Note: Links to the work of winners and finalists still being posted. Check back for updates.

Division I

(Newspapers with daily circulation of 12,000 or more)

Div. I - Newspaper of the Year

(Links to winners' work)

Winner - The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass.
The Eagle-Tribune features a strong design, solid editorial page and consistently local coverage. Its coverage of an inferno that destroyed an entire city block was supported by compelling photos that captured the emotions of victims and the fire's impact. Even with such a major story, that day's edition included a significant helping of local news coverage from surrounding communities.

Finalist - The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.

Div. I - Web Site of the Year

Winner - The Salem News, Beverly, Mass. (www.salemnews.com)
The Salem News offers a complete online package of text, photos, multimedia and reader interactive elements. Video is polished. Information is useful. Interactives are not overly complicated and offer readers a variety of worthwhile choices.

Finalist - Enid, Okla., News and Eagle (www.EnidNews.com)

Div. I - Public Service Award

Winner - The Daily News, Newburyport, Mass.
Series outlines the causes and impact of the erosion of a barrier beach community. It offers a comprehensive report on an issue central to the health and character of the community. Features concise analysis of the problem and proposed solutions. Great visuals exhibit the effects of erosion. Package was clearly the result of countless hours of hard work.

Finalist - The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.

Div. I - Reporter of the Year

(Links to winners' work)

Winner - Brian McGillivary, Traverse City, Mich., Record-Eagle
Broke two major stories that required detailed reporting, persistence and accuracy. Both stories -- about a developer exerting political pressure and a judge who used taxpayer funds to hide an affair -- took courage to pursue and publish.

Finalist - Steve Landwehr, The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.

Div. I - Features Writer of the Year

Winner - Mark Bennett, The Tribune Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
Stories show a good balance of factual and anecdotal information. He covers a unique variety of subjects. Presentation is professional. Sourcing is deep. He allows subjects to help tell their own stories.

Finalist - M. Scott Carter, The Norman, Okla., Transcript

Div. I - Opinion Writer of the Year

(Links to winners' work)

Winner - Ken Johnson, The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass.
Arguments are clear, concise and compelling. A nice job of driving home national issues. Also explains why readers should care about these issues.

Finalist - Mike Tyree, Traverse City, Mich., Record-Eagle

Div. I - Sports Writer of the Year

(Links to winners' work)

Winner - Kayleen Cubbal, New Castle, Pa., News
Enterprising reporting. Stories are complete in style and presentation. Writing is technically strong. She offers readers a strong voice that serves the community's interests. She makes the sports page a destination in the newspaper.

Finalist - Mike Burke, Cumberland, Md. Times-News

Div. I - Photographer of the Year

Winner - Deborah Parker, The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.
Great use of all the tools available to capture a variety of perspectives. Photos show a strong eye for composition. Finds the emotion that tells the story.

Finalist - Jim Avelis - The Tribune Star, Terre Haute, Ind.

Div. I - Designer of the Year

Winner - Zach Taylor, The Tribune Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
Consistently strong front pages are great. What is really compelling is the design for a breaking news story about a massive flood. The designs help tell the story.

Finalist - Julie VanNoy - The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.

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Division II

(Newspapers with daily circulation less than 12,000)

Div. II - Newspaper of the Year

(Links to winners' work)

Winner - Gloucester, Mass., Daily Times
The Daily Times stands out for its coverage of a local story about a rash of teenage pregnancies that became a national topic. At the same time the newspaper gave readers in-depth coverage of the fishing industry and the affect of government rules on the local fleet. A strong editorial page built from local editorials, columns and meaningful letters to the editor create a community dialogue. Readers also find in their paper the calendars, go-and-do boxes and information they cannot get elsewhere.

Finalist - The Tribune, New Albany, Ind.

Div. II - Web Site of the Year

Winner - Gloucester, Mass., Daily Times (www.GloucesterTimes.com)
The site gives users a variety of choices. It creatively packages stories and photos with video, audio and user interactive elements.

Finalist - The Cullman, Ala., Times (www.CullmanTimes.com)

Div. II - Public Service Award

Winner - The Herald-Banner, Greenville, Texas (with significant contributions by Janelle Stecklein, Leslie Gibson and Daniel Walker)
Diligent reporting, turning over every last rock and not taking reports at face value makes for a high-impact news story. Stories lay out the facts point by point, and the paper shows good follow-through in covering their impact.

Finalist - The Daily Times, Pryor, Okla. (with significant contributions by Sommer Woodward)

Div. II - Reporter of the Year

(Links to winners' work)

Winner - Neale Gulley, Tonawanda News, North Tonawanda, N.Y.
Exhibits tenacity in dogging a story. Shows the ability to cover a range of topics. A terrificly insightful writer.

Finalist - Patrick Anderson, Gloucester, Mass., Daily Times

Div. II - Features Writer of the Year

Winner - Richard Gaines, Gloucester, Mass., Daily Times
Finds interesting subject matter. Writing is interesting and compelling. He is an engaging storyteller.

Finalist - Jeff Walker, San Marcos, Texas, Daily Record

Div. II - Opinion Writer of the Year

(Links to winners' work)

Winner - Eric DuVall, Tonawanda News, North Tonawanda, N.Y.
Consistently tackles issues of community interest. Points out matters that provoke further thought, offering specific solutions to problems he saw.

Finalist - Kelly Kazek, The News Courier, Athens, Ala.

Div. II - Sports Writer of the Year

(Links to winners' work)

Winner - Nathan Hutchinson, Richmond, Ky., Register
Distinguished by strong, succinct writing. A story about a baseball player is presented in a style befitting the front page.

Finalist - Chris Whitaker, Americus, Ga., Times-Recorder

Div. II - Photographer of the Year

Winner - Ashley Landis, San Marcos, Texas, Daily Record
Strong composition and technical skills. Photos capture emotion, energy. Puts herself in the right place at the right time to get the right shot.

Finalist - Doug Benz, Tonawanda News, North Tonawanda, N.Y.

Div. II - Designer of the Year

Winner - Elizabeth Goodman, The Evening News, Jeffersonville, Ind.
Good use of multiple design elements yields a great presentation overall. A clean design that its also hip and relevant.

Finalist - Roni Montgomery, The Tribune, New Albany, Ind.

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Division III

(Newspapers with non-daily circulations)

Div. III - Newspaper of the Year

(Links to winners' work)

Winner - The Stanly News and Press, Albemarle, N.C.
The Stanly News and Press presents readers an tremendous volume of local news. Its coverage breaks from the routines of government and press releases to report on key topics such as a downtown revitalization progress or President Barak Obama's historic election. The newspaper's design is efficient and makes good use of space.

Finalist - The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.

Div. III - Web Site of the Year

No award given

Div. III - Public Service Award

No award given

Div. III - Reporter of the Year

(Links to winners' work)

Winner - Larry Penkava, The Randolph Guide, Asheboro, N.C.
Coverage on an upcoming alcohol vote was thorough, ambitious. Gives readers good information for making a decision about an important issue.

Finalist - Tara Kaprowy, The Sentinel Echo, London, Ky.

Div. III - Features Writer of the Year

Winner - Tara Kaprowy, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.
Stories are truly crafted, capturing the reader's' interest from the start. Stories could have been improved with more sources.

Finalist - Vanessa Fultz, Suwannee Democrat, Live Oak, Fla.

Div. III - Opinion Writer of the Year

(Links to winners' work)

Winner - Willie Sawyers, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.
Takes on controversial issues and expresses a strong opinion. Builds a clear, compelling case. Urges a course of action, explaining why it was necessary.

Div. III - Sports Writer of the Year

(Links to winners' work)

Winner - Scott Wanish, Midwest City, Okla., Sun
Stories show range and diversity - a strong feature, column and a gamer. One story on two basketball players goes beyond basics to give a good sense of the players' close friendship.

Div. III - Photographer of the Year

Winner - Denis House, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.
Images don't just portray action, they tell the story. Sports photos show emotion and draw in the reader. He anticipates the moment.

Finalist - Bryan Helvie, The Herald-Tribune, Batesville, Ind.

Div. III - Designer of the Year

Winner - Derek Armstrong, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.
Smart use of photos buttresses page designs. Work shows a well executed design with a consistently strong look and good use of white space.

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Magazine of the Year

(Links to winners' Web sites)

Winner - The Andovers
The Andovers is commendable for superb photography, strong layout and creative story selection. Its coverage balances entertainment with interesting, useful information. A variety of subjects attracts broad demographic appeal.

Finalist - Cape Ann magazine

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About the Judging

Judging occurred in March and early April. Winners were announced Monday, April 6. Judges had the option of naming no winner or finalist in a category. Two Division III categories were not judged due to lack of entries. Judges did not participate in deliberations involving their own newspapers.

Judges were: Willie Sawyers, publisher, The Sentinel-Echo, London, Ky.; Derek Price, editor, The Cullman, Ala., Times; Scott Underwood, managing editor, The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.; Chip Minemyer, editor, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.; Jane Murphy, senior managing editor, The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass.; Ray Lamont, editor, Gloucester, Mass., Daily Times; Rick Lepper, Web editor, Muskogee, Okla., Phoenix; Tom Lindley, CNHI national editor; J.B. Bittner, CNHI news editor; and David Joyner, CNHI executive editor. Bill Ketter, CNHI's vice president of news, chaired the judging panel.