Excellence in Editorial Writing (Multi-day) ( Class V)Back
Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Cedar Rapids - The Gazette Entry Title: Master Columnist Althea Cole Entry Credit: Althea Cole Judge Comment: All passionate, interesting, and thorough. Cole does not hold back on her opinions but supports them and states that she’s willing to be wrong if the opposite perspective provides evidence and a compelling argument. Her arguments show that she recognizes the flaws on the side she supports, as well. The editorial about the railway bargaining process was particularly good in explaining the timeline, the potential repercussions, and the pros and cons of each step of the bargaining process. Would be a great read for a high school Civics class.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Dubuque - Telegraph Herald Entry Title: TH Editorials Entry Credit: Amy Gilligan, Allie Hinga Judge Comment: These are somewhat cautiously argued but the topics are good: local, relevant, timely, and in one case (about the local bird habitat) is a topic that most people would not have cared about unless their attention was turned that way.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Davenport - Quad-City Times Entry Title: Never again; we must ensure our buildings are safe Entry Credit: Tom Martin Judge Comment: Solid editorial pages. The building collapse in Davenport describes the oversights and insists that citizens deserve better. Good topics regarding education: Schools need to plan for the students they educate. And the argument to keep politics out of libraries (and get kids into them) was well stated.
