Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Des Moines - Des Moines Register Entry Title: Des Moines Register infographic stories Entry Credit: Tim Webber Judge Comment: The book ban story, with its mix of charts, book covers that light up as the scroll comes across the page, the search by book/district with details on the challenge, lays out the issue with the national trend. For those not savvy to the bans, are engaged and informed in a way that is quick, local, and detailed. It's a great presentation all the way around. And the Caitlin Clark story breaks down the greatness that is the athlete for laypeople and fans alike. From the NCAA tournament to the court to the tweets from Magic Johnson as well as the NCAA women’s career leaders, it paints a picture of greatness at a glance regardless if you're a fan or not.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Iowa City - The Daily Iowan Entry Title: Daily Iowan – Best Use of Graphics Entry Credit: Marandah Mangra-Dutcher Judge Comment: How does one make gun-related deaths and alcohol sales engaging? The Daily Iowan staff has found the path with those two presentations. Many different angles from macro to micro. (And it was interesting to see how much alcohol played a part prior and during the pandemic. And the pages that showcase Minecraft and Dungeons and Dragons, it’s great to see as much attention that is given to the hard-hitting stories is given to pop culture for readers. Bravo!
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Sioux City - Sioux City Journal Entry Title: The scientist and the spy - Sioux City's new riverfront jewel - Cartoonist, artist, conservationist - Sizzling sales in S.D. - A winning team Entry Credit: Staff Judge Comment: The map of the riverfront project is just quality civic journalism, point blank.
The Jay Darling retrospective shows personality, cartoons and why he’s being recognized, all in one space. Quite hard to bring it in focus with one shot, but you nailed it.
Demarico Young profile. Gets the slow clap. My favorite as it shows a young athlete in action, on and off the field and uses the information on disability in a straightforward and yet playful meaningful way. Rather than do a straightforward headline and deck, readers are pulled into his passion and the people in his life that make it possible.
