Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Crawford County Independent & The Kickapoo Scout Entry Title: Sales of railroad right-of-way property raises questions Entry Credit: Charley Preusser Judge Comment: Good job explaining what could have been a tedious subject - the ownership and taxation of an abandoned (or is it) railroad track. Reporter took the extra step of visiting the site, taking photos and using them to explain the situation.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Ripon Commonwealth Press Entry Title: 'We're losing a generation' Entry Credit: Joe Schulz Judge Comment: The lede needs work. It takes several paragraphs to get to the meat of the story. Drug abuse has impacted many families. Good job explaining the effect addiction has on loved ones.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Edgerton Reporter Entry Title: Social Justice Entry Credit: Tristan McGough Judge Comment: The reporter covered a meeting held at a local library. A subject as intense and important as racism surely deserves a few follow-up interviews from those in attendance. Perhaps would have scored higher in a general news category.
Competition Comment: Reporters who go the extra mile always score higher in the enterprise/interpretive story category. Those stories have more impact short-term and long-term. Ledes need work across the board. We cannot keep the reader's interest if we make them work to get to the meat of the story.
