Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Eldridge - The North Scott Press Entry Title: Best Editorial Pages Entry Credit: Bill Tubbs Judge Comment: Far and away the strongest entry in this category, both in volume (typically four pages per edition) and strong content. Publisher Bill Tubbs' columns/editorials (not quite sure how to define them) were each very strong. As were Scott Campbell's columns. Also very strong, and interesting, to have actual excerpts reprinted from city's hired investigator into city administrator's conduct. Also appreciated this newspaper (alone among 10 papers judged) for giving full (i.e., including street) address of letter writers – and there were a lot of them. My view is that readers are suspicious of whether writers simply listing a town/city are "real," even if the newspaper says it verifies them.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: DeWitt - The Observer Entry Title: Observer Op-Ed Pages Entry Credit: Nick Joos Judge Comment: Would have preferred more actual editorials; only one "real" editorial in the batch, but it was a good one. Jon Fisher columns were good; don't know if you have a separate contest category for them, but he should be a contender. My guess is he engenders a following who'll look forward to it each week. Randy Meier columns very unique, probably useful community service.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Iowa Falls - Times Citizen Entry Title: Best Editorial Page Entry Credit: Times Citizen Staff Judge Comment: Appreciated this newspaper for having "real" editorials on its editorial page (two out of three weeks); many only had letters to the editors and columnists. Also graphically among the most attractive. Linda Halfpop columns good, especially about former pastor.
