Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Newton - Newton News Entry Title: NN Coverage of Business Entry Credit: Christopher Braunschweig Judge Comment: A strong portfolio. The YMCA, Farmer's Wife and foster home story particularly grabbed my attention because of the way the reporter didn't settle for straight-on ways of telling the stories. Great way of coming at the heart of stories from varied and interesting angles. Particularly liked in the Farmer's Wife story how the reporter didn't overuse quotes from the owner. The reporter used anecdotes and visual impressions to make it work well.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Carroll - Carroll Times Herald Entry Title: Regional business coverage from the Carroll Times Herald. Entry Credit: Sarah Stortz, Trevor Babcock Judge Comment: These entries do a good job at getting details of an opening, a bourbon, a community rallying support. The depth of reporting includes strong use of quotes from sources.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Iowa City - Press-Citizen Entry Title: Best Coverage of Business Entry Credit: Iowa City Press-Citizen Staff Judge Comment: Great read on the lavender farm. Strong reporting. Good reporting on story about restaurant's UI relationhip.
