome.

Third Place - The Gleaner, Jim Kurk
The play on athletes’ name was a good match with victory story about speed event.

Category 14 - Best Spot News Picture

First Place - The Gleaner, Mike Lawrence
Rose to the top quickly. Lots going on in layers.

Second Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Joshua McCoy
Nicely composed.

Third Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Trevor Frey
Nice effort in bad weather.

Category 15 - Best General News Picture

First Place - The Gleaner, Darrin Phegley
Wonderful Memorial Day moment, close but reverent and respectful.

Second Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Joe Imel
Great “first-day-of-school” moment.

Third Place - The Advocate Messenger, Clay Jackson
Great story idea but need better photos. Needs a surprising moment.

Category 16 - Best Feature Picture

First Place - The Gleaner, Darrin Phegley
Beautiful composition with human element.

Second Place - The Gleaner, Mike Lawrence
Beautiful storm picture from when weather becomes news.

Third Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, Jill Pickett
Painter quality to composition, light and color. Overall, judges were disappointed in lack of “moments” in category.

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

First Place - The Gleaner, Mike Lawrence, Darrin Phegley
Nice overall package. Photogs did good job including people affected.

Second Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Trevor Frey
Photos work well together. Parents photo should have been played larger. Unexpected within the expected photos of this subject.

Third Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, Neal Cardin
Photog took visual chances which is good to see. Bottom three photos on second page could be edited out as well as bottom two on last page for more impact and less repetition.

Category 18 - Best Sports Picture

First Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Jim Winn
Great feature opportunity. Unique way of framing works well.

Second Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Trevor Frey
In the land of disc golf, this is a nice peak reaction.

Third Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Joshua McCoy
Nice, tight composition of play.

Category 19 - Best Sports Picture Essay

First Place - The Gleaner, Tyler Orsburn
Nice lead and good variety. Bottom left photo could be edited out...it’s repetitive with lead.

Second Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Clinton Lewis
Great visual variety and coverage.

Third Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Joshua McCoy
Unique lead that works.

Category 20 - Special Sections

First Place - The Independent, Staff
Comprehensive, well-organized, clean design, strong graphics. A well thought-out and accessible package.

Second Place - The Gleaner, Staff
Compelling photos, produced on a tight deadline, pop from the bright white sheets. Excellent reproduction. Photo credits, phone numbers and e-mail addresses at the end of every cutline detract. Front page head using “some” is imprecise, deflates page.

Third Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Staff
A thorough take on a high profile local industy, the good and the bad. Overprint on page one story was hard to read; bump up point size, use sans serif. Color reproduction a bit fuzzy.

Third Place - The Advocate Messenger, Staff
Very strong graphics with many points of entry per page. Color reproduction a little soft.

Category 21 - Best Graphic

First Place - Kentucky New Era, Danny Vowell
This is the best “true” informational graphic of all the entries. While not too original, the use of the ruler, apple, and textbook offer instant recognition to the reader of its education topic.

Second Place - The Gleaner, Shea Stanley
Colorful, cartoon-like drawing says everything needed about story below. Really focuses attention on the page.

Third Place - The Advocate Messenger, Amanda Brannock
Altered cereal box makes a colorful illustration of game preview story. Good attention to detail shown in display of cereal flakes.

Category 22 - Best Sports Page/Section

First Place - The Independent, Adam VanKirk
Big! Bold! Colorful! Dramatic! Comprehensive terrific sections. Coverage of Class AA Football title game is a huge winner. Exceptional team work.

Second Place - The Independent, Mark Maynard
More of the same. Excellent mix of strong local and important wire. Visually satisfying.

Third Place - The Independent, Adam VanKirk
It’s a sweep! Consistently well photographed and well displayed action. Solid local writing and generally snappy headlines. Kudos to the entire staff for this total effort.

Category 23 - Best Business/Agribusiness Page

First Place - The Gleaner, Kathy Meadows, Chuck Stinnett
Clear winner in this category. Lots of content, lots of local. Stinnett is good writer/reporter knows beat and community well. Good briefs page. “50 Christmases ago” is a great story idea anyone could do.

Second Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Natasha Allen
Good story ideas, well written, shot and designed. But not much depth beyond front, local or otherwise.

Third Place - The Advocate Messenger, Amanda Brannock
Very good, creative design and use of color, but not overboard. Good story ideas/selection, but writing not as compelling as some others.

Category 24 - Best Lifestyle Page

First Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Clinton Lewis
Basketball page was the best individual page in category. Great use of great photography. Your page shows you understand the use of white space. A great emphasis with dominant art.

Second Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Natasha Allen
Triumph of a “nerd” page made you stand out. Nice use of color to complement his sweatshirt. The “Buckets of Hope” page was too busy but still shows a good heirachy of pictures and headlines.

Third Place - The Advocate Messenger, Jennifer Brummett
I love the use of art on the “Mood and Emotions” page, and the soft yellow fade sets it off nice. “Ray” is another great page. Easy to read. Great crops. The last page kept you from placing higher. Nothing creative about it.

Category 25 - Best Editorial Page

First Place - The Gleaner, David Dixon, Steve Thomas, Ron Jenkins
Good mix of local editorials, local columnists, community essays and letter to the edotor. Lively and engaging.

Second Place - Kentucky New Era, Melony Leazer
A good mix of local and syndicated content. I particularly liked the effort to use photos and photo illustrations to give the page a distinctive look.

Third Place - The Independent, John Cannon
Solid page with well-written local editorials and lots of letters ot the editor.

Category 26 - Best Front Page

First Place - Kentucky New Era, Emily Parrino
Very clean presentation. Good mix of local and wire stories. Art displayed well. Promos clear. Page is easy to navigate.

Second Place - Bowling Green Daily News, Andy Dennis
Local stories dominate the page. Layout is simple but effective. A good package for readers.

Third Place - Elizabethtown News Enterprise, Sarah Reddoch
Good stories, good art, well played. Downgraded a bit because of multiple deck heads. A one-column story had a four-deck head with a five-deck subhead. Still, a solid design job.

Category 27 - Best Newspaper Website

First Place - The Advocate Messenger,
Wow!! Beautiful design. Fantastic use of the web to enhance print projects in the NIE area offering free games for kids. Looks like advertisers appreciate the site also.

Second Place - Bowling Green Daily News,
Good design and content. Excellent use of expanded content such as kitchen inspection scores, movies and restaurant reviews and slide shows.

Third Place - The Gleaner,
Nice design. Clean look, easy to read. Bluegrass in the Park presentation is very good!

© Kentucky Press Association