Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: The Columbus Dispatch Entry Title: Ma'Khia Bryant shooting Entry Credit: Staff Judge Comment: This is an excellent example of the scorched earth approach to breaking news. The Dispatch staff responded quickly with a solid package of stories. Best by far, good swarm of breaking news, sidebars, reax, other victims video plus explainer, including sidebars, reaction plus a lengthy explainer on why the Dispatch chose to include a graphic video of the incident published a day later. That kind of information is critical for transparency as a news organization.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: The Columbus Dispatch Entry Title: The death of Matiss Kivlenieks Entry Credit: Staff Judge Comment: The Dispatch staff did an outstanding job responding to a fireworks accident that resulted in the death of NHL goalie Matiss Kivlenieks -- an incident that shocked the world of hockey. The Enquirer quickly confirmed the cause of death (mortar shell) and that it happened at a wedding hosted in Novi, Michigan, by fellow NHL goalie Manny Legace. The staff quickly pulled reaction from social media, the sports world, pulled together a sidebar of his last interview and an impressive photo gallery. Well done.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Cincinnati Enquirer Entry Title: Ohio House Speaker expelled from office Entry Credit: Staff Judge Comment: Solid coverage of the vote to oust Rep. Larry Householder from the Ohio Legislature, including a timeline of how the saga unfolded and reaction.
