Reporter of the Year - Division I

Winner - Brian McGillivary, Traverse City, Mich., Record-Eagle

Coverage of a whistleblower case against a judge stemming from his relationship with a court employee

• "Probate judge pays to settle lawsuit," March 30, 2008
• "Stein's deal is latest in string of payouts," March 30, 2008
• "No formal complaint for family court judge," Dec. 7, 2008
• "Judge to wed former employee," Dec. 31, 2008

Stories about Meijer Inc.'s secret role in a zoning campaign and recall election, and the investigations and lawsuits that followed

• "State police to investigate Meijer's role in recall election," Jan. 9, 2008
• "A SLAPP in the face," Jan. 17, 2008
• "Meijer: State laws probably violated," Feb. 6, 2008
• "Meijer's ties to nonprofit at issue," Feb. 17, 2008
• "Meijer won't hand over documents," March 23, 2008
• "Meijer may face more lawsuits from officials," April 27, 2008
• "Meijer to pay $190K in civil fines," May 14, 2008
• "Group was a front for Meijer," May 15, 2008
• "Judge: Acme officials are free to sue Meijer," June 24, 2008
• "Meijer's appeal is rejected, but official's lawsuit still on hold," Oct. 29, 2008

Coverage of financially troubled sewage treatment plant

• "Septage plant's losses may triple," Feb. 13, 2008
• "County cuts fee in deal over leachate," July 2, 2008
• "Septage plant profits in '08," Sept. 18, 2008
• "Losses may back up at plant," Oct. 12, 2008
• "County board gets a new look," Nov. 6, 2008
• "Three years later, facility still isn't fixed," Dec. 24, 2008

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

Coverage of training scandal that shook a small town police department

• "State: Police falsified records," Dec. 11, 2008
• "State official: Skipped EMT courses endangered public," Dec. 12, 2008
• "Lyons and police both responding to emergencies," Dec. 12, 2008
• "Timeline," Dec. 12, 2008
• "Public trust broken," Dec. 16, 2008
• "Cops may face criminal charges," Dec. 16, 2008
• "Pension for chief on hold," Dec. 17, 2008
• "Interim chief: Department fixable," Dec. 17, 2008

Profiles in a series of featured obituaries

• "A ship led him to a sea change," OCt. 13, 2008
• "Marblehead's Johnny Appleseed," Dec. 29, 2008

Return to winners list

Reporter of the Year - Division II

Winner - Neale Gulley, Tonawanda News, North Tonawanda, N.Y.

From a series about development along the Niagara River

• "From another shore: Homestead's resurgence," June 8, 2008
• "Some are still missing the boat," June 8, 2008

Coverage of a dispute over serving alcohol at local concerts

• "No more beer at concerts," Aug. 5, 2008
• "Concert arrests have company," Aug. 8, 2008
• "Labatt chief says relationship with promoter is dead," Aug. 8, 2008
• "Another beer permit yanked," Aug. 15, 2008

Coverage of a local man's conviction for child abduction and sexual assault

• "Brokob guilty; faces 25 to life," Dec. 19, 2008

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

Coverage of a spike in pregnancies among local teenagers

• "Officials: We can't confirm existence of pregnancy pact," June 24, 2008
• "Three moms knew of no 'pact,'" June 25, 2008
• "One teen mother's story," June 25, 2008
• "Northeast's stance put grant at risk," Oct. 1, 2008

Return to winners list

Reporter of the Year - Division III

Winner - Larry Penkava, The Randolph Guide, Asheboro, N.C.

"Alcohol in Asheboro," a series leading to a referendum on whether to allow alcohol sales

• "Asheboro wasn't always dry," June 25, 2008
• "Economy needs boost from sales," July 2, 2008
• "Referendum could help some areas, hurt others," July 2, 2008
• "Negatives outweigh positives," July 9, 2008
• "Council split on alcohol," July 16, 2008
• "City in suspended animation until referendum vote is final," July 23, 2008

Individual stories:

• "1 bull. 8 seconds. 1 chance.," Feb. 13, 2008
• "Riding on the Randolph Express: PART adventure worth taking," Aug. 20, 2008

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

• "Shot through the ... lip?" April 9, 2008
• "Workin' in a coal mine: Are mines safer?" Sept. 3, 2008
• "A Bumpy Road: Auto industry woes impact Laurel County," Dec. 12, 2008

Return to winners list