Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Traverse City Record-Eagle Entry Title: County commissioner flaunts rifle during livestreamed meeting Entry Credit: Patti Brandt Burgess Judge Comment: This was fairly astounding. Imagine the reporter covering a remote, routine county meeting when suddenly a commissioner brings out a rifle in support of the hate group Proud Boys. Good follow up on calls to resign, failure of the board to censure Ron Clous, lack of charges by the state AG. Stories illustrate the standoff between a guy who cherishes his gun rights, the free speech issues the event raised -- and whether people feel threatened by both.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: The Flint Journal Entry Title: House explosion in Flint leaves 2 dead, neighborhood shaken by blast Entry Credit: Winter Keefer, Jake May Judge Comment: This is what I believe "spot news coverage" is all about. The initial coverage of a neighborhood explosion that left people dead (including a child) and missing and three houses destroyed; follow-ups on evacuation and displacement of an entire block; details on where survivors went, how to help, donations of materials; and a dramatic piece on what some people felt and saw in the panic to get out alive. Art and video went well with the stories.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Bay City Times Entry Title: Michigan mom charged in daughter’s stabbing death was ‘unemotional, calm’ when speaking with police Entry Credit: Cole Waterman Judge Comment: An affidavit obtained by the writer provided dramatic and graphic details about the death of a 3-year-old at the hands of her drug-using mother. The child was found in a trash bag, she had been stabbed many times. Writer detailed the emotions of an older brother why found the body, contrasting them well to the lack of reaction by the mother. Good use of provided art of the mom and daughter in happier times.
