Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Ashland Daily Press Entry Title: Sanborn taxes Entry Credit: Tom Stankard Judge Comment: With 20 entries in this category, it was tough to decide between all the quality entries.
But this one stuck out as the best.
These obviously experienced reporters translated a complex tax issue into a concise series that explains the impact of the issue’s history and court rulings on citizens’ wallets today.
All the stories in this entry are well written, strongly organized and expertly researched.
The follow-up stories are in-depth without being repetitive. It’s not said often about tax stories, but these are actually interesting.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Ashland Daily Press Entry Title: La Pointe Police problems Entry Credit: Tom Stankard, Peter Wasson Judge Comment: This package highlights the fiscal conflict between two municipalities and, in doing so, shows readers how this conflict affects them and their neighbors. The explanation of the funding cut for the La Pointe police (and the ensuing lawsuit) is clear, the writing is strong, and the organization is solid. The style is so consistent, the reader has to read the bylines to know different reporters wrote different acts of this drama.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Star News Entry Title: Budget busting; Forestry staff fights back over planned cuts; Shaking things up Entry Credit: Brian Wilson Judge Comment: These deeply reported stories are more than just daily stories. They are that, yes, but each one is set in firm, detailed context to relay the importance of local government decisions on a range of subjects, from forest management to municipal employees’ health insurance. The writing is clear and concise, and all three stories are very well organized.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: The Platteville Journal Entry Title: The Platteville Journal Entry Credit: Steve Prestegard Judge Comment: The three stories presented here are interesting and important, each in its own way. The topics aren’t necessarily showy or dramatic, but they are important to the community. The stories highlight of the nuanced issues local government officials have to deal with, and they reveal a reporter with a watchful eye for detail.
Competition Comment: In a category with 20 high-quality entries, it was really tough to decide winners.
Thank you ALL for the excellent work and for showing me an interesting bit of Wisconsin.
