Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Green Bay Press-Gazette Entry Title: Dougherty: Packers have a big chemistry problem, and it could lead to a teardown in 2023 Entry Credit: Pete Dougherty Judge Comment: Not afraid to take a stand even when it’s a hard one that might upset fans. Understands audience and expectations. Clearly written, comfortable language that uses stats to explain issues, etc. Good, conversational language.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: La Crosse Tribune Entry Title: Donarski combination leaves quite the legacy Entry Credit: Todd Sommerfeldt Judge Comment: Great story on lineman. Not sure it felt as much column as feature. Loved use of good, strong quotes, wish they’d been higher in first entry to add emotion and interest. Took a while to get to the point in some of these. Painted picture a little too much instead of telling reader why he/she should keep reading. Loved the lede on the father and daughter especially. All sell written, held interest throughout.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Journal Times Entry Title: A mountain of memories; Remembering Ruelle; Yarbrough still directing the way Entry Credit: Peter Jackel Judge Comment: Wonderful use of quotes and anecdotes to tell compelling stories that connect readers to columns. Wish I’d seen more range in column writing and topic areas. Two obit-style columns felt like one too many. Liked the diversity in topics and people written about.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: The Chippewa Herald Entry Title: Brandon Berg Sports Column Entries Entry Credit: Brandon Berg Judge Comment: Felt less like columns and more like previews and gamers. Good quotes show strong reporting and deep connections with sources of the columns.
Competition Comment: Really strong entries in top four places. Columns brought wide range of emotions, which the best columns always do. Well done.
