Newspapers at Little Rock, Conway and Batesville took top honors Saturday in the 2014 Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors Association journalism contest.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette won the sweepstakes award among larger newspapers, the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway won among medium-sized newspapers and the Batesville Daily Guard won among smaller newspapers.
The Little Rock newspaper also won the Mark Twain Award, presented by the Arkansas AP staff to recognize outstanding contributions to the world's largest news cooperative.
The 2014 journalism contest was judged by AP-member newspaper editors in Colorado.
LARGER NEWSPAPERS
GENERAL EXCELLENCE--1, Staff ,Texarkana Gazette; 2, Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; 3, Sun Staff, The Jonesboro Sun.
BEAT REPORTING--1, Debra Hale-Shelton, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, A judge's downfall; 2, Chelsea Boozer, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock Wastewater; 3, John Lynch, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, State courts coverage.
BUSINESS REPORTING--1, George Jared, The Jonesboro Sun, Officials break ground on steel mill; 2, George Jared, The Jonesboro Sun, Man creates double shot rocket; 3, Jim Williamson, Texarkana Gazette, Paved by Perseverance.
COLUMN-HARD NEWS--1, Steven Mross, The Sentinel-Record, 'Bad apples' breaking the mold; 2, Chris Wessel, The Jonesboro Sun, Police chief's conduct merits prompt dismissal; 3, Les Minor, Texarkana Gazette, Brouhaha is bubbling over local beer sales.
COLUMN-LIFESTYLE- HUMAN INTEREST--1, Christy Busby, Texarkana Gazette, Better watch what you say to youngsters; 2, Chris Wessel, The Jonesboro Sun, Homeless man puts life in perspective; 3, Les Minor, Texarkana Gazette, Traffic stop takes a toll.
EDITORIAL WRITING--1, Paul Greenberg, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Geaux, Judge, Geaux!"; 2, Chris Wessel, The Jonesboro Sun, Closed-door meetings cloud budget process; 3, Waylon Harris, The Jonesboro Sun, Judicial seats up for grabs if price is right.
EDUCATION REPORTING--1, Jeannie Roberts, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, College facing growing pains; 2, Brenda Brown, Texarkana Gazette, TC honors Perot; 3, Aaron Brand, Texarkana Gazette, "Fun, learning emerge in CHMS class."
HEALTH-RELATED TOPICS--1, Celia Storey, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, When the time is right; 2, Ashley Gardner, Texarkana Gazette, Cloudy Issue; 3, Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Untangling Alzheimer's.
NEWS COVERAGE--1, Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Tornado deaths reach 15; 2, Staff, The Sentinel-Record, Crews raze Majestic Hotel; 3, Dustin Azlin, Sunshine CrumpThe Jonesboro Sun, Officer trades gunfire at trailer park.
NEWS FEATURE--1, Nikki Wentling, Cathy Frye, Ryan McGeeney, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 2 very different paths; 2, Christi Crawford, The Jonesboro Sun, Various programs provide hope to homeless.3, Jeannie Roberts, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Lost in the Red River.
NON-TRADITIONAL NEWS ITEM--1, Jason Hopkins, Guy Wheatley, Texarkana Gazette, DRIVE TIME for the REALIGNED; 2, Evan Lewis, Texarkana Gazette, Touch-up Work; 3, Dustin Azlin, George Jared, The Jonesboro Sun, Officers recall cases that made them laugh.
POLITICAL REPORTING--1, Michael R. Wickline, Claudia Lauer, Spencer Willems, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Private option shaky after GOP blitz; 2, George Jared, The Jonesboro Sun, Bookout doled out campaign cash; 3, George Jared, The Jonesboro Sun, Sparks fly in state District 59 election.
SPECIAL PROJECT- COMMUNITY SERVICE--1, Chad Day, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Bound and Punished; 2, Sunshine Crump, The Jonesboro Sun, Public defender caseloads cause concern; 3, Jay Bell, The Sentinel-Record, The changing face of education in Arkansas.
SPORTS COLUMN--1, Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Time still begins on Opening Day; 2, Bob Wisener, The Sentinel-Record, To an absent friend; 3, Bill Owney, Texarkana Gazette, Baylor's new stadium makes a statement.
SPORTS FEATURE--1, Ben Cowens, The Jonesboro Sun, Basketball Jones: Blazer junior fulfills hoop dream; 2, Josh Richert, Texarkana Gazette, Arkansas High's Hemperley defies odds in comeback; 3, Tom Murphy, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Mary's baby boy hard to miss now.
SPORTS STORY--1, Jeremy Muck, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, A Lance Encounter; 2, Cory Clark, The Jonesboro Sun, Steady Cook closes St. Jude Classic in style; 3, Troy Schulte, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, UALR clears baseball coach.
SPOT NEWS STORY--1, Chad Day, Claudia Lauer, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Dazed residents of Vilonia again feeling loss; 2, Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Deadly tornado slams state; 3, Jim Williamson, Ashley Gardner, Michelle Williams, Texarkana Gazette, Manhunt heats up.
DIGITAL (FORMERLY WEBSITE)--1, Arkansas Online Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; 2, Staff, The Sentinel-Record; 3, Editorial Staff, Texarkana Gazette.
DIGITAL STORYTELLING--1, Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Other Side of Nowhere; 2, Arkansas Online Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 2014 Storm Coverage; 3, Arkansas Online Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 2014 Elections.
GRAPHICS--1, Kirk Montgomery, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Kirk Montgomery portfolio; 2, Nikki Dawes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Nikki Dawes portfolio; 3, Danielle Dupree, Texarkana Gazette, Top votes of 2013 by regional lawmakers.
HEADLINE--1, Jeff Krupsaw, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Mudders' day; 2, Bob Wisener, The Sentinel-Record, Who's the boss? Danza pulls off Derby upset; 3, Andrea Miller, Texarkana Gazette, Cloudy Issue.
PAGE DESIGN--1, Tena Chen, Sean Clancy, Matt Spence, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Democrat-Gazette design; 2, Andrea Miller, Danielle Dupree, Jason Hopkins, Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana Gazette Page Design; 3, Tom Ritchey, Jason Wilson, The Sentinel-Record, Majestic Hotel burns.
FEATURE PHOTO--1, Benjamin Krain, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Team building at UCA; 2, Benjamin Krain, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Practice for season opener; 3, Melissa Sue Gerrits, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Clinton stumps for Democrats.
FEATURE SPORTS PHOTO--1, Stephen Thornton, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, It's all about the finish; 2, Benjamin Krain, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Central's Mann ready to Cowboy up; 3, Staci Vandagriff, The Jonesboro Sun, Final stretch.
PHOTOGRAPHER'S PORTFOLIO--1, Staton Breidenthal, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; 2, Evan Lewis,Texarkana Gazette; 3, Richard Rasmussen, The Sentinel-Record.
SPOT NEWS PHOTO--1, Melissa Sue Gerrits, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Amid ruin, on trail of life before storm "; 2, Benjamin Krain, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Tornado deaths reach 15; 3, Richard Rasmussen, The Sentinel-Record, Majestic Hotel Fire.
SPOT SPORTS PHOTO--1, Benjamin Krain, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL; 2, Staton Breidenthal, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Dashing round the bend; 3, Mara Kuhn, The Sentinel-Record, Successful Return.
SERVICE TO FOI--1, Chelsea Boozer, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Chelsea Boozer: FOIA defender; 2, George Jared, The Jonesboro Sun, Perrin: Vote-polling email was an error; 3, Jay Bell, The Sentinel-Record, Curry's DWI lab report released.
SWEEPSTAKES AWARDS
Batesville Daily Guard; Log Cabin Democrat, Conway; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock
Mark Twain Award for member contributions: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock.
State Desk on 04/26/2015