final

Editorial 35
really doesn’t even care that much
about fishing. He does an excellent job
covering the local fishing scene.
Second Award: The Star News, Medford
- Brian Wilson, Mark Berglund:
Berglund’s second entry, when he
spoke with a local young farmer, was
really good, but the interest isn’t as
strong when he’s running through
statistics, even though he does a good
job of it.
Group E
First Award: Jackson County
Chronicle, Black River Falls - Staff: The
Jackson County Chronicle’s Home and
Real Estate section offers the best reading,
with initiative shown in contacting
sources for information. Overall,
there’s plenty of information and tips
for homeowners.
Second Award: Jackson County Chronicle,
Black River Falls -Staff: A feature,
such as the story on Ho-Chunk
challenges, helps this entry rise above
the typical collection of school news.
Additional strong features would make
it a winner.
Investigative Reporting
Group A
First Award: Green Bay Press-Gazette:
“Cry for help” - Adam Rodewald:
Outstanding and comprehensive look
at abuse to an extremely vulnerable
population. This kind of watchdog
reporting is critical to the future of
journalism.
Second Award: Gannett Wisconsin
Media, Appleton: “Watching our
steps, ACLU: State bill on cell-tracking
falls short, DOJ remains mum on
cell-tracking practices”-Eric Litke:
Fascinating subject and one that is not
often reported on. Stories give readers
a straight-forward understanding of
how this technology works.
Third Award: Wisconsin State Journal,
Madison: “Walker tough on paroles”-
Dee J. Hall: This topic affects a large
number of people directly, and even
more in an indirect way. Dogged
reporting revealed the big change
between administrations and readers
should know that, especially in an
election year.
Honorable Mention: The Post-
Crescent, Appleton: “Delays and Denials,
‘I thought I’d be fired’” -Jim Collar:
Readers were well served by the newspaper,
which was doing its part to hold
the school district accountable for the
safety of its students.
Group B
First Award: Wausau Daily Herald:
“Public works projects break laws,
director resigns” -Theresa Clift, Pete
Wasson, Mark Treinen: Pursuit of this
story, when city officials did not want
to share information, was difficult, but
clearly paid off. Readers were eventually
let in on the secret of how much
the departed city employee was paid.
Second Award: The Gazette, Janesville:
“Despite warnings, Whitewater church
let sex offender work with children”
-Nico Savidge: This is the kind of cautionary
tale that parents fear the most
when their children are put at risk.
Excellent exposé.
Third Award: The Gazette, Janesville:
“City meeting draws questions” -
Frank Schultz: The public has a right
to know and this newspaper made sure
that it did. Well done.
Honorable Mention: The Gazette,
Janesville: “Waiting, hoping, for an uncertain
ride: Non-emergency transport
system struggling with complaints”
- Catherine Idzerda: Not every story
is about a life or death situation. Still,
this service to the public was worthy of
investigation.
Group C
First Award: Daily Tribune, Wisconsin
Rapids: “Adams leaders stand by project,
GEITS leader answers criticism,
Adams to redo development agreement
with GEITS” - Nathaniel Shuda:
Journalism at its best – comfort the
afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
Second Award: The Daily Reporter,
Milwaukee: Dan Shaw.
Third Award: Baraboo News Republic:
“Health of circus elephant questioned”
- Tim Damos.
Honorable Mention: Daily News,
West Bend: “A Look Inside Residential
Care Facilities” - Amanda Voss, Ken
Merrill, Jennifer McBride:
Group D
First Award: Waupaca County Post
(formerly County Post West), Waupaca:
“Judicial race turns personal,
Complaints regarding horses trigger
investigation, Clintonville woman
charged for mistreating horses” -
Robert Cloud: It’s obvious a lot of time
and effort were put into these stories.
You’ve done a good job at laying out
the facts for your readers.
Group E
First Award: Ripon Commonwealth
Press: “Ripon was warned: Consultants,
staff said ‘wait’ on ‘09 Boca deal;
‘The city lacked safeguards’” - Ian
Stepleton: I’m impressed with your
ability to condense five years’ worth of
investigation into these concise, wellwritten
articles.
Second Award: The Waunakee Tribune:
“DNR Digester” - Roberta Baumann:
It’s obvious that a lot work went into
these stories too. Good job incorporating
many opinions.
Third Award: Milton Courier: “Survey:
13% of districts have communications”
James Debilzen: This is a somewhat
unique topic but, as the story proves,
worthy of investigation.
Honorable Mention: The Dunn County
News, Menomonie: “City, DNR order
QLF to clean retention pond; Pumping
and hauling, clearing and cleaning” -
Barbara Lyon.
Group F
First Award: Jackson County
Chronicle, Black River Falls: “Felon in
Office” - Matthew Perenchio: Great
job following up on tip and digging in.
Mr. Larson obviously had no plans of
coming forward about his conviction,
and the paper made sure the public
was aware.
Second Award: Jackson County
Chronicle, Black River Falls” County
chair not charged following investigation”
- Cassandra Colson: Good
job on following up on this incident.
Certainly looks like he received special
treatent. Would have liked to hear
what the forestry and parks employees
had to say.
Entertainment
Pages
Group A
First Award: Green Bay Press-Gazette:
“Weekend” - Kendra Meinert.
Second Award: The Post-Crescent,
Appleton - Ed Berthiaume.
Group B
First Award: Kenosha News: “Get
Out” - Elizabeth Snyder, Jessica Tuttle,
Brian Harkey: I loved all of the content
in the samples provided to me. The
front covers were all fun and engaging,
there were fun stories inside with
plenty of local content, and all of the
local stories engaged me. I was really
impressed with how put together
everything was.