Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Monroe County Herald Entry Title: Marvel at the high flying, death defying array of aerial artistry presented by Cashton's jumping Jacks; Hungry like the Wolfe; Eli Brown just may be the fastest man in the 608 Entry Credit: Nate Beier, Logan Everson Judge Comment: The track and field headline is a really fun headline design treatment, and the headline itself definitely gives that old-timey circus or ring announcer vibe, which is what I think you were going for. However, the word "defying" is pretty heavily covered up, giving the reader a little more guesswork than I'd prefer. Likewise, the last two lines of the bottom deck headline are much too obscured. The use of "Jumping Jacks" when talking about a couple of jumpers named Jack is very clever.
Hungry like the Wolfe: A great reference that most people will understand in one way or another, and it works with what the story is about, not just a play on the wrestler's last name for the sake of making a pun. Well done.
Fastest man: Another interesting headline treatment that draws in the reader with a combination of headline-writing and design, and this time it's pulled off much better. Definitely gets the reader's attention and does a good job of explaining what the story is about.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: The Lakeland Times Entry Title: Deer looking for ‘treat’ finally free of ‘trick’; Snow place like home; With guns blazing Entry Credit: Beckie Gaskill, Brett LaBore, Kelly Holm Judge Comment: Deer looking for 'treat': A very clever headline that, coupled with the photos, had me very much wanting to read the story. Well done.
Snow place like home: A cute headline, but one I think most newspaper readers have seen some variation on quite a few times.
Guns blazing: A very clever play on words and it does reflect the story well when played with the deck headlines and photos.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Peninsula Pulse Entry Title: Judge Doesn't Budge on $250k Cash Bail; Insane Explosion of Real Estate Sales in 2021; Upward Trend in Lower Incomes. Entry Credit: Debra Fitzgerald Judge Comment: Insane explosion: A good attention-grabbing headline, but only the first page has been submitted and not the jump, so I can't be certain that the words "insane explosion" were pulled directly from a quote or not, and they certainly should be directly attributable to someone if we are putting quotes around them in the headline. If they aren't found in a direct quote, then the wording is probably a bit too much.
Upward Trend in Lower Incomes: The wording is clever and accurate. Definitely made me want to read the story. Again, it would have been nice to have the jump page to read as well.
Judge doesn't budget: A decent headline employing rhyme and accurate.
Competition Comment: Some very creative headlines were employed in these entries. Great work!
