SPJ Metro Louisville Awards 2020

August 18, 2020, 3:32 pm

1st Contestant Type

Open Call Contestant

2nd Organization

2nd Contestant Type

Open Call Contestant

3rd Contestant Type

Open Call Contestant

Enterprise/investigative reporting

3900 Anderson Avenue

liz.palmer@manualjc.com

The battle over utility access at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest isn't as simple as either side says as Manual High students found out through sifting through records and using a lot of shoe leather an analysis. Good job.

Sky Carroll, Lillian Metzmeier, John Woodhouse

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442411"

manualredeye@outlook.com

Use of Backpack may cross digital privacy lines

The Manual Redeye did a good job of raising privacy questions by a Jefferson County public school program online that leaves student information potentially available to others. Good job in finding and fleshing out this complex issue.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440821"

Crime/courts/criminal justice reporting

manualredeye@outlook.com

My grandma’s fight for the First

How cool is this? Adrienne Sato's grandma challenges a law requiring schools to post the Ten Commandments, saying the government went too far in a law that violated the principle of separation of church and state. She won, and Adrienne does a good ob of explaining why the case was important.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441014"

editor@louisvillecardinal.com

String of Robberies hits U of L

Good job of highlighting a string of burglaries and a sexual assault at the University of Louisville.

Samantha Combest

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442142"

Best video (non-broadcast)

3900 Anderson Avenue

liz.palmer@manualjc.com

Beyond the Books

Excellent job!! Informative, creative, easy to watch and a good mix of visuals. I like the white board action when you wrote on it.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442420"

manualredeye@outlook.com

J&C takes on D.C.: A look into the NSPA Journalism Convention

Great effort. Would like to have seen the shots for a little longer. Videography seemed a little jerky. Would have also liked to hear from some of the students.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440896"

Personality/profile writing

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Rachel Denhollander

Empowering and important for this kind of topic. Great job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442176"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Lots of information. Good job!!

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442311"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442148"

Enterprise/investigative reporting

Spectrum News 1

Deborah Harbsmeier

10170 Linn Station Road, Ste. 590

deborah.harbsmeier@charter.com

Well produced and informative. Great job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440882"

Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting

khoward@kycir.org

Louisville Police Expected A Grow Operation. They Found Christmas Lights.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442328"

2710 Kaywood Drive

willclark@whas.com

Tennessee Execution Of Lee Hall

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440711"

Crime/courts/criminal justice reporting

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Louisville has paid for police car chases the past three years in lives and costly settlements. A more lenient policy in determining when such chases is responsible, and the Courier Journal provides all the proof that things need to change to keep Louisville from speeding down the dark road that other major metro areas have crashed on. Excellent job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442166"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

18-year-old Tae-Ahn Lea's only offense was making a wide turn while driving, but he was handcuffed, searched and made to stand in shame in public while police used drug-sniffing dogs to check out his vehicle. The Courier Journal went through traffic offenses and found out that black drivers were three times more likely to be searched during traffic stops than white drivers. Oh, yah, Lea was an African American going out to get a slushie. Great job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442310"

624 W Muh Ali Blvd

cotts@wdrb.com

Jason Riley does an excellent job of taking controversies out of the courtroom and into the real world: the apparent improper use of presigned orders to remove children from homes; questions abut whether an Amish man actually contributed to the death of another man; and allegations of sexual harassment at the Kentucky State Reformatory. This is how the courts should be covered.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442274"

What an intense competition. One could easily swap any of the top three. But the public service of the Courier Journal series about police car chases put it on top.

Best Kentucky Derby story

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

The Panama Connection

This quote says it all: “If horses could talk, they would surely speak Spanish.” Wonderful piece about the Panamanian jockey school that has turned out four Kentucky Derby winners.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442168"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Jockey suspended

Important story with impact and details crafted in an apparent breaking news situation.

Billy Kobin, Andrew Wolfson

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442350"

624 W Muh Ali Blvd

cotts@wdrb.com

Interesting reaction from people living in the shadow of Churchill Downs. They feel left out of the racetrack's expansion plans and the chance to get big bucks for their homes.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442279"

Tough competition. All of the stories were excellent pieces about Louisville's premiere event.

manualredeye@outlook.com

Women’s rights rally illuminates a need for intersectionality in reproductive healthcare

The Manual Redeye tackles the issue of reproductive rights. Good representation of the different points of the issue.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441002"

manualredeye@outlook.com

Student protestors call on McConnell to acknowledge a Green New Deal

The Manual Redeye gives a voice to Climate Change protesters and the need to do something now, focusing attention on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441003"

Nice coverage of important issues

Sports action photography

editor@louisvillecardinal.com

Anna Claire Will - U of L vs EKU

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442140"

manualredeye@outlook.com

R/W Week 2019: GALLERY: Male defeats Manual

Cesca Campisano

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440894"

Relatively weak category with good exposure and an easy read bringing the first place to the top of the choices

Regional/community

Feature/sport photography

The Record newspaper

1200 S. Shelby Street

jable@archlou.org

Trainer Richard Mandella, Omaha Beach Trainer Richard Mandella stood with Omaha Beach on the backside of Churchill Downs April 30.

A nice portrait of a familiar sport and a carefully captured moment all rolled into one.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442247"

The Record Newspaper

5458 Mitscher Ave

rthomas@archlou.org

Louisville City Football Club coach, high-fived a young girl from Tanzania

A nice moment well captured

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442343"

202 South First Street

samdraut@yahoo.com

A very familiar looking image from a well documented sports event.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441195"

A nice selection of alternative sports features with the winner standing out only by virtue of the subject matter being probably more familiar to the local community than the Soccer /Football Club.

3900 Anderson Avenue

liz.palmer@manualjc.com

Beautiful photo compilation of up and coming music artists in Louisville. Love the branded color palette and bold graphics that accompany the photos. The quotes are perfect, not distracting while giving more insight into the essay.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442423"

manualredeye@outlook.com

GALLERY: YPAS presents “Mamma Mia!”

Great photo gallery of the fall musical “Mamma Mia!”. The selections made for the order are engaging and varied to give the reader just enough of a sneak peek to intrigue the viewer to go out and see it. Lighting can be tricky on stage, but the photographer did it well.

Cesca Campisano, Norah Wulkopf

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441057"

editor@louisvillecardinal.com

Photo Gallery: Active Shooter Drill at School of Medicine

Love the comprehensive coverage of the Active shooter drill, but it left me wanting to know more about each photo, and the intricacies of the proper protocol and drill. Recommend including captions to help the reader along and create involvement to share and react with comments.

David Mucker, Sam Combest

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442127"

manualredeye@outlook.com

Who’s going to be on the primary ballot?

This stylish interactive graphic is nicely designed and informative. A good resource for all State voters.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440898"

manualredeye@outlook.com

When it’s more than just the blues: how to support a friend with depression

Entire graphic package fits well with the story, promotes empathy and addresses an audience that is comfortable communicating via text message or digitally. Nice work.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440897"

manualredeye@outlook.com

A complete timeline of former principal Jerry Mayes’ investigation

A very informative and interactive experience of the Jerry Mayes investigation. The timeline format allows the reader to track each event as it occurs concisely while providing resources for more in-depth coverage and information.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440900"

All of the winners integrate classic design fundamentals while cognizant of the transition to a digital, online experience. These students are taking editorial design into the future!

Regional/community

202 South First Street

samdraut@yahoo.com

Oldham Era Front Pages

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441307"

Super Lawyers Magazine

Mail Stop: C2N124, 610 Opperman Drive

trevor.kupfer@thomsonreuters.com

“Great Heights” concept is thoughtfully carried through execution of design and photo direction. Not only is the subject on a high floor overlooking the city, the top of his head reaches beyond the title reaching right below the skyline text.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1438765"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Highly impactful and provocative. Concept is subtle, intelligent and works perfectly in the space and with the story it accompanies. Great job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442384"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442379"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Jennifer Williams

Jennifer Williams

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442383"

Page design - Sports/features

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Great choices and use of photo illustrations. Each cover design is engaging, well thought out and provides strong support to its corresponding feature story.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442378"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Fun and creative choice of imagery. Would loved to have seen the design utilize the entire page with more thought to scale and placement of the individual elements.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442374"

Page design - News/business

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Jennifer Williams

The design and creation of a book cover elevated the photography for this layout. Colors, illustration style and typography all lend to a sinister vibe which is ideal for the feature.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442385"

Louisville Business First

462 S. Fourth Street, Suite 450

dmann@bizjournals.com

Access Ventures is trying to change the narrative

Good use of negative space, but more could have been done creatively with the typography. Felt it did not quite visually match the energy of the feature story.

Brooke Timmons

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442187"

Personality/profile writing

Super Lawyers Magazine

Mail Stop: C2N124, 610 Opperman Drive

trevor.kupfer@thomsonreuters.com

A corporate defense attorney. A bad guy, right? David Herzog is a different kind of super attorney who is not afraid to go on the plaintiff's side and succeed. This profile gets into what makes Herzog tick and what makes him successful. Good Job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1438767"

editor@louisvillecardinal.com

Matty B's bucket list of sports things to do

They may not be as popular as football, but Matty B has a bunch of sports at the University of Louisville that is just as good, from soccer and field hockey to women's basketball. He takes you on a virtual tour.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442146"

manualredeye@outlook.com

OPINION: Turf fields aren’t the answer for JCPS

Artificial turf versus grass. Will this debate ever end? Adrienne Sato says grass prevents injuries and costs less. It isn't worth it even though the JCPS has decreed it for every football team.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441247"

Come on there must be more opinionated sports writers out there. We need competition in print as well as on the field.

Government/politics reporting

126 North 36th Street

cdaniels@whas11.com

Truth matters: Bevin denies linking casinos and suicides; tapes prove otherwise

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441518"

anymoresports@gmail.com

Government/Politics reporting composite

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440826"

Continuing coverage/series reporting

lvgilles@gmail.com

Aging in Rural Kentucky: Suicide, Social Isolation and Raising Grandchildren

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442405"

Spectrum News 1

Deborah Harbsmeier

10170 Linn Station Road, Ste. 590

deborah.harbsmeier@charter.com

National Recovery Month

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440872"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Wonderful comprehensive section all about the Derby. Great story telling builds excitement with headlines and photography—from the action shots to covering the ups and downs of emotions that run the gamut. Love the drama! The layers of reader entry points with the quotes, the infographics, fashion and photography—there’s a little of everything and it works.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442390"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Ambitious story untangling CJNG’s web aimed to connect the pieces of El Mencho’s empire and into mainstream America—and in their hometowns. The cover collage as well as the Cartel web wall is riveting.

The Courier Journal’s commitment to invest in significant resources to tell important stories like this one affirms their commitment to their readers and as is their importance in the communities we all serve.

Kyle Slagle, Ryan Hildebrandt

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442395"

Louisville Business First

462 S. Fourth Street, Suite 450

dmann@bizjournals.com

Beautiful, clean layout. Easy navigation between editorial and ads, making it easy on the eyes. Both are designed well, giving it a great balance overall. Nice range of content, filled with wonderful tips and takeaways.

Brooke Timmons

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442188"

It was very difficult to judge this section due to the level of reporting and design involved. The competition notes say to pick the best design of a special section, and felt it was important to weigh both the content and design in the decision making process.

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Sex trafficking allegations

Great details and thorough reporting.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442321"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Anti-abortion protestor breaks leg

The reporter covered this story from all angles—the assault, the police investigation and the broader issue of buffer zones.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442347"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Kentucky Kingdom season pass giveaway

Lots of color and interviews paint the picture of the chaotic scene so clearly.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442150"

This category had a lot of great entries. It was difficult to narrow them down to the top three. Good job.

Regional/community

902 EDWARD AVE

hope.reese@gmail.com

Wendell Berry is Still Ahead of Us

This profile is a standout. Thorough reporting and clear, concise writing. Love the use of lots of color and details. Good job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1437552"

Marnie McAllister

1200 S. Shelby St

mmcallister@archlou.org

Lunar landing, war effort and run for a cause

Marnie McAllister

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442309"

The Record Newspaper

5458 Mitscher Ave

rthomas@archlou.org

195-year-old restored painting unveiled

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442325"

editor@louisvillecardinal.com

U of L Owns KentuckyOne Assets

Good follow up on a complex deal by the University of Louisville to take over five hospitals in the area.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442114"

manualredeye@outlook.com

Coverage of School Renovations

Good coverage of high-tech lab, library and school renovations. Didn't seem to go on a single track or follow up on the other stories.

Mandala Gupta VerWiebe, EP Presnell, Cesca Campisano

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440989"

manualredeye@outlook.com

OPINION: Your Straight Pride plans should go straight into the trash

Jacob Hamm does a nice job of explaining why people should not question celebratory days for marginalized people.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441243"

editor@louisvillecardinal.com

Slasher passes. Field of Screams. You sure got a good assignment. Nice descriptions of the Halloween attractions.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442121"

3900 Anderson Avenue

liz.palmer@manualjc.com

What they sacrifice for you to know

Telling the truth in some other countries could get you killed. Annie Whaley examines the attack by the politicians and others who have something to hide.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442417"

Lot of deep thoughts by young people. Keep up the good work.

editor@louisvillecardinal.com

NCAA deals U of L notice of inquiry regarding developments in pay-for-play

Solid writing about the notice of investigation by NCAA of the Louisville men's basketball team. Good background of the problem and details of previous infractions.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442144"

manualredeye@outlook.com

Lena Kaziska rises to the top

A good practice day piece on an outstanding girl pole vaulter. The writing was good enough to make you believe you were there.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441245"

manualredeye@outlook.com

Manual claws the St. X Tigers

Good Manual Redeye piece about Manual first football win against St. Xavier in 26 years.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441246"

Strong writing by sports reporters.

Regional/community

202 South First Street

samdraut@yahoo.com

Wirth’s skills go beyond equine dentistry

Kentucky Derby jockey, horse dentist, competitive fisherman, champion speed skater. Is there anything Kevin Wirth can't do? And Sam Draut tells us all about it in a can't-stop-reading feature.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441194"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Gosh darn it. Lindsey McClave does such a good job of describing the food and restaurants that I wanted to go out and dine. McClave knows the business.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442331"

Rookie of the Year

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Ben Tobin displayed an ability to dig out the facts in some of the biggest stories in Kentucky. He did detailed reporting on a controversial pardon by former Gov. Bevin and on a huge fire at the Jim Beam warehouse. That alone would lock in the prize for him, but his report on racial sensitivities from officials of an African American college stemming from a neighboring white college's development of an athletic complex was handled delicately but to the point. Well done.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442355"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Sarah Ladd is an excellent writer. She takes us to Pearl Harbor and Bastogne. It is in Belgium that she displays her talents making the reader feel that he or she is there watching George Merz getting the adulation he deserves. This is minor, but I think the only things that kept Ladd from being Rookie of the Year: 1) Not making it clear that the actions of soldiers like Merz kept the war from ending in a stalemate. 2) The French Legion of Honor is not just some medal; it is the major medal in France like the United States' Medal of Honor. Perhaps there is some wording some place that would have described Merz' actions. But in all, Ladd did a great job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442357"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

What a rookie year for Billy Kobin -- covering an explosion that killed a person, the suspension of the jockey whose mount won the Kentucky Derby but was disqualified because of interference with other horses and the vandalism of a Hindu temple. Most veterans would be jealous of the articles Kobin came up with. The only criticism I had was what was the reputation of the temple in the surrounding community or spiritual community. Quiet, unassuming? Or helped the poor? Great year of reporting.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442352"

It was a matter of inches that separated these three worthy candidates. Any other judge could have come up with a different result.

Regional/community

Marnie McAllister

1200 S. Shelby St

mmcallister@archlou.org

Signs, statues and borders

Very well done! It's obvious that Ms. McAllister is a thoughtful writer who does her research, is well-informed, and works at connecting with her readers.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442308"

Marnie McAllister is certainly deserving of the 1st-Place honor. But it would've been good to have had more entrants and robust competition in this category.

Opinion/editorial writing is very powerful in any community. At its best, it can stoke change for the better!

manualredeye@outlook.com

Bleeding women dry: The problem with Kentucky’s “pink tax”

A well-researched and candid point-of-view that takes into account readers' demographics. Pointing out WHY this issue is important (e.g., that in Kentucky’s population, 20% of women live below the poverty line) shows the writer was thinking about what ALL editorials must always keep in mind: Why should we care? Good job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441250"

manualredeye@outlook.com

OPINION: Manual’s five-star rating is nothing to celebrate

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441248"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Tim Sullivan takes no prisoners. Whether it be a Louisville board chairman, the Kentucky Derby disqualified winner or a Kentucky head coach. Some strong columns.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442300"

624 W Muh Ali Blvd

cotts@wdrb.com

Eric Crawford writes some solid sports columns, and his descriptions are good. In a column about Louisville's women's basketball team deserving respect, he says the NCAA treats the women's basketball tournament like "a second class citizen." Enjoyable reads.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442327"

624 W Muh Ali Blvd

cotts@wdrb.com

Strong columns by Rick Bozich: The one word resolution between Rick Pitino and the University of Louisville; the passing of a former Kentucky quarterback who battled eating disorders and for football yardage.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442270"

Great sports columns being produced in Louisville.

Martha Hernandez

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442373"

The artist keeps it simple and elegantly conveys his message. Well done.

lvgilles@gmail.com

For Low-Income Older Adults, Some Food Access Solutions Go Further Than Others

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442400"

1500 River Shore Drive, Apt. 240

rjbradfield1@gmail.com

Women and Guns

Robert Bradfield, Steven Peake

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441661"

khoward@kycir.org

The Next Louisville: Youth Homelessness

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442297"

1500 River Shore Drive, Apt. 240

rjbradfield1@gmail.com

Healing of the Heart

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441660"

lvgilles@gmail.com

Aging in Isolation

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442401"

Spectrum News 1

Deborah Harbsmeier

10170 Linn Station Road, Ste. 590

deborah.harbsmeier@charter.com

David Guildford - Composite

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440865"

This goes beyond mere "features." There was a lot of deeper research that enhanced the stories.

Nancy Cook Lauer

Louisville Business First

462 S. Fourth Street, Suite 450

dmann@bizjournals.com

Inside the Fast 50'; 'Commercial Permits Increase'; and 'Wild Fires'

Great use of data visualization. In these examples, the data is the story. Well done.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442184"

624 W Muh Ali Blvd

cotts@wdrb.com

Chris Otts / Kentucky taxes on fake-slot machines

Good use of data to compare gambling tax revenues across neighboring states. The reporter's initiative in seeking data from different sources gave this one the edge.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442264"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Data from public sources is well-illustrated and explained. Choosing a scatter graph to compare poverty to test scores really brought the message home.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442324"

There are as many ideas about how to best explain and illustrate data as there are sources for the numbers. These entries did a good job corralling the numbers from a variety of sources into meaningful stories.

Nancy Cook Lauer

manualredeye@outlook.com

BHM: JCPS’s teacher population does not reflect the students they teach

Amazing work comparing racial makeup of students to teachers in individual schools. Not only does the story explain why this matters, but illustrating the data with map points and graphs brings the whole story home. Nicely done!

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441005"

Thorobred News

400 East Main Street, Hathaway

david.shabazz@kysu.edu

DACA: A Student's Perspective

Informative broadcast of a Kentucky State student who is a DACA student. She talks what the options and future holds for her with uncertainties with the program that allows children of undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States. Timely and important issue that has been in the news.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442059"

400 East Main Street, Hathaway

david.shabazz@kysu.edu

Now Versus Then

A Kentucky State student says she is a different person now that she is a mother. She never wanted to become a parent, but now she worries all the time about how things and actions will affect her child. Interesting show.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442181"

manualredeye@outlook.com

Take Five Episode Two

Nice conversational show among E.P., Norah and Cesca like friends (I assume they are) about a wide variety of entertainment from comics and favorite movies to abuse allegations about a popular actor. Entertaining.

Emma "E.P." Presnell, Norah Wulkopf, Cesca Campisano

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440904"

Crime/courts/criminal justice reporting

anymoresports@gmail.com

Criminal Justice Reporting Composite

A standoff with state troopers after reports of people being held against their will. A man is arrested after his girlfriend's son has a broken bone and bruises. A man is shot going into someone else's home and stripping down to his underwear. WAVE3 did a good job of covering these crimes.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440824"

anymoresports@gmail.com

Sports Column Writing Composite

Annie Moore takes the viewer behind the scenes. Whether it be the leader of the Kentucky basketball team not being able to go back to his hometown for the Final Four or the Louisville baseball team draws inspiration for the World Series from the memories of a Super Fan. Wonderful pieces.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440823"

Business/technology reporting

Spectrum News 1

Deborah Harbsmeier

10170 Linn Station Road, Ste. 590

deborah.harbsmeier@charter.com

Age Appropriate Toys

Amber Smith takes the viewer behind the scenes at a toy store to show how to judge how appropriate some toys are for holiday shoppers. Nice piece.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440866"

General/spot news reporting

anymoresports@gmail.com

Jeffersonville PD accident

A Jeffersonville police officer is injured in a two-car crash, and WAVE3 was on the scene to give the details. Good job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440822"

Government/Politics reporting

Nancy Cook Lauer

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Matt Bevin's pardons

Pardons and commutations analyzed three ways from Sunday, in the process discovering campaign contributors and racial inequities. Topped off with an accounting of what happened to a specific drug offender thrown on the street. The articles are balanced with several points of view, while maintaining their main message. Good research!

Andrew Wolfson, Joe Sonka, Matt Mencarini, Jonathan Bullington

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442299"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

The mayor's emails tell the story. Kudos to the newspaper for exercising its FOIA rights to obtain them! A flowing, conversational writing style helps what could be very weighty topics-- budgets and pensions-- from getting weighted down. Good job!

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442154"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Teachers and politics

Thorough coverage of public education issues, including holding a governor to his campaign promises, detailing what happened in the aftermath and sprinkling in some personal anecdotes from teachers. A nice package.

Olivia Krauth, Mandy McLaren

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442290"

It's become trite for a judge to say there were so many solid entries that it was difficult to pick out the best. In this case, it's true. Because of the quality of the entries, this judge selected the ones where journalists went the extra mile to submit FOIAs, to pore through documents, to locate that hidden gem. Other entries were solid and important reporting of government and politics and would have had a chance to shine in a less crowded field.

Best non-news newscast

Spectrum News 1

Deborah Harbsmeier

10170 Linn Station Road, Ste. 590

deborah.harbsmeier@charter.com

State of Incarceration: What's Going on Behind Bars

Well-done special project highlighting the problems of Kentucky's prisons/jails. The Bail Project is trying to relieve overcrowding by paying the under $5,000 bail of pretrial prisoners to lessen the pressure for them to plead guilty. The ill effects on women's rehab exist because of losing or being separated from their children. The opoid crisis and the need to increase drug treatment in the prisons. The special program highlights the problems, shows the solutions and presents real people to talk about their prison experiences. Well done.

Ashleigh Mills, Paige Taylor, Rebecca Walters

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440869"

Best sound mixing/creative use of sound

Knights Media Network, Bellarmine University

2001 Newburg Road

sshain@bellarmine.edu

Wonderful use of that irritating sound of squeaking to highlight in a video the squeaky chair problem at Bellarmine University.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442216"

3900 Anderson Avenue

liz.palmer@manualjc.com

Kickin' it in Kentucky

Well-edited audio piece about a refugee and soccer standout from Tanzania. Editors blended two narrators who provide background and context with the star's interview. Seamless and flows well.

Jacob Hamm, Lainey Holland

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442409"

khoward@kycir.org

This is an incredibly great podcast. I know very little about Louisville (outside sports) but this public radio show is great in history and context about how the west end of Louisville was a child of segregation (in the beginning it was racism) and was stymied by a number of things. Now it is being redone, and WPFL attempts to tell listeners whether this will work out

Laura Ellis, Amina Elahi, Jonese Franklin

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442278"

3900 Anderson Avenue

liz.palmer@manualjc.com

The Power of We.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442407"

manualredeye@outlook.com

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440903"

Regional/community

Best video (non-broadcast)

202 South First Street

samdraut@yahoo.com

A very creative way to express an entire year of accomplishments in high school sports. Covers the breadth of sports and athletes in a raw, gritty, and compelling fashion.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441196"

The Record newspaper

1200 S. Shelby Street

jable@archlou.org

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442243"

Page design - Sports/features

3900 Anderson Avenue

liz.palmer@manualjc.com

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442404"

3900 Anderson Avenue

liz.palmer@manualjc.com

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442403"

3900 Anderson Avenue

liz.palmer@manualjc.com

Cover design - On the Record fall/winter issue 2019-2020

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442406"

Noelle Fujii-Oride

Knights Media Network, Bellarmine University

2001 Newburg Road

sshain@bellarmine.edu

Bellarmine Students Want Corrective Action for Injustices

Excellent, thoughtful, comprehensive reporting on a tough topic.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442198"

Knights Media Network, Bellarmine University

2001 Newburg Road

sshain@bellarmine.edu

Bellarmine Seeks Preventative Action in Wake of Locker Room Incident

Another example of great reporting.

Grace Potts, Wynn McDonald, Drew Troutman

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442205"

Knights Media Network, Bellarmine University

2001 Newburg Road

sshain@bellarmine.edu

Bellarmine Offers Reserved Parking Spaces for Home Basketball Games

Very-well written.

Grace Potts, Leah Wilkinson

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442210"

Best video (non-broadcast)

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

This story telling was so well done that it was hard to watch - as it should be. The use of music, gfx, and interviews was disciplined which allowed the poignancy of the story itself to shine through. An important story.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442377"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

All the athletes certainly have challenges to overcome. The editing really enhanced the story about the 3 female football players.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442336"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Chasing the American Dream

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442291"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Maggie Menderski

Maggie Menderski

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442298"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442307"

Government/politics reporting

Nancy Cook Lauer

manualredeye@outlook.com

Senate Bill 250 passes during JCPS’s second sick-out

Very clear, concise reporting on legislative action with care taken to get all sides of the story. I like how video and Twitter feed are included in the story. Good job!

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441010"

manualredeye@outlook.com

Louisville voters attend Buttigieg’s presidential town hall

Good coverage of a breaking news event. An easy conversational style and a sense of place make this a solid story.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441012"

manualredeye@outlook.com

December SBDM meeting introduces budget priorities and CSIP goals

Diligent reporting on a government meeting. I like how the Twitter updates were interspersed in the story. Feet on the street journalism!

Mandala Gupta VerWiebe

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441007"

anymoresports@gmail.com

Sports Writing Composite

Wanted more about Sellersburg being the "Hoosiers" team of the state basketball championship. Even so, it was good enough to top WAVE3's lists of stories that provided good coverage of the College World Series and the road to the Final Four.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440825"

Spectrum News 1

Deborah Harbsmeier

10170 Linn Station Road, Ste. 590

deborah.harbsmeier@charter.com

Not Your Average Quarterback

Nice piece about a female football player at a high school. She used to play tackle football with her brother. Would have like to hear from some of the males on the team. Good Job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440884"

2710 Kaywood Drive

willclark@whas.com

Will Clark WHAS Radio Anchor

Election night 2019. The execution of Lee Hall. All delivered in steady, descriptive words by Will Clark. Hard to believe they weren't rehearsed over and over.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440709"

3711 Fallen Timber Dr.

aellis05026@gmail.com

WAVE 3 News @ 11

Two strong newscasts from WAVE 3 @ 11, one about an officer-involved shooting at a major store and the second about the election night results. Solid work.

Becca Gibson, Aaron Ellis, Joshua Coffman

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442180"

Strong entries in this category.

Journalist of the Year

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Why Kentucky can't stop hurting — and killing — its children. Kentuckians know it, lawmakers know it. Still, there are record numbers of foster care children. This is the story of the year, written by Deborah Yetter. She weaves the stories of many stuck in or trying to do something about the child welfare system, long known to be among the worst in the nation. The result is a forceful but compassionate look at the problem that should spur many into action.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442354"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Beth Warren investigated where the drugs infiltrating Kentucky were coming from. She found out it was El Mencho who ran the cartel called CJNG in Mexico. She and her team found links to Kentucky and many other states. With all the interviews of drug agents and documents, Warren and her team wove an intricate story tying Kentucky to El Mencho in a good read of drugs, greed, ruthlessness and murder. Could not stop reading the articles.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442353"

This competition was very hard to decide. Both journalists are worthy of the title. But in the end, it was impact that decided it. Yetter's stories have brought pledges to help fight the problem from high-ranking state officials. The impact was great.

Minority/women's affairs reporting

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Bailey Loosemore

Though all of the stories in this competition were interesting and new, Loosemore’s writing edge out the other writers in a very tough contest for best.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442318"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Savannah Eadens

Savannah Eadens

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442157"

lvgilles@gmail.com

For Some Older Adults In Louisville, Daily Nutrition Is A Struggle; For Low-Income Older Adults, Some Food Access Solutions Go Further Than Others

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442248"

The Courier-Journal

Michael Clevenger

835 Minoma Avenue

mclevenger@gannett.com

Ulis Steely Goes Home

Clevenger captures the story vividly and carries the viewer through to the end.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440795"

anymoresports@gmail.com

2019 College World Series

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441286"

Regional/community

The Record newspaper

1200 S. Shelby Street

jable@archlou.org

Volunteers share ‘love of Christ’ at border

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442250"

The Record Newspaper

5458 Mitscher Ave

rthomas@archlou.org

How to spot trafficking during Derby

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442317"

The Record's coverage of the migrants was the clear winner. Comprehensive coverage, with a local perspective, of an important national issue. Strong leads, powerful quotes and effective narrative flow.

624 W Muh Ali Blvd

cotts@wdrb.com

Uncovered by WDRB Podcast

Uncovered by WDRB News starts with an engaging intro and the rest of the elements of great storytelling continue to throughout the podcast. However, the storytelling delivers information without taking sides. It is consistently fair, captivating and compelling.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442260"

624 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd

jlewis@wdrb.com

WDRB SportsPod entry for Best Podcast

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441558"

khoward@kycir.org

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442286"

Business/technology reporting

624 W Muh Ali Blvd

cotts@wdrb.com

The depth and range of these three reports gave this entry the edge in a competitive category. I was fascinated by each: one a compelling, can't-turn-away-from-the-wreckage saga of a family and a business torn apart; a well done explanation of how a local corporate giant might benefit from an expansion of government health care; and slot machines that are not like any slot machines I have known. Congratulations.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442261"

624 W Muh Ali Blvd

cotts@wdrb.com

Excellent watchdog reporting on government failures. Well-reported, well-explained and well done overall.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442387"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Fine investigative reporting.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442294"

Very strong entries in this category made it hard to pick a single winner. If I could, I would given two first place prizes and two second place awards.

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Disconnected youth

Mandy McLaren nails this important subject by effectively answering so many vital questions – like why and how the issue of disconnected youths affects everyone in Louisville – and by making it personal, with compelling stories of these young people, how they got there and what is being done to help them climb out of that hole. Congratulations.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442288"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

The Courier Journal

Well done coverage on an important range of subjects.

Mandy McLaren, Olivia Krauth

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442326"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Well done coverage on an important range of subjects.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442329"

Excellent entries made this a challenging category to judge. My initial scorecard gave 9 out of 10 for each entry. I never give a 10 on my first go because I can never sure where the ceiling is. In this case, the ceiling was extremely high. Well done by all.

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Louisville's food deserts

All of these entries deserved first place for in-depth and writing that connected you emotionally to the people affected. I finally picked this one for the depth and breadth of the coverage, including using data from an online questionnaire – great example of crowdsourcing.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442319"

lvgilles@gmail.com

Aging In Rural America: The Link Between Chronic Disease And Mental Health; Side Effect Of Opioid Epidemic? Grandparents Raising Grandkids; As Boomers Age, Senior Centers Face Lower Attendance Amid Social Isolation

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442251"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442312"

Twice while reading these entries, I started crying – that’s how powerful they were. And as I read each one for the first time, I said that’s the winner. Each deserves first place.

Regional/community

The Record newspaper

1200 S. Shelby Street

jable@archlou.org

Catholics called to 'welcome every stranger'

Able's continuing coverage of the central Kentucky Catholic response to detention centers on the southern border with Mexico is storytelling with a purpose. It does more than gather an audience. It balances what readers know they want with what they cannot anticipate but need. The stories build while remaining interesting and take the reader on a deliberate path.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442256"

Marnie McAllister

1200 S. Shelby St

mmcallister@archlou.org

Honoring the gifts of black Catholics

Marnie McAllister

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442303"

The Record Newspaper

5458 Mitscher Ave

rthomas@archlou.org

Sisters offer prayer, smiles and steady hands

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442333"

3900 Anderson Avenue

liz.palmer@manualjc.com

Beyond the Spires

What a marvelous story. A Churchill Downs-based nonprofit helps immigrants who live near the racetrack. Well-written and researched, Two Manual High students did a great job of writing and organizing this piece Well done.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442412"

Knights Media Network, Bellarmine University

2001 Newburg Road

sshain@bellarmine.edu

Wynn McDonald Feature Stories

Carole Pfeffer bleeds Bellarmine. A beloved faculty member leaves the university. Joe and Schmidt, Bellarmine graduates, donate $50,000 to allow 10 Thai students attend. Nice features. Wynn McDonald deftly tells these stories.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442192"

editor@louisvillecardinal.com

4th year medical student recounts capstone project

Louisville seniors finish their research projects at Louisville, including one involving an active shooter drill. Good description of the work it took to put the drill together. Good job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442134"

This category was ripe with well-written and conceived features. It was tough to pick the best three from such a competitive field.

624 W Muh Ali Blvd

cotts@wdrb.com

Colorful, observant detailed look atf the Bellarmine basketball coach and his team from the bus trip to the court. It was like you were there. The heartbreak of removing the favored horse in the Derby. An interview with Simone Biles. Good stuff by Eric Crawford.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442330"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Lynn Bowden, positioned for good things on the University of Kentucky football team, is profiled in-depth. Kentucky football player is looking at alpaca farming. Explanation of the Governor's Cup, which goes to the winner of the Kentucky-Louisville game. Nice features by Jon Hale.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442342"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Rich feature about Hailey Van Lith, a high school basketball player choosing Louisville. She credits her grandfather for giving her the moxie to get where she is and her father who did so many things to make it happen. Similar theme in feature about Trinity junior Jackson Schulz. His father was killed by a drunken driver; Jackson was on the field the next day and his team went onto win the state championship that his dad wanted. Hayes Gardner makes the reader feel the strength of family relationships in sports.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442281"

Tough conpetition -- there were so many good entries.

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Interesting story on the athletic director's daughter acting as real estate agent for three Louisville football coaches moving to town. All of a sudden, the commissions are given up. A stallion pulls in millions of collars as a prolific mate of some 200 mares a year; questions are raised about concentrating the gene pool. Great performances by former Louisville quarterback Lamarr Jackson in the pro ranks. This is reporting at its best.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442302"

624 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd

jlewis@wdrb.com

John Lewis WDRB Sports Reporting Entry

Ginger Funk is finding players treating her the same on the all-male Seneca baseball team. Interesting story. Senior female baseball player stages a comeback. E-sports gets a big boost with the first state high school tournament. Many offbeat stories. Good job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441553"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

More girls are participating in high school sports. Girls on traditionally male only football teams. And more girls joining in all-female wrestling. David Kim covered them. He show how a female player at a high school had to hand her helmet to the coach to lock up because the girl lockers weren't wide enough to include football equipment. What an image of how far females have come in sports in spite of expectations.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442337"

Outstanding sports reporting going on. It was really hard to decide on the winners because there were so many good stories.

Regional/community

General news photography

The Record newspaper

1200 S. Shelby Street

jable@archlou.org

Geraldine Cruz waited for Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe to begin Dec. 12 at St. Bartholomew Church.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442249"

There was only one entry to review.

khoward@kycir.org

Ryan Van Velzer Environmental Reporting

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442293"

The Record newspaper

1200 S. Shelby Street

jable@archlou.org

Wanted: green thumbs to nurture creation

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442253"

Enterprise/investigative reporting

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

The depth of the reporting is matched by the dexterity of the writing. The reporter masterfully weaves together a story that takes us from Mexico to small-town America in a complex case that is still easy to read. I clicked on to every story in this feature package and felt compelled to read every caption and handwritten note on the extremely effective photo elements, all of which drew me deeper into the feature. Well done!

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442304"

Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting

khoward@kycir.org

Prosecution Declined

A great demonstration of an investigative piece that goes beyond the numbers. The reporter uses data and personal accounts to effectively illuminate the reader on a statistic many others have likely glossed over.

Eleanor Klibanoff

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442276"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

It's not easy to turn government reporting into an interesting story. The writer does just that with pieces that illuminate different aspects of this "boondoggle" without getting repetitive.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442292"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Good recollection of going to a thing called Woodstock. But wonder if anyone knows who Ravi Shankar is -- anymore? Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in words. Thanks, Kirby Adams, for the treat.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442149"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Standard Gravure

Roma Barger still can't talk about the Standard Gravure shooting 30 years ago. Her husband was among eight killed that day. The story presents one image I can't get out of my mind: After being told about the death of her husband, Roma Barger ran out the backdoor yelling "Richard, Richard." Good remembrance piece.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442339"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Roadside memorials. Nice touch. What heartwarming visit to Bastogne to see where his father fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Pat McDonogh pulled out a great piece. A place for discarded plastic dolls to go. What an offbeat piece. All decorated with McDonogh's photos. How lucky can you get?

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442316"

Oh, wow, such a great collection of entries, all very good. I had five top rated stories before going back for judging. Unfortunately, I could only award three.

Sports feature photography

manualredeye@outlook.com

R/W Week 2019: GALLERY: Male defeats Manual

Would like to know what is going on in this photo other than a player trying to rally his high school football team. But it is a good shot and expressive. Good photo.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440895"

Where are the conpetitors?

General news photography

manualredeye@outlook.com

No discussion of education bills as teachers occupy Frankfort for a third day

In the competition of dueling photos from same publication coverage of teachers protesting bills at the Capitol, this one portrays more emotion and expresses the outrage. Nice shot.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441253"

manualredeye@outlook.com

After six days of “sick-outs,” what’s going on in the KYGA19?

Teachers tell lawmakers not to pass bills that they say will hurt public education. Part of sickouts and demonstrations at the Capitol. Good shot.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441252"

Clearly the competition was between Manual High photographers. Nice shots.

Spot news photography

manualredeye@outlook.com

‘Fire drill’ has a new ring to it

Now I understand this shot. Social studies teacher got to Captain Tom Cecil of the Louisville Fire Department during a fire drill this morning in second block. Good job with the firetruck as background.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441251"

3900 Anderson Avenue

liz.palmer@manualjc.com

A one-year-old looks out the front door of her grandmother's house near Churchill Downs, watching pedestrians and traffic -- away from the lead in the peeling paint on the windows, columns and the roof. Roxy came down with lead poisoning. Great shot of innocence of the danger. Almost tells the story by itself.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442418"

3900 Anderson Avenue

liz.palmer@manualjc.com

"Behind the Stables" by Mia Breitenstein

Nice scene setter shot so the reader can tell why these kids need help. Works with the story well. Good job.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442421"

manualredeye@outlook.com

Manual honors diversity with second annual multicultural fair

Shot of the China booth at the Manual High multicultural fair. Even got the panda in. Nice expressive shot.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440905"

Strong competition. Keep up the good work.

General news photography

525 W. Broadway

sutterback@gannett.com

Great shot. It is almost as if the homeless people are caught up in a vortex (Headline: Caught in the vortex) of their own stuff. Shows a lot of the issues involved with homelessness.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442372"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Great shot of a homeless man amidst his rubble greeting an outreach worker before the city begins removing homeless camps.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442376"

525 W. Broadway

sutterback@gannett.com

Good shot of Bernie Sanders' face among the campaign signs.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442371"

Strong entries from photographers.

Spot news photography

The Courier-Journal

Michael Clevenger

835 Minoma Avenue

mclevenger@gannett.com

Great shot from the air of damages caused by an explosiion.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440797"

The Courier-Journal

Michael Clevenger

835 Minoma Avenue

mclevenger@gannett.com

Everything is so symmetrical about this shot of a resident fire call.

Michael Clevenger

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440796"

Sports action photography

The Courier-Journal

Michael Clevenger

835 Minoma Avenue

mclevenger@gannett.com

Derby's Muddy Tale

Great up close shot of mud flying from a horse race at Churchill Downs. I think this was at the Derby.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440798"

525 W. Broadway

sutterback@gannett.com

Fun photo of a jockey falling off his ostritch at the races (maybe not so fun for the jockey). Nice action shot.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442370"

Nice action shots, but there must have been more in Kentucky last year.

Sports feature photography

Louisville Business First

462 S. Fourth Street, Suite 450

dmann@bizjournals.com

Fashion at the Kentucky Derby

What an elegant shot (probably a lot of great hats at the Derby), but this one really catches the eye.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442186"

anymoresports@gmail.com

Bode gets a bath

Nice shot of Bode getting a bath. Before the Derby?

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1441289"

624 W Muh Ali Blvd

cotts@wdrb.com

Slam dunk. Nice shot of University of Louisville women's basketball coach Jeff Walz's daughter getting an assist from her dad.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442332"

Surely there must be other sports features shots out there?

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

High Flying Adored. 2-year-old Josiah Jemison gets a lift in life from his dad at Shawnee Park Sprayground. Great shot.

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442375"

The Courier-Journal

Michael Clevenger

835 Minoma Avenue

mclevenger@gannett.com

Good shot of an eagle focusing his/her intent on something.

Michael Clevenger

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1440799"

Louisville Business First

462 S. Fourth Street, Suite 450

dmann@bizjournals.com

Maggie Rogers performs at Forecastle 2019

Can feel the energy from this shot of Maggie Rogers at Forecastle Festival 2019.

Christopher Fryer

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442185"

Hard to choose winners in this very competitive category.

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Louisville's homeless

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442349"

624 W Muh Ali Blvd

cotts@wdrb.com

Marcus Green / Bullitt County pipeline

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442386"

The Courier Journal

1453 S 3rd St #22

olivia.krauth@gmail.com

Louisville's youth detention center

Darcy Costello, Debby Yetter, Tessa Duvall

"http://betternewspapercontest.com/admin/entries/edit/1442156"