NINA 2009 AWARD WINNERS

Announced Oct. 21, 2009, at NIU-DeKalb

Links go to photos of first-place entries when available.

2009 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Best Design

Group I
1st:        Leslie Flint and staff, The Elburn Herald.
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
A well-organized paper that makes good use of photos and centerpiece packaging. Feature fronts are an especially strong aspect.

Group II
1st:        Kathy Gresey, Stephanie Lehman, Colin Selbo and Tony Oliver, Lake County Journal
2nd:       Staff, The Hinsdalean
3rd:        Jay Dickerson, The Galena Gazette
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
An orderly paper with consistent typography, inviting front pages and lots of organizational devices on inside pages.

Group III
1st:        Staff, Northwest Herald
2nd:       Staff, Naperville Sun
3rd:        Staff, The Dispatch
HM:     Jodie Butler, Dave Manley, Heather Holloway, Bethany Strunk, Marge Collins, The Journal-Standard.
HM:     Staff, The Courier-News.
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Great use of multiple points of entry to most stories, without overwhelming the reader. Color is used smartly as an indexing tool. This paper not only looks great, but everything has a purpose.

Best Headline

Group I
1st:        Jim Dresbach, The Mendota Reporter. “Ghosts caught Knapping against Mendota, 29-18”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
The headlines in this entry are interesting and engaging with just the right amount of “cuteness.” They all serve as effective sales pitches for the stories.

Group II
1st:        Kathy Farren, Kendall County Record. “Can you ‘beet’ that? Vegetable helps melt snow”
2nd:       Tony Scott, Kendall County Record. “City barking up the wrong tree on leash law?”
3rd:        Jay Dickerson, The Galena Gazette. “Burn, burn, burn went the trolley”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
These headlines, while very clever, do not distract from the stories. They provide readers with an excellent preview of the content.

Group III
1st:        Nick Reiher, Naperville Sun. “Four Better or Four Worse?”
2nd:       Cynthia Goldberg, Naperville Sun. “Nobody’s chew toy”
3rd:        Julia Doyle, The Courier-News. “Dressed to Kilt”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Although two of the headlines in this entry have more than their fair share of “cuteness,” they do not distract readers from the content of the story. In fact, the headlines do an excellent job of providing a gateway into each story.

Best Single General Feature

Group I
1st:        Susan O’Neill, The Elburn Herald. “Giving puppies a chance at life” ... page 2
2nd:       Jim Dresbach, The Mendota Reporter. “Illinois Valley’s high flyers”
3rd:        Martha Quetsch, The Elburn Herald. “6-year-old saves baby rabbits from storm”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Susan O’Neill does an outstanding job of describing the human (and canine!) element of caring for small helpless animals while also satisfying reader curiosity about the plight of unwanted puppies and what it takes to be an effective foster puppy parent.

Group II
1st:        Cid Standifer, The Galena Gazette. “Surviving Nazi rule” ... page 2
2nd:       Matthew Piechalak, The Reporter. “Salty ingenuity”
3rd:        Meg Sullivan, The Regional News. “And a little child shall … Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest gives joy to help keep hope alive”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Extraordinarily interesting and well written entrants for this category, but Cid Standifer earns the win not solely because of the story itself (which is fascinating), but the superb telling of the story. I devoured the story like a great novel and was in the final paragraph almost before I realized I had begun reading.

Group III
1st:        Dana Herra, Daily Chronicle. “Reluctant warrior” ... page 2
2nd:       Judy Masterson, Lake County News-Sun. “Couple’s custody dispute has a 4,000-mile barrier”
3rd:        Dawn Neuses, The Dispatch. “Love story continues after death”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
With understated storytelling that might make Jimmy Breslin proud, Dana Herra puts forth the anguishing plight of a young Army veteran – already classified 40 percent disabled by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs – who is preparing to return to Iraq. It’s a type of story that should be on the front page every day.

Best Single Feature: Personality Profile

Group I
1st:        Susan O’Neill, The Elburn Herald. “Elburn Resident Celebrates 80th in Freefall” ... page 2
2nd:       Martha Quetsch, The Elburn Herald. “Hometown Hero”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
“Wonderful example of narrative voice – rich in detail, with writing that sparkles. A joy to read.”

Group II
1st:        Pamela Lannom, The Hinsdalean. “Coping With Diagnosis Just Start of Journey” ... page 2 ...page 3 ...page 4 ...page 5
2nd:       Kathy Gresey, Lake County Journal. “Keeping Lake County Safe”
3rd:        Tony Scott, Kendall County Record. “Coming Here is The Best Thing That Happened to Me”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
“A moving account of a woman’s fight with cancer. Reported in depth, with evident sensitivity, and clearly written.”

Group III
1st:        Dana Herra, Daily Chronicle. “Custom Ride”
2nd:       Tim Waldorf, Naperville Sun. “He Loves Being The Bad Guy”
3rd:        Dawn Neuses, The Dispatch. “Steven’s Fight For Life”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
“Deft and poignant story of a tough-guy biker standing up for a taunted little girl in the neighborhood.”

Best Feature Section

Group I
1st:        The Elburn Herald
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
An eclectic mix of things to do, interesting folks, local history, self-help and local profiles. The Herald offers a little something for everyone.

Group II
1st:        Staff, The Galena Gazette
2nd:       Katharine Ade, Evanston RoundTable
3rd:        Kathy Gresey, Tom Witon, Stephanie Lehman, Judi Veatias, Lake County Journal
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Sparkling, creative layout sets this section apart from its competitors. Generous use of color photos that showcase local faces pop from nearly every page and stories are focused squarely on local people giving readers a glimpse into the life of some of their more interesting neighbors. A comprehensive roundup of local events completes the package.

Group III
1st:        Staff, Naperville Sun
2nd:       Staff, Northwest Herald
3rd:        Inger Koch, Laura Bussie, Eric Schelkopf, The Chronicle
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
While it serves one of the largest towns in Illinois, the Sun manages to pull off the trick of retaining more than a little small-town feel. Even the movie reviews have a local spin, with subscribers invited to sit in the critic’s seat. Local restaurants and theater groups are featured prominently. There is a comprehensive rundown of events going on in Naperville and surrounding towns, but even stories about stars visiting local venues get the local touch with staff writers doing interviews instead of relying on press releases. The writing is crisp and lively, and the photography is interesting. It is no doubt the section that locals reach for when they are wondering what there is to do in town.

Best Single Column

Group I
No entries.

Group II
1st:        Margaret “Peggy” Tarr, Evanston RoundTable. “The Lesson”
2nd:       Roger Matile, Ledger Sentinel. “There was Plenty of Adventure in a Small Town”
3rd:        Pamela Lannom, The Hinsdalean. “I’ve Got a Guy”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
The column, while using a personal experience as a starting point, goes on to broader truths significant to a general audience. That’s what a column should do. By using experience with researched facts and dates, it explains the broader meaning of an event, in this case why Black History Month and integration are important and what things were like before that. She shows us examples and doesn’t tell us how to feel.

Group III
1st:        Judy Harvey, Naperville Sun. “Finding the Meaning of Christmas from a Hospital Room” ... page 2
2nd:       Andre Salles, The Beacon News. “Aurora Works to Free Itself of Bad Crime Rap”
3rd:        Heather Pfundstein, Naperville Sun. “Diversity Hard to Talk About”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Given the subject and title of this piece, plus the many pieces last year and this year about the DeKalb shootings, it first went to the bottom of the pile. That turned out to be “saving the best for last.” The columnist avoids being maudlin, asking the reader to feel sorry for her, pitying for herself and all other pitfalls and clichés. She weaves her honest emotions with both how the events happened and her researched information very well, not only allowing the reader to experience it but to become informed. She also did it in a way that makes it read effortlessly, which shows that a lot of time and work went into the piece.

Best Single Editorial

Group I
1st:        Ryan Wells, The Elburn Herald. “Find Common Ground; Get it Done”
2nd:       Ryan Wells, The Elburn Herald. “Send the Pigs to Pasture”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
This entry succeeds in making the nationally-pervasive issue of education budget both local and pressing. Wells underscores the urgency of a potential strike of the Kaneland Education Association by explicitly linking the controversy to a series of “big picture” concerns: community goodwill, students’ best interests, and the kind of economic hardships during which everyone ought to share the burden. Wells writes crisply and with helpful clarity about a topic that is complex to a point of potentially dissuading the public from engaging in critical debate.

Group II

1st:        Jack Murray, The Regional News. “Hope is Calling”
2nd:       Mary Helt Gavin, Evanston RoundTable. “Defend the Weapons Ordinance”
3rd:        Pamela Lannom, The Hinsdalean. “Ideal Solution and Best Solution are not always the Same Thing”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
The strength of this entry primarily is its combination of poetics and reality. While Murray’s effusive optimism reflects many of the Democratic sentiments that were nationally pervasive during President Barack Obama’s inauguration, it also contains examples of the real-life needs of local communities. And this makes the article’s call for “hope” and “change” both believable and novel. Murray does not make the all-too-common mistake of stopping at the “Let’s be all that we can be” motif; rather, he explicates clearly and with little circumscription, what needs doing: managing real estate prices for small businesses, maintaining the Palos Heights art park and public pool, building the trolley around Palos Heights and Trinity Christian College, and so forth. Local needs are important to local communities, precisely the readership to which Murray’s argument gives voice.

Group III

1st:        Ted Slowik, Naperville Sun. “Principal Must Go” ... page 2
2nd:       Roger Ruthhart, The Dispatch. “R.I., Stay off Slippery Slope in The District; Better Ideas Needed”
3rd:        Tim West, Naperville Sun. “What Purpose would it Serve to Dissolve the Park District?”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
This entry stands out as a strong argument that is compellingly articulated. The author builds his case strategically and methodically, first, by establishing what is at stake in the controversy; Slowik reminds readers that the Naperville public school system is known for excellence, and that this reputation is the result of a deliberate effort and investment on the part of the community. Slowik then powerfully contrasts this high standard with the unethical actions (i.e., plagiarism) of principal Jim Caudill of Naperville Central High School. Further, Slowik’s argument is supported by his citing of the school’s plagiarism policies for students. By juxtaposing what is expected of high school students with what Caudill fell short on, readers grasp the severity of the principal’s offense. As Slowik notes, this is a matter of ethos—a leader who does not exemplify what he demands from his followers lacks credibility; this lack makes Caudill no longer fit for the task. Slowik’s argument is thorough and sequential; it maintains an even writing and editing style. And it articulates with clarity a solution to a problem, the severity of which readers fully understand.

Best Special Section

Group I
1st:        Staff, The Elburn Herald

Group II
1st:        Staff, Evanston RoundTable, “Evanston is all About Water”
2nd:       Staff, The Daily Journal, “2008 Cookbook”
3rd:        John Etheredge, The Ledger Sentinel, “Decision 2008 – Voter’s Guide”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
None provided.

Group III
1st:        Staff, Daily Chronicle, “Spotlight 2008: Faces of DeKalb County”
2nd:       Lori Kilchermann, The Journal-Standard, “Debate Reunion Tour 2008”
3rd:        Staff, Northwest Herald, “My McHenry County”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
The section functioned as both a guide to events and as something interesting to read. Stories were interesting, were historically informative and gave context to the importance of the event. Many ads fit into the old-fashioned motif of the section.

Community Service

Group I
No entries.

Group II
1st:        Jane Newton, The Galena Gazette. “Hola!”
2nd:       Larry Gavin, Evanston RoundTable. “School District 65 SAT scores”
3rd:        Staff, The Hinsdalean. “Making a Difference partnership with Wellness House”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
“Hola!” was a special 24-page section on Galena's Hispanic population, 12 pages in English with every story repeated over 12 pages in Spanish, put together by Jane Newton, the summer 2008 intern, who made use of four years of high school Spanish and a year living in Mexico.

Group III
1st:        Cindy Goldberg, Heather Pfundstein, Tim West, and other staff members, Naperville Sun. “Election 2009: Grassroots Democracy”
2nd:       Jim Newton, Lake County News-Sun. “Child Seat Safety”
3rd:        Dana Herra, Daily Chronicle. “Where the system ends”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place: News summaries, fresh candidate biographies, issue analyses, editorial recommendations, electoral information, PLUS an online feature with audio from each of the candidates.

Best Single Spot News Photo

Group I
1st:        Jim Dresbach, The Mendota Reporter. “Wicked weather”
2nd:       Jim Dresbach, The Mendota Reporter. “Emergency discussion”
3rd:        Mary Herra, The Elburn Herald. “Magic Matt scares up some tricks”

Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Good composition for using the upper two thirds of the image to show the storm laden clouds give sense of vulnerability to the small bank of shops lining the downtown district. Light reflected in windows gives hope that these powerful storms might end soon. The roof outline of the building at the left resembles an arrow pointing to the clouds. Nice color reproduction gives good depth to the rolls of clouds.

Group II
1st:        Eric Miller, Kendall County Record, “The buck didn’t stop here”
2nd:       Jane Holland, The Galena Gazette, “Fire destroys home”

Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
This photographer captured the determination on the face of this mother to get her children to safety. The photographer has positioned himself in an ideal place to capture this drama, including the FBI teams behind them. Good informative cutline, nice color reproduction.

Group III
1st:        Jonathan Miano, Naperville Sun. “People come together”
2nd:       Craig Watson, Naperville Sun. “Lockdown at Waubonsie”
3rd:        Craig Watson, Naperville Sun. “Fire and Ice”
HM:     Mike Voss, The Daily Journal. “FBI Foray”

Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
The solemnity of this memorial event is captured by this strong image. The subject is so crisp in focus you can see the tear stream down her face. The isolation using the large aperture sets subject apart, but at the same time she blends in unity with the crowd. Beautiful reproduction quality, informative cutline, a very touching image that is hard without feeling like you are violating sacred space.

Best Single General Feature Photo

Group I
1st:        Ben Draper, The Elburn Herald. “Fall fun”
2nd:       Jim Dresbach, The Mendota Reporter. “Voter”
3rd:        Jim Dresbach, The Mendota Reporter. “Ice cream”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
A cute and delightful image depicts a fun day in the country. The inclusion of the tractor and man in the background, use of lines, and depth draw the focus to the little one in the foreground.
Informative and very specific cutline.

Group II
1st:        Jim Slonoff, The Hinsdalean. “Bad News Bear Busted”
2nd:       Joanne Pleskovich, The Ledger Sentinel. “Corn on the cob”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
One can almost hear the laughter coming from this photo. Shooting at a low floor level was the best way to capture this crowd reaction. The fun and joy these children had interacting with the Chicago Bears mascot was captured perfectly.

Group III
1st:        Jonathan Miano, Naperville Sun. “Frozen In Time”
2nd:       Todd Mizener, The Dispatch. “Living on the streets, surviving frigid temps”
3rd:        Joe Grace, The Chronicle. “Cupcakes make people happy”
HM:     Nicholas Holstein, The Daily Journal. “Enjoying the corn Bowl”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
This is a stunning, dramatic, and very intriguing image. The subjects really are frozen in time which makes them all the more surreal and strange. The photographer had perfect timing when he shot this image. Each subject looking in different directions but not really focused on anything in particular show a disparity in their lives that can’t be changed. Excellent use of the rule of thirds, the color reproduction is perfect.

Best Single Sports Photo

Group I
1st:        Ben Draper, The Elburn Herald. “Kaneland Basketball at the UC”
2nd:       Ben Draper, The Elburn Herald. “Kaneland Knights Wrestler”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Fast speed captured and frozen under the basket. The three players are isolated nicely. Overall a little dark but this is a strong image that needs recognition. Very informative cutline.

Group II
1st:        Eric Miller, Sandwich Record. “Basketball”
2nd:       Joanne Pleskovich, The Ledger Sentinel. “Boys Basketball”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
This photographer has captured the determination and stamina of this state track champion. One can get a sense of the character of this young man through the body posture captured and the ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ tattoos on his biceps. Color reproduction quality is very nice, large image size was the right choice to make this the first place pick.

Group III
1st:        Rob Winner, The Chronicle. “Barnes scores 10 points off the bench for Bulldogs”
2nd:       Donnell Collins, The Beacon News. “Geneva player Jason Holmes”
3rd:        H. Rick Bamman, The Chronicle. “Knights sophomore Serpa leaves game early”
HM:     Nicholas Holstein, The Daily Journal. “DJ’s Day”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
The photographer was at a perfect floor level position to capture this moment. Nice, tight crop. This shot wins it for nice reproduction quality.

Best Photo Series

Group I
1st:        John DiDonna, The Elburn Herald. “Elburn Days 2008”
2nd:       Sarah Rivers, The Elburn Herald. “Hit me with your best shot”
3rd:        Jim Dresbach, The Mendota Reporter. “Mendota Flooding”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
This series of photo get the top award for the diversity of images used by showing a good range of events available for the weekend. Great color reproduction quality, just the right amount of images, varied sizes and different angles covered makes it all come together well to tell the story.

Group II
1st:        Amanda Hudson, The Observer. “Make A Blanket – Forever Family”
2nd:       Jim Slonoff, The Hinsdalean. “Faces of Wellness”
3rd:        Candace Johnson, Lake County Journal. “Having fun with the kids for free”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Many readers probably found this a fun and easy to execute project because each photo specifically shows the steps to completion with excellent clarity. The subjects are completely natural looking at work instead of a posed look. Headline of evergreen ‘banner’ ties in nicely with the project photos. Great reproduction quality, graphics, Photo instructions are clear and precise. Layout flows well and there are just the right amount of images.

Group III
1st:        Paul Colletti, The Dispatch Moline. “Wet but wonderful … vets Memorial Day”
2nd:       Beck Diefenbach, Daily Chronicle. “Hinckley-Big Rock wins State”
3rd:        Gary Krambeck, The Dispatch. “Let’s go downtown”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
For this group I found these images to be some of the strongest of all of the entries. Not only do the cutline descriptions tell the entire story of this trip to Washington, D.C. the community can feel akin to these men and be a part of the journey. The subjects are all endearing, the cropping, varied image sizes and distances to subjects make the photos work well together. The long image of the wall is the shot that draws you in. The great reproduction quality shows off the fine detail and there is excellent framing technique for all images.

Best Single Sports Story

Group I
1st:       Mike Slodki, The Elburn Herald. “Knights Football Goes Down to the Wire vs. Spartans”
2nd:      Mike Slodki, The Elburn Herald. “Crosby rides Whitecaps Wave”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
None provided.

Group II
1st:       Christine Cuthbert, The Hinsdalean. “Leaders of the Pack”
2nd:      Stephanie Lehman, Lake County Journal. “Pros are eating out of his hands”
3rd:       Colin Selbo, Lake County Journal. “Community rallies behind family”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
None provided.

Group III
1st:        Jim Owczarski, The Beacon News. “Fighting the Good Fight” ... page 2 ... page 3
2nd:       Jeremy Anders, The Journal Standard. “Building a legacy”
3rd:        Rick Armstrong, The Beacon News. “A Player’s Journey”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
None provided.

Best Single Sports Column

Group I
1st:        Mike Slodki, The Elburn Herald. “Who is ready for Act II?”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
This is a logically organized and interesting column that provides ample evidence and examples supporting the author’s viewpoint. It was an enjoyable read.

Group II
1st:        Matt Daniels, The Ledger Sentinel. “Showing her true colors”
2nd:       Matt Daniels, The Ledger Sentinel. “Possibility for special March exists for Oswego”
3rd:        Ken Karrson, The Regional News. “This youth doesn’t need to be served”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
The individual profiled in this column is a compelling figure. Lots of good quotes are provided, giving readers special insight into her story.

Group III
1st:        Steve Tappa, The Dispatch. “It’s his birthday, and I got the gift”
2nd:       Jon Styf, Daily Chronicle. “Perfect moment for Harrington, IC”
3rd:        Jay Schwab, The Chronicle. “Bitter-sweet in this field of dreams”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
This is definitely a feel-good column. The author provides excellent insight into his experience of assisting an 8-year-old with Cerebral Palsy compete in a leg of the Quad Cities Marathon. There is lots of good description, and readers are left feeling they actually know this young man. Judicious use of humor keeps the story from becoming maudlin.

Best Sports Section

Group I
No entries.

Group II
1st:        Staff, The Galena Gazette
2nd:       Staff, The Hinsdalean
3rd:        Colin Selbo, Stephanie Lehman, Tim Froehling, Lake County Journal
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
None provided.

Group III
1st:        Staff, The Beacon News
2nd:       David Manley, The Journal-Standard
3rd:        Staff, Daily Chronicle
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
None provided.

Best Single Spot News Story

Group I
1st:        Jim Dresbach, The Mendota Reporter. “ ‘Mendota is nearly impassable’ ” ... page 2
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Weather stories are a staple of community journalism, but Jim Dresbach does a great job and combining the essential data of the story – how much rain, where, damage, etc. – with excellent quotes from victims and residents.

Group II
1st:        Tony Scott, Kendall Co. Record. “Drying off from a wet weekend” ... page 2
2nd:       Larry Gavin, Evanston RoundTable. “Police set up fake pawn shop to catch burglars”
3rd:        John Etheredge, Tony Scott,Ledger-Sentinel. “Recover teen’s body at Yorkville dam”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Keeping readers abreast during natural disasters (such as floods) is always difficult, but when multiple counties, service agencies and situations are involved, the task is even more challenging. The Kendall County Record did a great job at concisely informing how communities helped each other with supplies and help during and after severe weather last September.

Group III
1st:        Sarah Sutschek, Northwest Herald. “Three die after boats sink” ... page 2
2nd:       Carrie Frillman, Daily Chronicle. “Plane crash kills 2 in Sandwich”
3rd:        Rita Pearson, The Dispatch. “Funeral trust in red”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Excellent reporting that combines the best aspects of breaking news and the humanity necessary to convey the worst moment of any parent’s life to readers. The Northwest Herald earns high praise in describing how two area teens lost their lives in an early morning boat ride, while another teen who tried to help also became a victim.

Best Single In-depth News Story

Group I
No entries.

Group II
1st:        Matt Sohury, Kendall County Record. “Unemployed? You’re not alone”
2nd:       Louise Brass, Bolingbrook Sun. “Cold case revisited: Still searching”
3rd:        Pamela Lannom, Polly Rix, The Hinsdalean. “Is committee work visionary or wasteful?”

Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
This story takes an issue that has been around for awhile and gives it a fresh look. It provides a local angle for a national issue. The story takes an in-depth look at the issue of unemployment and provides new information as to how those dealing with unemployment can find local help. The story is well written and well sourced, a really good example of what local news can do.

Group III
1st:        Andre Salles, The Beacon News. “A flight to remember”
2nd:       The Dispatch
3rd:        Kevin P. Craver, Cyndi Wyss, Northwest Herald. “Housing crisis hitting home”

Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
This story was amazing. It incorporated multimedia aspects as well as something for print readers. The writing was tight and really made the reader feel like they were there. It used emotion and incredible graphics to help tell the story. It took a national issue and incorporated the local into it. This is the kind of story that embodies every aspect of what we expect in a great in-depth news story.

Best News Story Series

Group I
No entries.

Group II
1st:        Cid Standifer, The Galena Gazette. “David Damm murder trial”
1st:        Kathy Gresey, Lake County Journal. “Independent Learning Center”
2nd:       Lyle Rolfe, The Ledger Sentinel. “Oswego third high school”
2nd:       Mary Helt Gavin, Evanston RoundTable. “NRA sues city”
3rd:        William Jones, The Reporter. “D-Lux Motel”
3rd:        Kevin Olsen, The Regional News. “Developer makes offer some aldermen refuse”
HM:     Tony Scott, Kendall County Record. “Council picks new alderman”
HM:     John Etheredge, The Ledger Sentinel. “TIF district”

Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
(The Galena Gazette) Extra complete coverage of a local murder case.
(Lake County Journal) Three-part series on the center’s general services, its work on traumatic brain injury, and its campaign for improved public transportation.

Group III
1st:        Dan McCaleb (editor), Northwest Herald. “Mortgaged economy”
1st:        Staff, Naperville Sun. “Facing the economic crisis”
2nd:       Staff, Lake County News-Sun. “Jobless at Christmas”
2nd:       Kate Thayer, The Chronicle. “Kane County’s Treatment Alternative Court”
3rd:        Stephen Elliot, The Dispatch. “Gang activity”
3rd:        Staff, Daily Chronicle. “Back to Campus”

Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
None provided.

Best Religion Reporting (Owen Phelps Award)

Group I
No entries.

Group II
1st:        Staff, The Observer, “Year of St. Paul”
2nd:       Kathy Gresey, Lake County Journal. “On The Record With Dirk van der Duim”
3rd:        John Macsai, Evanston RoundTable. “Religion and Trees”
Judge’s comments: “Comprehensive and educational … demonstrates the tie between the history of the saint and the life of local churches.”

Group III
1st:        Andre Salles, The Beacon News. “Pastor Leaving Sacred Heart” ... page 2
2nd:       Judy Masterson, Lake County News-Sun. “Independent Catholics to Launch Parish in Waukegan”
3rd:        Kathy Millen, Naperville Sun. “Little Things Mean A Lot”
Judge’s comments: “A piece of journalism that shows the ability to stir emotions and dig deep in church matters.”

Best Single Business/Financial/Consumer Story

Group I
1st:        Martha Quetsch, The Elburn Herald. “Rural area lacks high-speed Internet service”
2nd:       Susan O’Neill, The Elburn Herald. “Assessors provide primer in property tax process”
3rd:        Martha Quetsch, The Elburn Herald. (title not available)

Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Timely, balanced story, describes the implications of lack of access to high-speed internet in a small community.

Group II
1st:        Victoria Scott, Evanston RoundTable. “The Egg Comes First: Food Policy Council Talks Turkey on Chickens.
2nd:       Eleanor Revelle, Evanston RoundTable. “Fitting air travel into a green lifestyle”
3rd:        Christine Cuthbert, The Hinsdalean. “Residents, shop owners mixed on the Garfield”

Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Well written, catch headline.  Delves into the possibility of allowing chickens to be raised in the town of Evanston, a subject that involves few, but is interesting to many.

Group III
1st:        Nicholas Alajakis, Lake County News-Sun. “Sales tax revenue tumbles in county” ... page 2
2nd:       Hank Beckman, Naperville Sun. “Locked out”
3rd:        Rowena Vergara, The Beacon News. “Diamond in the rough”

Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Solid story, timely, relevant in that it offers data, causes and effects.

Best Single Technology/Medical Story

Group I
No entries.

Group II
1st:        Meg Sullivan, The Regional News. “MetroSouth carries on St. Francis’ good care”
2nd:       Larry Gavin, Evanston RoundTable.  “An ‘Opening Chapter’ for Virtual Learning”

Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
By detailing the change in name and ownership, explaining past deficiencies and recent upgrades in technologies used and services provided, by letting the public know about free medical procedures offered and by providing telephone numbers for use in obtaining them, this well-written article provides valuable information to readers in the communities the newspaper serves.

Group III
1st:        Katie Foutz, Naperville Sun. “There’s a light at the end of the laser beam for allergy sufferers” ... page 2
2nd:       Brenda Schory, The Chronicle. “ ‘He’s our top DUI officer’ ”
3rd:        Andre Salles, The Beacon News. “Collider not end, only beginning”

Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
By explaining how lasers can be an effective tool against allergies (“effective” meaning, fast, painless, safe and thorough) – and by noting that such a great treatment is not covered by insurance, the Naperville Sun gains two wins with this story: 1) fascinating its readers; 2) reminding us that we have a long way to go with health care reform.

Best Single Informational Graphic

Group I:
1st:        Martha Quetsch, John DiDonna, The Elburn Herald. “Tax bill”
Judge First Place Comments:
Elburn Herald’s informational graphic about the property tax bill averages, with its size, use of colors and its attention to detail make it instantly eye-catching and recognizable. The striking color and the use of a two floor home, conveys the subject matter without so much reading a word. The grid works nicely with the home backdrop grounding the information without distracting from it. The typography is clean, simple and easy to read. The windows and flowers that adorn the home are a nice touch of detail.

Group II:
1st:        Larry Gavin, Mary Gavin, Victoria Scott, Natalie Wainwright, Evanston RoundTable. “Evanston Plans for the Future”
2nd:       Jim Slonoff, The Hinsdalean, “Salute to hoops”
3rd:        Jim Slonoff, The Hinsdalean. “End zone”
Judge First Place Comments:
“Evanston Plans for the Future” blends vector-based graphics with hand-drawn illustrations to create a fun, informational piece that outlines the future plans for Evanston. The informational sections are clearly marked and laid out throughout the page making it easy to read and follow. Each section is highlighted with a hand drawn ink illustration on top of a map of the town of Evanston which immediately draws in the viewer. The illustrations have personality and enough detail to make them interesting, but not muddled during the printing process. With the large graphic laid in the center of the page, it’s easy to find an illustration to perk the reader’s interest and find the corresponding number that goes with it that contains detailed information.

Group III
1st:        Michael Lush, The Beacon News. “Jam session”
2nd:       Kermit Stevenson, The Dispatch. “John Deer Classic”
3rd:        Kermit Stevenson, The Dispatch. “Storm and Flood Damage across Quad-cities”
Judge First Place Comments:
“Jam Session” shows how to take a clear and concise concept and execute it to achieve a sense of motion and continuity into a feature article. The full color photo composite shows a basketball player going to the rim for a dunk that creates a nice illusion of time lapse. Each of the figures, feel like they are really participating in the space and not just placed on a background of the basketball court. The title “Jam Session” utilizes an appropriate typographic choice with a bold athletic feel that makes the subject of the article immediately recognizable. The content sections have nice margins and use a proportioned two-column grid that makes the content easy to read.

Best Editorial Page(s)

Group I
No entries

Group II
1st:        Staff, The Hinsdalean
2nd:       John Etheredge, The Ledger Sentinel
3rd:        Tom Beck, John Matsjevich, Kathy Gresey, Tony Oliver, Lake County Journal
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
The editorial pages contain a good mix of both the newspaper’s opinions and the community. The editorials are well written, dealing with relevant topics for the community. The editorials back up their opinions with facts and are clear as far as the newspaper’s opinion. Policies for submitting letters are published throughout the newspaper. Editorial graphics and photos add to the pages. The design of the pages is pleasing to the eye.

Group III
1st:        Heather Pfundstein, Cindy Goldberg, Tim West, Staff, Naperville Sun
2nd:       Kenda Burrows, The Dispatch
3rd:        Kristen Schmidt, Joe Grace, Daily Chronicle
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
The editorial pages connect a prominent story with the opinions of the newspaper and the community. The stories lay out the facts and then provide opinions. The newspaper takes a few chances with putting editorials on the front page, a practice that shows guts. More importantly, the newspaper solicits public opinion about local and national issues. The design of the pages is neat and concise and really draws the reader in.  The graphics complement the text and often summarize the relevant issues.

Best Web Site

Group I
1st:        Ben Draper, The Elburn Herald (elburnherald.com)
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Elburn Herald.com demonstrates a nice use of visual hierarchy and site organization. The site’s focus on community and local news makes it a valued resource to users in the area. Feature sections are clearly defined and are nicely formatted. The site also incorporates a nice use of a JavaScript “news ticker” to highlight current events. ElburnHerald.com also incorporates social technology trends with Twitter, RSS feeds and a “Share This” feature that allows users to share site content to the users choice of social bookmarking options.

Group II:
1st:        Benjamin Steckler, The MidWeek (midweeknews.com)
2nd:       Staff, The Reporter (thereporteronline.net)
3rd:        Staff, Evanston RoundTable (evanstonroundtable.com)
Judge’s Comments on 1st Place:
Midweek News.com is constructed with above average level of competency with its simplicity of use and solid organization. The site’s navigation allows the user to find and assimilate the information they need quickly and effectively. Midweek breaks down semantically quite well to accommodate users with disability concerns. The live weather feed from CBS and the “Click” online photo albums are nice additions that complement the overall functionality and usability of the site.

Group III
1st:        Quad Cities online (qconline.com)
2nd:       Naperville Sun (napersun.com)
3rd:        Daily Chronicle (daily-chronicle.com)
Judge First Place Comments:
Quad-Cities Online covers the essentials in local news with quick and easy navigation, good use of multimedia, and assorted informational extras. The abundance of information is balanced nicely by color choices and typographic treatments giving a solid structure to the overall look of the site while not sacrificing accessibility standards. The use of web 2.0 technologies such as live blogs, photo sharing and Twitter makes the site not only informative but also allows users to interact with news or topics they are currently interested in, hence giving a sense of stake in the community. The site also incorporates important minute to minute feeds that allow a user to consume a great deal of information at a glance, such as the stock market ticker or weather application. The site index or map is a great addition to the site for visitors who prefer quick page navigation and at the same time assists search engines index their information more prominently.

Best Effort to Attract Young Readers

Group I
No entries.

Group II
1st:        Sharon Boehlefeld, The Observer, “Y.O.: Young Observer”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Fresh, youth-centered approach that never talks down to its readers. Short, punchy stories, simple design and great branding make this a winner.

Group III
1st:        Heather Pfundstein, Naperville Sun, “Our Pages.”
2nd:       Jim Owczarski, Chris Sosa, Michael Lush, The Beacon News, “Game of the Week” posters
3rd:        Brad Engel and Staff, Naperville Sun, “Youth Sports” pages and blog
HM:     Staff, The Dispatch, “South of Twenty”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Congrats to Fox Valley Publications for three terrific entries in this category. The winning entry exhibits a commitment to tying together community news, citizen journalism and new media. These pages have youthful energy and hip-ness without feeling like a section pegged solely to one age group.

Best Innovative Coverage of a “Routine” Event

Group I
No entries.

Group II
1st:        Pamela Lannom and Polly Rix, The Hinsdalean. “Faces of Wellness”
2nd:       Jim Slonoff and Pamela Lannom, The Hinsdalean. “Football Cards”
3rd:        Staff, The Observer. “Worth the Wait”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
A terrific use of photos, design and reader-friendly vignettes are used to tell the big-picture, powerful story of a place truly making a difference in the lives of people in need.

Group III
1st:        Staff, Naperville Sun. “Election 2009: Grassroots Democracy”
2nd:       Brad Nolan, Patrick Mooney, Dustin Harris, Naperville Sun. “Wired: Get Connected with Naperville Football”
3rd:        Kathy Cichon, Jonathan Miano and Wanda Platt, Naperville Sun. “Mayor for a Day”
Judge’s Comment on 1st Place:
Too many community media outlets would be overwhelmed with 47 candidates running for 16 local government seats. But the Naperville Sun pounced on the opportunity, demonstrating how newspapers can leverage online technology on issues of substance. The paper’s coverage sparkles with compelling stories and the use of multi-media storytelling techniques that include online audio clips and a lively blog heavily populated by readers' comments. This is local news coverage at its 21st century best.

2009 SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS
(for overall excellence in circulation groups I, II, III)

Circulation Group I  winner: The Elburn Herald

Circulation Group II winner: The Hinsdalean

Circulation Group III winner: Naperville Sun