Judges’ results broadcast and all media 2007 (announced April 19, 2008)
RADIO
CATEGORY 37: BREAKING NEWS
First place: Charles Homans, KIAL/Unalaska Community Broadcasting, “Fire on the Stellar Sea.”
Comments: Even though the initial drama of the fire was over by the time the processor made port, Homans managed to convey it through interviews with two crewmembers. He went further, and got an analyst to reflect on what the temporary loss of the processor could mean for local fishermen. The story was well-reported, well-recorded, nicely produced, written, and delivered.
Second Place: David Shurtleff, Alaska Public Radio Network, “FBI Raids Home of Senator Ted Stevens”
Comments: APRN deserves kudos for getting someone to the scene as the raid took place. Having done that, it’s difficult to get a lot of information at the scene in a short time. Since he’d spoken to neighbors, Shurtleff might have done well to hand the phone to one of them. It was a good call to use the sound from Stevens’ recent presser.
Third place: No award given.
Judge: Corey Flintoff is a familiar voice to Alaskans. He got his start in radio at KYUK in Bethel and also worked for KSKA in Anchorage and later for APRN. He is currently a State Department and Intelligence Community correspondent with NPR, where he has reported from Iraq.
CATEGORY 38: BEST SINGLE STORY
First Place: Libby Casey, KUAC, “Iraq war widow chooses in vitro”
Comments: Wonderful storytelling. A relevant subject, great sound, characters and tension.
Second Place: Rebecca Sheir, Alaska Public Radio Network, “Selling the U.S. One Inch at a time”
Comments: Great ability to tell a story with just one character. Wonderful delivery and writing.
Third Place: Matt Lichtenstein, KPSK, “Record Snowfall”
Comments: Can’t believe record snowfall would be an issue in Alaska, but this story was good. Good hook in the beginning.
Judge: Susanna Capelouto is the news director of Georgia Public Broadcasting’s 15-station radio network. Her areas of special interest are state politics, education, religion and race relations. Susanna has been honored with awards from the Georgia Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Georgia Bar Association.
CATEGORY 39: COMPREHENSIVE
First Place: Coast Alaska Public Radio, “Voices of Tongass”
Comments: The series took an age old conundrum for rural areas: ‘How do you balance the economic needs of a community while conserving the environment for future generations.’ The first story was a bit dense but told me why I needed to care and what was at stake. The second and third stories put me in the communities having to deal with this issue. The stories had good writing, wonderful sound and great interviews. It really put the listener in the scene.
Second Place: David Shertleff, Alaska Public Radio Network, “Alaska Corruption Trials”
Comments: This was a good recap of the bribery scandal that shook Alaska’s Capitol. Part of me wished I heard all of the entries because it would have given me a greater sense of the background. What prevented this entry from taking the top spot was the lack of context. I was hoping for a nut graf or greater background into what made this a big story. Remember, it’s always useful to remind the listener about the charges and background. Good writing and presentation.
Third Place: John Ryan, KTOO-FM, “Avalanche Series”
Comments: This was an interesting topic to cover. There was some solid writing and use of sound. I wish the reporter would have given me a sense of “Why should I care” in the earlier stories. That would have made the pieces/series more relevant.
Judge: Tom Scheck covers politics for Minnesota Public Radio. He has won several state, regional and national awards on issues involving Minnesota’s fractured mental health system.
CATEGORY 40: ONGOING PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM
First place: Maggie Wall, http://www.leghead.com, “The Leg Head Report”
Comments: Useful and informative. Direct and to the point, no drowning in talking heads for an hour.
Second place: Dixie Hutchinson, KNBA, “Out-migration”
Comments: Good and useful, though not necessarily uplifting information.
Third place: Casey Kelly, KMXT, “The Alaska Fisheries Report”
Judge: Mark Moran reported from Alaska during the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. He is a regular voice from Arizona on NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered, reporting on a range of issues. Moran is the recipient of several Edward R. Murrow awards.
CATEGORY 41: DOCUMENTARY
No awards given.
CATEGORY 42: GOVERNMENT /POLITICAL REPORTING
First Place: David Shurtleff, Alaska Public Radio Network, “Congressional Picnic Gone Wrong”
Comments: David Shurtleff’s wry, punchy story made me smile and even laugh out loud – the first news piece in a long time that grabbed and held me. This was radio reporting at its best: spare, lively writing; clever use of audio that puts us at the scene (the on-mike arguments and unhappy child show that Shurtleff must have waded fearlessly into the fray); and great pacing.
Second place: Leah Mann, KCAW-Raven Radio, “Youth Election”
Comments: Leah Mann reminds us that “attitude” can bring a story alive – when in other hands, it might have been dull and predictable. I love the way she tells this story, in a clear, chatty style, as though we’re sitting at the dinner table; Mann doesn’t sound, as many reporters do, as if she’s plodding through a script in an isolated studio. (My only note of caution: there’s a fine line between being irreverent and editorializing, and Mann’s news stories will be even more effective if she doesn’t stray over it.)
Third place: No award given.
Judge: Daniel Zwerdling’s acclaimed investigative and documentary reports appear on all of NPR’s major news shows. In late 2006 and 2007, he revealed that officers at Fort Carson, Colorado, were punishing soldiers who’d come back from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder and other serious mental health problems — even kicking them out of the Army. As a result of Zwerdling’s reports, the U.S. Senate, the Pentagon and the Government Accountability Office all launched separate investigations, and commanders at the Army base vowed to treat soldiers better.
CATEGORY 43: BUSINESS REPORTING
First place: Ed Schoenfeld, CoastAlaska, “Real Estate Boom”
Comments: A well-structured story, which grabs the listener’s attention right off the top with an interesting piece of actuality, and returns to the same scene at the end. Good use of sound and well-recorded actualities. It avoids sounding boosterish (as many stories about real-estate booms do) by considering the negatives of rising home prices and more part-time residents for a community, as well as the positives. Ed’s writing is good, appropriate for radio, easy to follow; his read is also good although he could work on varying rhythm and pitch a little bit more; in particular, work on not going to the same pitch at the end.
Second place: Joe Viechnicki/KFSK-FM, “Rural Hospital Connections”
Comments: A thorough and well-researched story on an important topic. Good writing for radio. The sound was well-recorded and the actualities well-chosen. The scene of the doctor showing the X-ray was good and added liveliness; it might have been nice to get an additional scene of a patient or other hospital sound.
Third place: Jay Barrett, KMXT Radio, “Beer Supply in Danger”
Comments: Very well-written story, and Jay’s delivery of the copy is excellent. The topic is interesting and unusual — I can imagine listeners talking about it at work the next day.
Judge: Nina Thorsen is a radio producer currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She produced and edited the series “Pacific Time” dealing with Asian and Asian American issues, and was deputy foreign editor for public radio’s business program “Marketplace.”
CATEGORY 44: ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING
First place: Charles Homans, KIAL, Unalaska
Fish Drift from Familiar Alaska Waters”
Comments: This is a really good, narrative story. There are interesting bits of
ear-catching sound. The writing is clear and linear. The issue is
fascinating - at least to an old fish reporter like myself.
(Actually, my wife Susan was folding laundry while I auditioned it and
she was fascinated too.) I also really like reporters enterprising
their work to the NPR level. Some might see the NPR-connection as an
unfair advantage. But I think this kind of partnership allows
reporters the resources and editorial support necessary to take things
up a notch. The bottom line? Regardless of how it was produced, this
was the top story in the pile.
Second place: Dixie Hutchinson, KNBA, “Anchorage
Running Clean”
Comments: I really loved this story. The voices are beautiful, vivid. Nice
flavors of ambient sound. A few bits of confusing tape, but also some
very nice transitions. I wanted a bit more scene painting: describe
the scene, the faces, the classroom, the river, etc.
Third place: Ed Schoenfeld, Coast Alaska, “Yakutat Hubbard Glacier”
Comments: Really nice sound. Conversational delivery. A nice cumulative, narrative style. I thought there was an opportunity to question a
little more deeply what it means to have an economic reliance on a
thing that is essentially “wild.” But the piece gets very close to
that in fascinating ways. It introduces the complex differences
between long-term vs. short-term perspectives. Some interesting and
well-explained scientific issues raised.
Judge: Brian Mann began his public radio career in Alaska, working for KCAW, KRBD, and later the Alaska Public Radio Network. He currently works for North Country Public Radio in northern New York where he is a frequent contributor to NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered. Mann has won two national Edward R. Murrow Awards, including an award for innovative coverage of the Iraq War.
CATEGORY 45: BEST REPORTING ON CRIME OR COURTS
First place: Len Anderson, Alaska Public Radio Network, “Fred the Bailsman”
Comments: Good human interest report. Good job of letting sound clips bring the emotion, while Anderson provided the facts. Editing is smooth. An excellent job of wordsmithing that invites one to keep listening.
Second Place: Ellen Lockyer, Alaska Public Radio Network, “Exxon Payback”
Comments: An excellent report on what is a complicated case. Good writing and good voicing. There is a good use of the language that maintains one’s interest throughout this report.
Third Place: David Shurtleff, Alaska Public Radio Network, “Feds Outline Case Against Kott”
Comments: An interesting report with a good use of sound. The script and sound meld together to form a coherent and interesting story.
Judge: Richard Baker Baker is a professor in the Department of Communications in the College of Agriculture and an adjunct professor in the school of Journalism and Mass Communications. He is also the news director at K-State and produces a syndicated public affairs program heard on 45 radio stations throughout Kansas.
CATEGORY 46: BEST EDUCATION REPORTING
No results as of press time.
CATEGORY 47: BEST REPORTING ON HEALTH OR SCIENCE
First place: Alaska Teen Media Institute, Anchorage for “Teen Stress”
Comments: Creative and effective use of the radio medium resulting in first-person
understanding of a complex and wide-spread health problem. Lots of complicated information, and good advice is compressed in a short time. High points for entertainment, accuracy, and relevance.
Second Place: Len Anderson, KSKA-Anchorage “Traditional Healers”
Comments: A news story of how and why traditional healing methods are relevant to
medical practice today. An issue that is rarely reported in a way that transmits this level of understanding of the healing and cultural interfaces between traditional healing and Western medicine.
Third Place: Mike Dzurisin aka Mike Lord, KRUA-Anchorage “88 Seconds of News: Pandemic Practice”
Comments: It’s wonderful to hear, within a very brief news spot, science and health stories treated intelligently, and in ways that are relevant and important to the local audience. The award goes to the Pandemic Practice story for clear explanation, news-you-can-use, and interviews that convey information about multiple angles: Government/preparedness, university/research, citizen self-interest.
Judge: Adi Givens won a Peabody for work she produced with Laurie Garrett. She works as a researcher with the DNA files and director of the Science Literacy Project, which among other things provides training for radio journalists covering science.
CATEGORY 48: BEST FEATURE
First place: Charles Homans, KIAL, “End of an era in Unalaska”
Comments: By a huge amount the truly best of the bunch: nothing else comes close. Wonderful writing, terrific use of sound, well structured, a wonderful ear for details, marvelous storytelling. If only all radio sounded this good! (Though, of course, not all subjects lend themselves so well to radio as a bar closing.)
Second place Annie Feidt, APRN, “Arctic Ocean”
Comments: Reporters are using sound well, for the most part, and recognize that it’s what makes radio radio.
Third place: Robert Woolsey, KCAW, “Yaadaas”
Comments: There’s lots of sound and decent production.
Judge: Karen Michel, former award-winning journalist in Alaska with many fellowships and awards including a Peabody, a Fubright and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships. A contributor to NPR, founder of the Association of Independent Radio, she is a visiting professor at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
CATEGORY 49: BEST PROFILE
First place: Celeste Novak, Mike Mason, KBBI, “Howard Hedges Obituary”
Comments: An obituary of a local man with a colorful past (Alaskan residents all seem to have these colorful pasts!). Reporter blended in music from the subject underneath much of the piece, incorporated numerous compelling community voices into the story so that we had a real sense of the impact of this man’s life and the legacy he left behind. The piece was characterized by nice writing, lovely voices, texture, structure and feeling. All the different voices really conveyed a sense of community and belonging.
Second place: Charles Homans, KIAL, “Dr. David Baines”
Comments: Another colorful Alaskan, really brought to life nicely with descriptions (his braids and tattoos) and personal history. Reporter moved skillfully to blend in scenes from the health clinic and ended the piece with a nice long segment of the character teaching traditional songs to children. Very nicely done.
Third place: Ellen Lockyer and Moses Obeidi
Comments: A pretty simple piece with only the voice of the narrator and the character, but a lovely voice, and a great story from a Palestinian immigrant to Anchorage. He was such a great character that he told the story himself, but the reporter’s writing and transitions in and out of tape really helped give the piece texture and strength.
Judge: Alisa Barba is the Western bureau chief for NPR and a former television producer with KPBS, ABC News in New York and Beijing and a reporter and producer at the NewsHour for PBS.
CATEGORY 50: BEST SPORTS STORY
First place: Rebecca Sheir, Alaska Public Radio Network, “Keeping Up With The Jumpers: Competitive Rope Skipping in the Last Frontier”
Comments: I liked everything about this piece. Overall, it was lively; it moved at a good pace. The writing was relaxed and conversational - so too was Rebecca’s delivery. Her writing in and out of tape was well done...it kept the piece moving. The production was very good and seamless. A few highlights: I liked her introduction to the first bit of sound of a whirring jump rope...and the sound itself was vivid. I liked the description of jumpers in one event doing a “hyper-caffeinated jog.” And the ending was strong with the fun anecdote about the book of world records. I listened to the piece twice...and liked it even better the second time. This definitely deserved the first-place prize.
Second place: Annie Feidt, Alaska Public Radio Network, “Risking It on Denali”
Comments: This was a very strong piece and had some of the nice qualities of Rebecca’s first-place story. Good writing. Good transitions from script to tape and back to script. It was well produced, with a couple of scenes - one at the beginning gave us a nice unexpected moment (the climber talking about his coffee drink); the one with the French climbers was not as lively, but it provided a break in the rhythm of the piece. The people on tape told dramatic stories.
Third place: Dixie Hutchinson, KNBA, “WEIO Kickoff.”
Comments: The subject matter was compelling — it’s what I want to hear out of Alaska. To those of us in the Lower 48, Alaska is an exotic place, with people and cultures different than anyplace else in the U.S. I enjoyed hearing about some of those differences in Dixie’s piece. I give it high marks for originality…an effort to give the listener a sense of place and culture.
Judge: Tom Goldman, NPR sports correspondent, used to work as a reporter and producer for APRN.
CATEGORY 51: BEST ARTS REPORTING
First place: Charles Homans, KIAL/Unalaska Community Broadcasting, “Philippines Pop in Unalaska”
Comments: Charles Homans takes an unusual event, a performance by a major Philippino pop star in a town in the Aleutian Islands, and not only describes the show, but gets into the drama of the risks involved for the promoter, and what the event means to the local immigrant community. It’s a story filled with surprises, written in a way that seizes a listeners ear, and never lets go until it’s done. A great piece of radio.
Second place: Rebecca Shier, Alaska Public Radio Network, “Alaska in da Bronx”
Comments: Rebecca Shier introduces listeners to a singular collector with an Alaskan obsession, even though he lives in the LaGuardia flight path. Great writing brings out the personality of this Alaskana specialist, while also digging a little into the strange ideas non-Alaskans project onto the state.
Third place: Annie Feidt, Alaska Public Radio Network, “Prison Music”
Comments: Annie Feidt explores the importance of live music performances in prison, their legacy, and why performers keep returning. Well written and mixed.
Judge: Euan Kerr is a senior news editor at Minnesota Public Radio. He has worked for MPR, KFAI-FM, and the BBC, and filed for a variety of NPR shows. In recent years he has worked primarily with reporters covering rural Minnesota while also coordinating arts coverage for MPR News.
CATEGORY 52: BEST DAILY NEWS PROGRAM
First place: KMXT Midday Report with Jay Barrett, KMXT Radio
No second or third place awarded.
Judge: Karen Michel, former award-winning journalist in Alaska with many fellowships and awards including a Peabody, a Fubright and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships. A contributor to NPR, founder of the Association of Independent Radio, she is a visiting professor at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
TELEVISION
CATEGORY 53: BEST BREAKING NEWS
First place: Megan Baldino and Daniel Hernandez, KTUU, “Park Place Condo Fire”
Second place: Bill McAllister, KTUU, “Kott Verdict”
Third place: Rebecca Palsha and Jason Kohler, KTUU, “Caribou Hills Wildfire”
Judge: Al Tompkins is the broadcast/online group leader at the Poynter Institute and a broadcast veteran with myriad consulting clients.
CATEGORY 54: BEST SINGLE STORY
First place: Megan Baldino and Daniel Hernandez, KTUU, “Day 1 of the Hunt”
Comments: Nice photography and nat sound off the top and throughout the piece. The story was informative and educational. I thought, given the subject matter, The reporter could have evoked a bit more emotion… more sots of how this hunt makes people feel, especially after a kill. That would have made this piece much more effective.
Using the graphic information in the middle of the piece slowed it down. In the future, I would suggest perhaps using graphic information, but full-screening it over more video of the bears… especially of cubs. I would imagine that there is more file video of bears to use. I would have liked to see more of that.
But, overall, the piece made me wonder why the park service has this policy, and what will happen next. Perhaps not many residents outside Alaska understand what a great loss this is to the habitat and wildlife.
Judge: Julia Yarbough is an Emmy Award winner who co-anchors the NBC 6 News in Miami.
CATEGORY 55: BEST SERIES REPORTING
First place: Jill Burke and Scott Jensen, KTUU, “Our Garden is Our Ocean”
Second place: Megan Baldino and Scott Jensen, KTUU, “Iditarod”
Third place: Rhonda McBride and Phil Walczak, KTUU, “Diabetes”
Judge: Al Tompkins is the broadcast/online group leader at the Poynter Institute and a broadcast veteran with myriad consulting clients.
CATEGORY 56: BEST LIVE SHOT
First place: WEIO Blanket Toss, Angela Blanchard, Jason Kohler and Shane Pike.
Second place: No award given.
Third place: No award given.
Comments: It was a very fine, entertaining, and high energy shot…and we award it a first place.
Judge: Michael Todd is the assistant news director at WSMV-TV in Nashville, Tenn.
CATEGORY 57: BEST DOCUMENTARY
First place: Steve McDonald and Rich Jordan, KTUU
Second place: Katie Bausler, “Alaska College Track”
Judge: Al Tompkins is the broadcast/online group leader at the Poynter Institute and a broadcast veteran with myriad consulting clients.
CATEGORY 58: BEST REPORTING ON HEALTH OR SCIENCE
First place: Mike Ross and Eric Sowl, KTUU, “Medicare Mess”
Comments: Very thorough reporting on an issue relevant to a growing number of viewers. Interviews did a nice job of supporting key points and providing emotional input. Solid editing with good use of natural sound. Clear, easy-to-read graphics.
Second place: Jill Burke and Phil Walczak, KTUU, “Emma and Chuck’s Silent Curse.”
Comments: Well-researched topic with compelling interviews. Children provided a good, emotional hook to the story.
Third place: No award given.
Judge: Karen Larsen anchors KJRH Channel 2 News in Tulsa. She has earned three Emmy Awards and honors from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.
CATEGORY 59: BEST EDUCATION REPORTING
First Place: Rhonda McBride and Scott Jensen, KTUU, ”The Right Stuff”
Comments: Reporter did a nice job of setting up the story. Solid writing with good audio/video linkage. Alliteration helped underscore key points and provide compelling text. Excellent photography and use of natural sound.
No second- or third-place awards given.
Judge: Karen Larsen anchors KJRH Channel 2 News in Tulsa. She has earned three Emmy Awards and honors from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.
CATEGORY 60: BEST ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING
First place: Jason Moore, reporter, and Scott Jensen, photographer, KTUU
Comments: Excellent visuals and use of nat sound and editing. The piece was very information, and again educational. I found the subject matter fascinating.
No second- or third-place awards given.
Judge: Julia Yarbough is an Emmy Award winner who co-anchors the NBC 6 News in Miami.
CATEGORY 61: BEST REPORTING ON CRIME OR COURTS
First place: Rhonda McBride, Scott Jensen, and Phil Walczak, KTUU, “Bethel Remembers”
Second place: Rebecca Palsha and Mike Nederbrock, KTUU, “Time Down South”
Third place: Jill Burke, KTUU “Bobrick Pleads Guilty”
Judge: Mike Todd is assistant news director at WSMV in Nashville, Tenn.
CATEGORY 62: BEST GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL REPORTING
No award given.
CATEGORY 63: BEST BUSINESS REPORTING
First place: Rhonda McBride and Phil Walczak, KTUU, “The MacGyvers of Saroonga”
Comments: Compelling topic. Sound chosen did a good job of supporting key points. Photographer edited piece well with good natural sound transitions between locations and topics.
No second- or third-place awards given.
Judge: Karen Larsen anchors KJRH Channel 2 News in Tulsa. She has earned three Emmy Awards and honors from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.
CATEGORY 64: BEST TELEVISION FEATURE
First place: Jason Moore and Scott Jensen, KTUU, “Wild Hunters”
Second place: Jackie Purcell and Jason Kohler, KTUU, “Operation Santa Claus”
Third place: Jill Burke and Jason Kohler, KTUU, “Wounded Warriors”
Judge: Deborah Horne, a television reporter for 26 years, has won five regional Emmy awards, including four for a public affairs program she created called KIRO InColor.
CATEGORY 65: ARTS COVERAGE
First Place: Rebecca Palsha, reporter, Mike Nederbrock, photographer, “Picking away at time”
Comments: Excellent story line, well written. Story was edited well with good nat sound.
Second Place: Rhonda McBride, reporter, “Voices from the Past”
Third Place: John Tracy, reporter, “Mystery Hero”
Judge: Jon Stepanek has been news director at KTVQ for 14 years. He was a board member of the Radio and Television News Directors’ Association for four years. He has more than 25 years of experience in broadcast television.
CATEGORY 66: BEST ONGOING PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM
No award given.
CATGEGORY 67: BEST SPORTS STORY
First place: Rhonda McBride and Scott Jensen, KTUU, “Biggest Little Race”
Comments: A powerful epic journey into a grueling contest, pitting elements and distance against the people who dare challenge them. Visually, it never lets up, the photographers gave me point of view for everything from the dogs, to the racers groggily pumping coffee to keep the pace. Great writing and use of nat sound provide the perfect narrative to a story taking the viewer along for a long, wintery ride.
Second place: John Carpenter and Eric Scowl, KTUU, “Field of Dreams”
Comments: Great writing blended with solid photography made this piece an absolute joy from beginning to end. The thrill of this community is captured beautifully, and the use of nat sound and great emotional interviews were mixed effectively. The writing provided just the right narrative for a great, happy story.
Third place: Kevin Wells and Eric Sowl, KTUFF, “Doc goes Racing”
Comments: A great treatment of an extremely unusual, and eccentric man. Well shot and written, it helped me understand a man who left a vocation of medicine, for a life of sled dogs and a cabin with no electricity. The story captured his personality beautifully.
Judge: Gary Horcher is an award-winning investigative reporter at KIRO Channel 7 News in Seattle.
CATEGORY 68: BEST PROFILE
First place: Jill Burke and Kyle Stalder, KTUU, “Legacy of Love”
Comments: A gripping, powerfully-emotional story from beginning to end, this piece delivers both the impact of grief, mixed with the nervous joy of new life.
The story moved along with just the right punch of nat sound, and the writing complimented the great interview sound.
I don’t know the crew convinced the new mother to allow a camera in the delivery room, but it was a part I needed to see, to see it all come full-circle.
Second place: Rhonda McBride and Shawn Wilson, KTUU, “49th Cello”
Comments: This piece really picked up momentum as it went along. The crew did a fantastic job of capturing the craftsman as he created masterpiece
instruments, while cats jumped all over the workshop. Well edited and written, it carried us all the way from the first carving of rare wood, to the
symphony of sound created by the Cello-makers instruments. I liked how the pacing allowed the impact of the little workshop to become bigger
and bigger--all the way to a concert hall.
Third place: John Tracy, KTUU, “Remembering Augie”
Comments: Wonderfully written and edited, this piece really delivered maximum emotional impact out of lots of file video. The breathtaking surprise was the sudden appearance of Walter Conkite. A life-story well told.
Judge: Gary Horcher is an award-winning investigative reporter at KIRO Channel 7 News in Seattle.
CATEGORY 69: BEST EDITING
First place: Scott Jensen, KTUU, “The Race Behind the Race”
Second place: Scott Jensen, KTUU, “Living On the Edge of Kivalina”
Comments: First place winner had a nice variety of pace, good transitions using natural sound breaks, the audio was woven seamlessly, there was a clever parallel park over an interview, good shot selection which made for good sequences. Second place was also well done, but had too many edits over slow zooms and pans and became a distraction because the technique was overused.
Third place: No award given.
Judge: Eric Kehe and the award-winning photographers at KUSA 9 News in Denver.
CATEGORY 70: BEST FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
First place: Scott Jensen, KTUU, “To Walk Among the Bears”
Second place: Scott Jensen, KTUU “Whaling as a Way of Life”
Comments: First place was visually stunning. It had nice shot variety, good sequences, and good natural sound. Second place was also well done, but simply not as visual as the first place entry.
Third place: No award given.
Judge: Eric Kehe and the award-winning photographers at KUSA 9 News in Denver.
CATEGORY 71: BEST SPOT NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY
First place: Scott Jensen, KTUU, “He Was In the Neighborhood”
Second place: Brad Hillwig, KTUU, “Life Is Fragile”
Third place: Eric Sowl, KTUU, “We Go to Church Here”
Comments: This was the toughest category to agree upon a winner. First place had it all. Great visuals, solid sequencing, good reaction, unusual, good composition, ended rather abruptly. econd place was a better told story, but did not have all the visual elements as the first place entry. The photographer did a great job using natural light and remaining unobtrusive. This story simply did not have as many moments and emotional shots as the first place entry. Finally, the third place entry had nice shots, good composition, good sequences, good shot variety, nice reaction shots to the fire, but was not as visual and unusual as the first two. All three photographers did a great job and any one of the three could have won first.
Judge: Eric Kehe and the award-winning photographers at KUSA 9 News in Denver.
CATEGORY 72: BEST SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
First place: Scott Jensen, KTUU, “Iditarod on the Yukon”
Second Place- Brad Hillwig, KTUU, “The Sound of Speed”
Third Place: No award given.
Comments: It’s disappointing that there were only two entries for this category. However, both entries were crafted remarkably well and are both worthy of high praise. The winner, “Iditarod on the Yukon” demonstrated a tremendous commitment to the story, and amazing patience to get engaging pictures and sounds, and allowed the viewer to experience the beauty and the competition of the race along with the participants.
The runner up, “The Sound of Speed” is a story that showed excellent anticipation skills by the photographer in capturing the action, along with gathering the great sound of the action. These sounds really made the viewer feel like they were there along side of the journalist.
Judge: Stan Heist is the chief photographer at WBFF-TV in Baltimore.
CATEGORY 73: BEST DAILY NEWSCAST
First place: KTUU Channel 2 News late Edition, John Tracy, news director, and staff of Channel 2 News
Second place: KTUU Channel 2 Newshour, John Tracy, news director, and staff of Channel 2 News
Comments: Both newscasts were solid. The big difference was while the Newshour had richer longer pieces (John Tracy’s piece on the Kilcher’s reunion is beautifully written, shot and edited) later in the show, the late edition did two things more effectively: 1) The shows were stacked better (More flowing rundown), 2) The teases and banter were better and more fun. 3) Stronger lead packages were definitely on the late edition.
Judge: Charles Fedullo heads the broadcast journalism track at University of Alaska Fairbanks. He’s worked as a television reporter and anchor in markets ranging from Philadelphia to Fairbanks. Prior to working as deputy news director at KTUU, Fedullo helped launch Alaska’s first statewide news program on the ABC-affiliated Superstation, broadcasting over Anchorage’s KIMO, Fairbanks KATN and Juneau’s KJUD.
All-Media (Open)
CATEGORY 74: BEST OUTDOORS STORY
First place: Megan Baldino and Daniel Hernandez, KTUU, “Katmai Bear Hunt”
Comments: Our unanimous choice for first prize. The KTUU team reported on the debate over bear hunting in Katmai Natural Preserve by combining 1) scenic wildlife footage 2) interviews with hunters, conservationists and biologists and 3) references to official documents and statistics on hunting and population to educate viewers on both sides of an emotional controversy.
Second Place: Jill Burke and Scott Jensen, KTUU, “Whaling Overview”
Comments: A stunning visual story of the Inupiak’s annual spring Bowhead whale hunt. The video of villagers spotting, hauling in, and butchering the whale showed in dramatic fashion the traditional, subsistence hunting that still goes on in a remote and harsh part of Alaska.
Third Place: Joseph Robertia, Peninsula Clarion, “Duck-A-Holic”
Comments: A well-reported and detailed look at the motivations that lead Christine Cunningham to venture off to hunt ducks. Robertia tells the story of how Cunningham got started, hooked, and now sees the most intricate and beautiful details of the Alaskan wilderness while hunting.
Judges: John Bradley Senior editor John Bradley, senior editor Jeremy Spencer, senior editor Dianna Delling and assistant editor Joe Spring at Outside Magazine.
CATEGORY 75: ALASKA HISTORY
First place: George Bryson, Anchorage Daily News, “Alaska Pilot and the Israeli Airlift”
Comments: Fascinating story, well told. It reads like a movie script.
Second place: Ellen Lockyer, Alaska Public Radio Network, “Return to Attu”
Comments: Touching story of little-known history. Especially appealing is the low-key narration of the Aleut man from St. George Island.
Third place: Ed Schoenfeld, Coast Alaska, “My Search for Whittier Origins”
Comments: Entertaining story idea with well-documented facts.
Judge: Fairbanks native Stanton H. Patty “retired” from The Seattle Times in 1988 after 34 years as a reporter, editor and travel writer. He is the author of “Fearless Men and Fabulous Women: A Reporter’s Memoir from Alaska & the Yukon,” and works as a freelance travel writer and photographer.
CATEGORY 76: HUMOR
First place: Richard Chiappone, Anchorage Press, “Southern Exposure”
Second place: Joe Viechnicki, KFSK-FM, “Squirrely Man”
Third place: John Tracy, KTUU, “Mystery Hero”
Judge: Steve Mirsky is the wit behind Scientific American’s “Anti Gravity” column and host of the magazine’s podcast.
CATEGORY 77: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
First Place: Reporter Sam Bishop and assistant managing editor Rod Boyce, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, for investigative reporting on misuse of federal funds by former Fairbanks city mayor Jim Hayes
Comments: Starting with a hunch from one of its columnists, reporters at the Daily News-Miner began investigating former Fairbanks mayor Jim Hayes and his wife, Chris, for possible misuse of government funds in early 2005. They obtained hundreds of pages of documents on five federal grants, totalling $2.9 million, that went to the Hayes’ nonprofit group, LOVE Social Services, through dodgy earmarks inserted into federal legislation without outside review. The hunch paid off when the FBI and other federal agencies raided the Hayes’ home and offices in early 2006 — and later indicted the couple for conspiracy, fraud, money laundering and other charges. The paper’s four-part series in March 2007 described how Hayes duplicated budget items, falsified billing records, signed misleading statements and even obtained federal funding for a gymnasium floor in a building that doesn’t have a gym. A jury convicted Hayes of 16 counts in February 2008.
Based on extensive research and original reporting, the Daily News-Miner’s comprehensive series gave readers an even-handed, blow-by-blow account of how a respected local political leader blatantly misused taxpayer dollars for personal gain. The paper posted its evidence on-line for all to see. Their work is in the finest tradition of investigative reporting.
Second Place: Wesley Loy, Anchorage Daily News, for “Young’s Earmark Boosts 3 Fish Farms”
Comments: This story focused a much-needed spotlight on the pernicious practice of “earmarks,” funding bills that are secretly slipped into federal legislation to avoid public scrutiny or Congressional oversight. In this case, Loy discovered an outrageous earmark inserted at the last minute into a national fisheries bill, which was passed hours before Congress adjourned for the year. The arcane language, buried in a 91-page bill, gave special advantages to three fishing companies that catch and process Bering Sea crab. All three companies are headed by people who are major contributors to Rep. Don Young, who inserted the earmark. As Loy wrote, the arcane provision “smacks of political favoritism, sidestepped the normal process for changing federal fishing rules, wasn’t subject to a public debate or hearing, and was inserted into a major bill at the last moment.” Congressman Young, it should be added, couldn’t find the time to talk to the newspaper due to his busy schedule of secretly stuffing bills with goodies for his campaign contributors. Loy’s story exposed rank hypocrisy and gross political abuse that directly affects the working men and women in a core industry for Alaska.
Third place: Kyle Hopkins, Anchorage Daily News, for “ML&P gave $230,000 to charity in ‘06”
Comments: Kyle Hopkins found the high-end equivalent of cops who accept free coffee and donuts on the beat. It’s not corruption. But that doesn’t make it right. So too for elected Assembly members who got free tickets from the Anchorage city power company to attend galas and dinners. Whatever the utility’s intentions, the freebies gave the appearance of currying special favor or worse. After the story appeared, the mayor wrote the first citywide rules for charitable donations by the municipality. The new guidelines banned the long accepted, long ignored practice of offering freebies to politicians. It’s a small story, but an important symbol of how investigative reporting is a watchdog on the powerful.
Judge: Bob Drogin is the national security reporter for the Los Angeles Times, a former IRE board member and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the Robert F. Kennedy award and the Polk Award.
CATEORY 78: BEST MEDIA WEBSITE
First Place, Anchorage Daily News.
Comments: Well-presented, authoritative and complete. Superb job of integrating blogs — particularly politics — into its site.
Second Place, KCAW.
Comments: A good job of presenting news and useful community information.
Third Place, Extreme Alaska.
Comments: Extraordinarily ambitious, cross-platform work that should be the future of journalism.
Judge: Frank Bass, author of The Associated Press Guide to Internet Research and Reporting, is a member of the AP’s special projects team. While at the Montgomery Journal of Commerce, he won a Pulitzer Prize for stories exploring causes of infant mortality in Alabama.
CATEGORY 79: PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD
KTUU Staff, Rhonda McBride, Phil Walczak, Jason Kohler, Eric Adams and Jim Filley “Dentistry in the Bush.”
Comments: This is what public service reporting is all about. The staff of KTUU deserves credit for their excellent and relentless work documenting rural Alaska’s tooth decay epidemic. But KTUU did more than simply document the problem that exists today. They went back to the 1930s to look at the history of dental problems in rural Alaska, they examined a novel solution involving dental health aide therapists and they thoroughly covered the controversy involving the dental health aide program in Alaska and in Congress and in the courts. The KTUU staff put a human face on this systemic problem and helped bring about important changes that are improving dental health in rural Alaska—changes that are making a big difference in the lives and smiles of children and adults in rural Alaska. For their excellent work, and their remarkable commitment to public service journalism that spanned several years, I am privileged to award KTUU this notable award.
Judge: Gary Cohn, the winner of a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting, is a senior writer/investigative reporter with Bloomberg Markets, the monthly magazine of Bloomberg News Service. Cohn has worked for the Los Angeles Times, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, The Wall Street Journal and for columnist Jack Anderson in Washington. From 2003 to 2005, Cohn served as the Atwood Professor of Journalism at the University of Alaska at Anchorage.
CATEGORY 80: FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD
Peter Dunlap-Shohl, editorial cartoonist, Anchorage Daily News
Judge: The Alaska Press Club Board of Directors.
