Online producer Lauren Spuhler won the Online Reporting Award of Excellence in continuing coverage for her Bonnaroo 2007 coverage..
Online Producer Erin Chapin and reporter J.J. Stambaugh won the Online Reporting Award of Excellence for Multimedia with a series called "Use of Force."
And Online Editor Jigsha Desai also won an honorable mention in the multimedia reporting category for a package on the 25th anniversary of the 1982 World Fair.
Complete list of winners is below.
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Annual East Tennessee GPC Contest Winners for
work published, broadcast or posted online in 2007
NEWSPAPERS
Deadline/Spot News Reporting
Division 1-A. Circulation over 25,000
Award of Excellence Ryan
Harris, Chattanooga Times Free Press, "Kimball tornado "
Judges' comments -
Excellent balance of color and context
Award of Merit
Rebecca Ferrar, Knoxville News Sentinel, "Backroom deals"
Division 1-B. Circulation under 25,000
Award of Excellence
Jessica Stith, The Daily Times, "Standoff ends after three women assaulted"
Judges' comments - Good
combination of facts and color
Award of Merit
Marcus Fitzsimmons, The Daily Times, "Young players drawn to youthful bowers
Honorable Mention
Jessica Stith, John Brice The Daily Times, "Summitt files for divorce"
Division 1-C. Non-Daily Newspapers
Award of Excellence Jason
Davis, LaFollette Press, "Drama at the dog shelter"
Judges' comments -
Interesting without relying on titillation
General
Reporting
Division 2-A. Circulation over 25,000
Award of Excellence Don
Jacobs, Knoxville News Sentinel, "I was too afraid not to do it"
Judges' comments - Excellent
reporting and sourcing and written in a compelling and concise manner.
Award of Merit Andy
Sher, Dave Flessner, Brian Lazenby, "
Honorable Mention Scott
Barker, Rebecca Ferrar, Ansley Haman,
Division 2-B. Circulation under 25,000
Award of Excellence Mark
Boxley, The Daily Times, "Hard day's work"
Judges' comments - Informative with a good, descriptive lede
Division 2-C. Non-Daily Newspapers
Division 2-D. Organizational Communications
Award of Excellence Sarah
Callahan, Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council, "Girl Scouts buy tractor trailer"
Judges'' comments -
Touching, lede draws reader in
Feature
Writing
Division 3-A. Circulation over 25,000
Award of Excellence Chandra Harris-McCray, Knoxville News Sentinel, "Faithful to
the end"
Judges' comments - Combination of compelling story, thorough
reporting, and sometimes lyrical writing
Award of Merit Lesli
Bales-Sherrod, Knoxville News Sentinel, "Protons and prayers"
Honorable Mention Matt
Lakin, Knoxville News Sentinel, "Waves of memories"
Division 3-B. Circulation under 25,000
Award of Excellence Mark
Boxley, The Daily Times, "The cop and the addict"
Judges' comments -
Moving story pulls you in from the first line and keeps you reading with strong
images, clear, compelling writing
and a style that flows like a mountain's stream - cool, crisp and refreshing.
Division 3-C. Non-Daily Newspapers
Award of Excellence Susan
Sharp, LaFollette Press, "Act of vigilantism"
Judges' comments - Fact-packed
story about interesting case.
Division 3-D. Organizational Communications
Award of Excellence Sarah
Callahan, Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council, "Dolly Parton becomes a lifetime Girl
Scout with Tanasi"
Judges' comments - Nice
use of quotes.
Award of Merit
Christine Jessel, Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council, "Girls fall in love with
horses at
Series/Package/Project
Writing
Division 4-A. Circulation
over 25,000
Award of Excellence J. J.
Stambaugh, The Knoxville News Sentinel, "
Judges' comments -
compelling, complete and even-handed. Extremely well written.
Award of Merit Dave
Flessner, Pam Sohn, Chattanooga Times Free Press, "Faces of the
homeless"
Honorable Mention Jason
Reynolds, Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times Free Press, "Foreclosures at home"
Division 4-B. Circulation under 25,000
Award of Excellence Anna
Irwin, Iva Butler, Jessica Stith, Bonny Millard, The Daily Times, "Four
children die in fire"
Judges' comments - stories are full of detail that guides
readers through from tragic beginning to hopeful end. (Sadly, reporter Anna
Irwin passed away last summer.)
Award of Merit Mark
Boxley, Iva Butler, Marcus Fitzsimmons, The Daily Times, "Shock and sadness"
Division 4-C. Non-Daily Newspapers
Award of Excellence Shannon
Carey, Shopper-News, "Goin' to the chapel"
Judges' comments -
descriptive and informative
Award of Merit Susan
Sharp, LaFollette Press, "Kenneth S. Bartley story"
Division 4-D. Organizational Communications
Excellence Christine
Jessel, Mary Leidig, Sarah Callahan, Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council, "Dolly
Parton joins the Girl Scouts"
Judges' comments - fun, engaging, heart-warming
Investigative Reporting
Division
5-A. Circulation over 25,000
Award of Excellence Rebecca
Ferrar, Ansley Haman,
Judges' comments -
Investigative articles highlight the resourcefulness needed to shed light on
the problems facing the county."
Award of Merit Bob
Fowler, Knoxville News Sentinel, "Affair no secret two say"
Division 5-B. Circulation under 25,000 (Judges said this was a very
tough category to judge)
Award of Excellence Rick
Laney, Jessica Stith, The Daily Times, "County tuition reimbursement"
Judges' comments - The
reporter had a great grasp of the facts and was able to explain them in a
resourceful, enterprising way."
Award of Merit Rick
Laney, The Daily Times, "Immigrant: judge told me to go home"
Division 5-C. Non-Daily Newspapers
Award of Excellence Natahsa
Renee LaFayette, LaFollette Press, "Jellico finances affect crime fighting"
Judges' comments - This entry
deserves the award because LaFayette was able to see beyond what some would
call a simple theft and ask questions about the police department, exposing
troubles. A great investigative reporting article because
Sports
Reporting
Division
6-A. Circulation over 25,000
Award of Excellence Mike
Strange, The Knoxville News Sentinel, "We're all we've got"
Judges' comments - The
contrast between the two teams was a very resourceful way to explain what
problems the
Award of Merit Team
coverage, Chattanooga Times Free Press, "From big house to our house"
Division 6-B. Circulation under 25,000
Award of Excellence Marcus
Fitzsimmons, The Daily Times, "Scots score GSAC title in 13-6 win"
Judges' comments -
Effective because it kept the reader in the moment of the victory.
Award of Merit Leonard
Butts, The Daily Times, "Ann Baker Furrow Inducted"
Division 6-C. Non-Daily Newspapers
Award of Excellence Dwane
Wilder, LaFollette Press, "Fortunate son"
Judges' comments - The
use of storytelling and description was very impressive. You were able to
connect with Chris Honeycutt and understand why his mom is so important in his
life and career.
Editorial
Writing
Division 7-A. Circulation over 25,000
Award of Excellence Lee
Anderson,
Judges' comments - A
strong and clear expression of editorial opinion.
Award of Merit Henry
Austin, Chattanooga Times Free Press, "Denying handicapped access etc."
Honorable Mention Jan
Maxwell Avent,
Division 7-B. (no awards)
Division 7-C. Non-Daily Newspapers
Award of Excellence Editorial
Staff, LaFollette Press
Judges' comments - The
series' approach goes beyond making a statement and then going on to the next
thing as though the first is over and done with
Personal
Columns
Division
8-A. Circulation over 25,000
Award of Excellence Mark
Kennedy,
Judges' comments -
Insightfully draws on personal experiences for well-written columns
Award of Merit Greg
Johnson,
Division 8-B. Circulation under 25,000
Award of Excellence Steve
Wildsmith, The Daily Times
Judges' comments -
Columns draw you in an easy way not often found. You, as the reader, are with
him in the moment. He makes you want to read more.
Award of Merit John
Brice, The Daily times
Division 8-C. Non-Daily Newspapers
Award of Excellence Susan
Sharp, LaFollette Press
Judges' comments - an
important topic to set before her readers
Award of Merit Don
Williams,
Reviews/Criticism
Division
9-A. Circulation over 25,000
Award of Excellence Casey
Phillips,
Judges' comments - Gives
information and judgment backed by his own experience as a musician
Division 9-B. Circulation under 25,000
Award of Excellence Steve
Wildsmith, The Daily Times
Judges' comments - He
certainly has a way with words with a critical quality that goes beyond a
judgment of good or bad in the article
Division 9-C. Non-Daily Newspapers
Award of Excellence Emily
Schoen, Shopper-News
Judges' comments - readable and straight forward
RADIO AND
TELEVISION
News Reporting
Division 10-A.
Radio
Award of Excellence Ann
Lloyd, WUOT-FM, "Internet censorship"
Judges' comments -
Well-written, evokes images, compelling
Award of Merit Catherine
Howell, Channing Smith, Dave Foulk, Michael Grider, Andrew Shibley, Josh
Blanchard, WNOX-FM, "News Reporting"
Division 10-B. Television
Award of Excellence Channel
3 Eyewitness News Team, WRCB-TV, "Kimball tornado"
Judges' comments - Very
nice comfort level in opening line shot, good team coverage, overall excellent.
Award of Excellence Stacy
McCloud, Nate McLaughlin, WVLT-TV, "
Judges' comments - Nicely
written, nice use of visuals, good emotional impact
Honorable Mention Josh
West, WBIR-TV, "Women in black"
Feature Reporting
Division 11-A. Radio
Award of Excellence Chrissy
Keuper, WUOT-FM, "Prison Children"
Judges' comments -
Interesting topic told well
Award of Merit Catherine
Howell, WNOX-FM, "Race rally"
Division 11-B. Television
(The
Judges said this was the best and most competitive category and was very
difficult to judge because there were so many excellent entries.)
Award of Excellence April
Lamb, WBIR-TV, "Striking out ALS"
Judges' comments -
Beautiful story, beautifully told, emotional with great impact. You have to
keep watching to see how it turned out."
Award of Merit Jake
Resler, Caroline Lamar, WBIR-TV, "Maleka's story"
Honorable Mention Stacy
McCloud, Peter Simeone, WVLT-TV, "God is my shield: the story of Tommy McGouey"
Investigative Reporting
Division 12-B.Television
Award of Excellence Kay
Watson, Jake Jost, Kevin Umberger, Tim Dale, Jerry Owens, WBIR-TV, "Mayor's
office misspending"
Judges' comments -
Impressive information gathering and commitment by the station to dedicate one
hour to put it all together. Good reporting.
Award of Merit Don
Dare, David Wignall, WATE-TV, "Dental dilemma"
Sports
Reporting
Division 13-B.Television
Award of Excellence Dave
Staley, WTVC-TV, "Dave's diamond darlings"
Judges' comments - Cute story -
shows what is missing in most local sports.
Documentary/Public
Affairs Programming
Division 14-A. Radio
Award of Excellence Catherine
Howell, WNOX-FM, "
Judges' comments -
Artful compilation to encapsulate reporting over a long term.
Award of Merit Matt
Shafer Powell, David Habercom, WUOT-FM, "The other side of the street"
Division 14-B. Television
Award of Excellence Brittany
Bailey, Robin Wilhoit, Jerry Owens, WBIR-TV, "Remembering the Lillelids--10
years later"
Judges' comments -
Connected emotionally, well-told and well-written.
Award of Excellence 10
News Team, WBIR-TV, "
Judges' comments - excellent information and aggressive in scope
What is needed is a fundamental restructuring of the newspaper business. And it has gotten too late to expect the inmates to redesign the asylum. It's going to have to be done by the proprietors. Willful, single-minded, near-genius proprietors like the ones who built the business.The whole rant is a great read. Roger Black rocks it. But it is too late?
... Newspapers have about a year to get rid of all the people who can't pull their own weight and to redeploy all the smart energetic journalists who can find the great stories and push them out to print, web and video. Some papers still have lots of talent, but they must push it to the front so readers can find it and find that they like it. Papers who continue to bury the smart people (or have already driven them away) will not make the cut. With the current recession, if newspapers don't move quickly, the market will crush them.
"The conglomerates are like the Rothschilds funding both sides in the Napoleonic wars, They are on both sides of virtually every transaction."
-- Forbes "Landscape of Giants," May 8, 2008
Here's what we know: people are online, they watch video online, they spend money online. Therefore, video producers and advertisers are going into overdrive to figure out a model that works.
Mark Cuban quoting (I think) Craig Moffett of Bernstein Research:
Ironically, we are headed down the same self-destructive road for other kinds of traditional media,as well. Five years into the video-over-the-Internet revolution, we have learned two things. First; consumers won't pay for content on the web, so it will have to be ad supported. And second; it won't be ad supported.
We've got the video business model figured out, right?
(via InfoDiva)
On a completely unrelated, but geographically close topic, I created a Twitter feed for University of Tennessee fans with GoVolsXtra headlines. Follow it here.
Just one of things that is interesting about Twitter is how many services have been built upon its simple interface to provide additional features. For a service that has yet to hit mainstream, it's germinated a whole eco-system of apps.Here's some of the Twitter tools I like best.
I don't bother with desktop apps or Firefox plugins, but these I find useful.
TwitterLocal, see what folks around the Hood are saying.
TweetScan, search keywords. Or search you user name and see what others have said about you that you might have missed.
TweetStats, all kinds of stats about your Twitter use. I Tweet most often on Saturdays and at 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. I talk to @Newscoma a lot.
Summize, another great Twitter searching tool.
Twitterholic, if you need Twitter "friends" to follow.
Twist, Compare keywords. Here's "big brown and belles."
TwitterFeed, great RSS to Twitter app.
Who Should I follow?, an interesting one to find new friends on Twitter.
Do you have "must haves?"
Here some more best of Twitter tools blog posts:
CyTRAP Labs' choice - free tools - 12 best Twitter tools
40+ Twitter Tools for Extended Twitter Experience from To the PC
The Clever Sheep: How Many Twitter Tools Are There?
Charles Arthur: Your suggestions please for the 20 best Twitter tools
Oh, yeah, follow me here.
Her stats show several newspapers had followings that grew by triple digits in the last month while @knoxnews grew by 47 percent and @Bonnaroo, which she started following mid-month, grew by about 7 percent.
Smith is tracking 141 newspaper Twitter accounts.
I'm thinking that the knoxnews growth of 47 percent shows another surge in popularity in the not-yet-mainstream service at least in the KnoxVegas area since we did no promotion of it. (The last time we mentioned it to marketing, they got the idea to change the background to coffin gray ... industry symbolism?).
So if you're on Twitter, follow:
@knoxnews
@Bonnarroo
... and even me.
The knoxnews site is not at the top of the list in number of Tweets, which is good!.
