2006 News: BIB Winning Entries and Judges Comments

STUDENT CONTEST

#2009: St. Petersburg Times
“He’s the highest-paid charity executive around” by Emily Steel
Ms. Steel showed initiative and curiosity, turning a mundane story about a grant into an informative article that revealed just how highly paid the chief executive of St. Petersburg’s Goodwill Industries was in 2003. She also displayed tenaciousness, convincing a typically reticent CEO to give her an interview. To provide context, she also provided compared his pay with the salaries of other charitable organizations and for-profit companies in the region. She used numbers and showed what the numbers meant. Not only was the story organized but it also provided good detail about CEO R. Lee Waits’ lifestyle.

Certificate of merit:
#2834: Capital News Service
“Bleeding industry turns back to Legislature for a cure” by Katrina Altersitz and Mary Ellen Slayter
Assigned to write about the battle to bring slot machines to Maryland’s horse tracks, Ms. Altersitz and Ms. Slayter analyzed why the Legislature was likely to see more proposals on the subject. The two analyzed the potential economic impact of the debate, humanizing the subject from the start with a tale of how two individuals’ fortunes would be affected. The article showed why the issue mattered. Their use of numbers was very good as was sourcing. Ms. Altersitz and Ms. Slayter counterbalanced industry experts with real life people and the risk that they would lose income.

BREAKING NEWS -- Small

#2828: Mobile Register
‘EADS lands!’
This package not only captured the excitement of landing a big new plant but cautioned readers about potential hurdles to the deal. The mainbar authoritatively laid out facts and perspective on EADS North America’s selection of Mobile for an engineering and assembly center. Meaty sidebars explored political issues faced by the Paris-based company in landing a contract to build Air Force tankers, and speculated on the size of the state’s incentives package. A Q&A provided information on the company for everyday readers, including this useful nugget: it’s pronounced E-A-D-S, not ``eeds.’’

#2078: Portland Press Herald
‘A Bittersweet Outcome’
A comprehensive look at how military base closing decisions will affect a community. Portland received mixed news this day: one base will stay open, another will close. Twin reports gave the color and reaction from both communities, pulled together by an overarching mainbar and a smart sider assessing the impact on the broad economy. Graphic elements broke out critical facts and a state redevelopment plan, while readers were encouraged to speak out online about the governor’s leadership on the issue.

#2789: Bradenton Herald
‘Brasota’
Most entries in this category provided strong coverage of a big news event. But in this case, the Bradenton Herald broke the story of how Brasota, a mortgage and finance company, had shut down under odd circumstances. It was a complicated story with broad ramifications for investors and the industry. With just a few hours of reporting time available and no advance knowledge of the story, the paper delivered strong coverage of an unfolding story, complete with breakout boxes to walk readers and investors through the case.

BREAKING NEWS -- Medium

#2196: The Boston Herald
Procter & Gamble and Gillette
Unlike competing papers, the Herald¹s package examines every conceivable angle of Procter & Gamble¹s takeover of Gillette, from the pay cuts that Gillette's top brass would take to the potentially sweeping effect of the merger on Boston's business community -- and all before the news was widely disseminated on the day of publication. The analysis of executive pay, in particular, gives readers fresh insight into what surely played a role in the deal. Lively writing and instructive graphics fully fleshed out the story.

BREAKING NEWS -- Large

#2022: The Seattle Times
Boeing Faces CEO dilemma
Alicia Mundy's tick-tock of how the Boeing board decided to oust its chief executive was a standout example of superior deadline writing and reporting. It answered key questions in everyone's mind about whether Stonecipher's affair was the real reason behind his ouster; her sources inside the board's deliberations were key in nailing that story. The whole package featured strong writing, well-presented, that looked both inside the company -- for employee reaction, potential successors and Stoncipher's legacy and pay package -- and outside the company at the current state of corporate ethics and investor reaction. The pull quotes quoting employees, analysts, ethics professors and Boeing's public relations executive complemented the longer pieces and gave readers multiple chances to get into the story quickly.

#2406: San Jose Mercury News
Why Fiorina Was Ousted
The Fiorina package was well-told on deadline. It initially broke in the early a.m. on Wednesday, and San Jose updated developments online all day. Thursday's print package took a forward look at a major event in the Silicon Valley. Mainbar and sidebar on A1 assumed that readers were well-aware that Fiorina had been ousted, and focused on details of why and what was expected to come. Boxes, graphics and quotes provided context and a reality check. More whys, and where do we go from here on the Business front, along with story about what the blogging community was saying. Smart touches in a well-organized, comprehensive package that included the human element.

#2600: Detroit News
Delphi Bankruptcy -- Staggering Blow
The Detroit News coverage of the announcement of the Delphi bankruptcy filing was excellent. It was especially impressive considering the news broke on a Saturday. The paper delivered five pages of live coverage filled with analysis, news exclusives, the voices of the people affected and a look at the future. The highlight was an inside-the-boardroom, blow-by-blow story by Daniel Howes on the final days and hours leading up to the decision to file for bankruptcy protection. A first-rate effort all around.

BREAKING NEWS -- Giant

#2449: The New York Times
Hewlett-Packard
Combining corporate intrigue and historical perspective, this story of Carly Fiorina's ouster has all the drama of a fast-paced novel, with the main character taking the fall -- albeit one cushioned by a hefty severance package. The characters range from the analysts who follow Hewlett-Packard, to the board members who wanted Fiorina out, to unnamed employees who offered an unvarnished view into the inner workings of the troubled tech giant. The package provides both a damning takedown -- and a spirited defense -- of the fallen first lady of American business.

#2492: The Newark Star-Ledger
Merck
This riveting account offers readers a behind-the-scenes view of the jury's decision in New Jersey¹s first Vioxx trial against Merck, spelling out why the result differed from an opposite finding by a Texas jury in a previous trial. The Star-Ledger broadens the story to explain how the result will affect thousands of pending lawsuits. Photographs of the plaintiff's unhappy face, along with one recording the gleeful embrace of the victors, complete the picture.

Breaking News -- Real time

#2555: Dow Jones News Service
Hurricane Katrina Approaches
Not satisfied to report just the broad economic impact of one of the worst natural disasters in American history, Dow Jones News Service targeted the storm’s impact on America’s energy infrastructure. Dow Jones’ team dug deeply, finding out specifically which refineries had been shut down, and reported how that would affect oil and gas prices and the U.S. economy.

#2556: Dow Jones News Service
Procter & Gamble Acquires Gillette
Great instincts led to a great scoop, an exclusive report on a major corporate acquisition. Writer Christina Cheddar Berk realized there was something strange about Procter & Gamble releasing its earnings a day early, so she worked her sources and found out why. Her enterprise keyed an outstanding package of stories on the mega-deal.

#2103: Bloomberg News
Refco’s Ruin
Bloomberg handled a complicated and fast-moving story with skill and insight as it reported the unfolding collapse of the nation’s biggest futures trader. Its reporting team correctly foreshadowed the company’s plunge into bankruptcy.

BREAKING NEWS -- Weeklies

#2146: Dallas Business Journal
Sate Will Pay Vought $65M
The Dallas Business Journal nailed a major scoop in its market with Margaret Allen's exclusive on the Texas General Land Office's plan to buy 4.9 million square feet of real estate from Vought Aircraft. The deal would be the largest purchase ever for the state agency. Besides an important scooped resulting from strong source building and skilled interviewing, the story was also impressive because it so well written. The deal--a very complicated sale-leaseback program--was the type that is difficult to explain well for readers. But Allen's story was very clear and compelling to read. In addition, the scoop was a good piece of watchdog journalism, as the land deals with the General Land Office typically are structured to cut companies' property tax bills.

#2572: Advertising Age
Shona Seifert trial
Advertising Age covered the trial of two top ad executives accused of defrauding the U.S. government with daily online reports and succinct articles in print. The reports told why the trial was important and revealed something of the personality of the defendants. Matthew Creamer's reporting brought life to the trial and told readers why it was important. A first-rate effort in multimedia reporting, exploring ethical and legal issues.

#2744: Wichita Business Journal
Onex Buys In
The Wichita Business Journal rose smarty to the challenge facing every editor of a weekly: the biggest story of the year broke on the night before its production day and its small staff had to scramble everything to provide thorough coverage. The staff wrote Web files in addition to well-focused pieces for that week's issue, introducing an unknown company to the community and getting extensive comments from the subcontractors and suppliers directly affected by Onex's purchase of Boeing's commercial airplane facilities. The editor went a step further to calculate where the new company would rank on its list of largest employers and companies in the area. Good infographics rounded out a top-notch package.

COLUMN -- Small

#2076: Portland Press Herald- Eric Blom
He really captures a sense of place, he knows his area, he knows his audience, and his writing is excellent. His New Hampshire column is hilarious.

#2464: Times Union - Marlene Kennedy
Her columns questions conventional wisdom. Her topics are eclectic, and you're often surprised when you read here. Her Six Flags column about Dan Snyder, was especially strong.

#2830: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer- Susan Miller
She has a strong sense of what small business needs, and writers with authority. Her column about Web sites was especially useful.

COLUMN -- Medium

#2669: Charlotte Observer- Amy Baldwin
Amy Baldwin’s Out of the Red columns use an original format to go after that often-elusive audience of 20-30-year-olds, and she clearly hits her mark. Her columns provide a breath of fresh air in personal finance writing and represent a completely different form from what other newspapers are doing. She approaches typical personal finance topics like credit scores and 401(k) contributions, but what makes Out of the Red stand out is the way she uses the material to connect to her readers. Baldwin knows what her readers want because she’s one of them. Other newspapers may want to take note of this strategy. It seems to be working in Charlotte.

#2536: The Morning Call- Gregory Karp
Gregory Karp’s Spending Smart columns make personal finance easy to understand. He chooses topics people care about and writes with a consumer oriented approach that offers a good mix of advice and information. Karp uses creative ideas and a clean writing style to connect with readers whether he’s offering his take on the seven deadly sins of spending, how irrationally people act about money or how to decide what insurance you don’t need. His columns give readers the information they need to make smart personal finance decisions, and he does it in a concise and friendly way.

#2100: The Des Moines Register- David Elbert
David Elbert’s columns examine issues that are critically important to Des Moines readers. He has a clear idea of who his audience is and chooses topics they care deeply about. Elbert is willing to attack the conventional wisdom on local issues to offer a fresh perspective. He often breaks news in his columns, but then puts developments into context to tell readers why they should care. He has a deep understanding of economic issues facing Iowans from years of covering business in the state, and he draws on that experience to show readers the big picture.

Judges: Mary Jane Pardue, assistant professor of journalism, Missouri State University (coordinator)
David Nicklaus, business columnist, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Jim Watters, business editor, San Diego Union Tribune

COLUMN -- Large

#2426: San Jose Mercury News - Mike Langberg
Good insightful writing, shows real mastery of technology and high-tech companies, his Oracle-Siebel column was especially well done.

#2412: Rocky Mountain News- David Milstead
Very smart, very readable. He takes on complicated, challenging, high-degree-of-difficulty topics and makes them readable. Writes with a nice economical style

#2141: Fort Worth Star-Telegram- Mitch Schnurman
When he grabs hold of something, you get the sense that he's not going to let it go. Well-researched, well-written columns that have both a sense of outrage and sense of fun.

Certificate of Merit
#2270: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel- Tannette Johnson-Elie
This is a unique column that explores issue of race that you never see on the business page, and she teaches without being preachy.

#2733: St. Petersburg Times- Robert Trigaux
He writes a smart, eclectic column that's full of surprises and has just the right amount of mean in it.

COLUMN -- Giant

#2179: Boston Globe- Steve Bailey
Steve Bailey puts himself in the shoes of common folks and writes about issues they are concerned about. His twice-a-week Downtown columns challenge those in authority and hold them accountable for their decisions and performance. He backs up his columns with solid facts and strong, in depth reporting whether he’s writing about a $200 million plus compensation package for Gillette’s chief executive, the company’s decision to lay off thousands or Reebok’s outrageous ad campaign featuring rapper 50 Cent. Bailey’s no-nonsense writing has an impact, in one case leading the state attorney general to launch an investigation into working conditions at Gillette. In the end, it’s had to disagree with the conclusions he reaches.

#2424: The New York Times- Gretchen Morgenson
Gretchen Morgenson does a lot of digging to find out what’s going on inside the companies she writes about. She is a force to be reckoned with at holding top corporate officials accountable. Her excellent sourcing and investigative skills bring to light the real reasons behind decisions at some of the nation’s top corporations. She is the eyes and ears of stakeholders in these companies and regularly produces columns that are well-written and fiercely reported.

#2166: The Washington Post- Steven Pearlstein
Steven Pearlstein has made the connection between Washington and business and has found a way to write about important issues that are relevant both inside and outside the Beltway. He takes a fresh approach that sometimes uses humor and satire to attack deadly serious issues. Pearlstein’s columns offer a variety of viewpoints that leave readers well-informed and engaged. He doesn’t shy away from complexity, but attacks tough subjects head-on, meticulously pealing back the layers of bureaucracy to expose the heart of an issue. Readers find out what’s really going on by reading Pearlstein.

Certificate of Merit:
#2595: The Wall Street Journal- David Wessel
David Wessel’s Capital columns are excellent examples of explanatory journalism. He plunges deep into economic issues to help readers understand what is really going on. When he tackles a subject like the nation’s growing dependence on foreign money, he first explain it in a clear and insightful way and then presents logical solutions. Wessel offers a fresh perspective on the hot button issue of offshoring and what it means to a young generation. Ultimately his expertise and skill at deciphering the global economy produce well-written columns that leave readers thinking they understand the data and the issues. And he does it in a concise way – usually in about 800 words.

COLUMN -- Weekly:

#2645: Crain’s Chicago Business- Greg Hinz
Greg Hinz’s entries were, by far, the best writing in this category. Most columns are meat and potatoes but readers really want dessert. Hinz delivers.

#2466: LA Business Journal- Mark Lacter
These columns were a little long, but Lacter’s writing is solid and therefore easy to keep a reader to the end. He explains what’s happening in LA and puts it into international context in a clear, approachable way.

#2161: Dallas Business Journal- Huntley Patton
Judges didn’t necessarily agree with what he had to say, but Huntley Patton’s columns were well-written and points were well-made and supported.

Certificate of Merit
#2799: Louisville Business First- Amy Higgs
“I’m Just Saying...” is fun to read. Judges said this was something special, refreshing to read. She’s going after a younger audience and doing a pretty good job. Keep it up.

Overall judges’ observations:
Too many columns are way too long.

COLUMN Real-Time:

#2130: TheStreet.com- Colin Barr
Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street This Week
Barr’s columns were newsy, sassy and overall good writing. His columns are so reader-friendly that you feel like you want to check in each week to see which executive or company is on Barr's Dumb-O-Meter.

#2813: MSNBC.com- Martin Wolk
Eye on the Economy
Wolk looked at unique aspects of what’s happening in the economy and explained them very well. Economic issues often are written in cumbersome language, but Wolk’s Eye on the Economy would resonate with most Americans.

#2607: MarketWatch- David Callaway
Callaway’s columns tell readers quickly what they want to know. He gets right to the point, and in a very entertaining way. There wasn’t a throwaway column in this package.

Certificates of Merit
#2423: MSN Money- Liz Pulliam Weston
The Basics
This column has an approachable, to the point, matter-of-fact tone. Pulliam offers clarity for people to take action on what they read.

#2428: MSN Money- MP Dunleavey
The Women in Red
This is a conversational column, solid in content and delivery, that women would enjoy reading. We suspect that many women would read The Women in Red before anything else on the page.

ENTERPRISE – Small:

#2462: Times Union
TINY TOWN A ROOST TO BIG BAMBOOZLES — Scams usually make good copy, but this story looks at the subject through unexpected eyes — those of a tiny town that, by sheer accident of geography, has become Scam Central. Skillful telling of how this happened, why it works, the obstacles to stopping it and a town’s embarrassment. A real education for readers. Count us among those who will never ignore that return address again!

#2111: Arizona Daily Star
HIGH HOME PRICES MEAN JAIL, DUMP MAKE OK NEIGHBORS — Plenty of stories are written about skyrocketing real estate values. This one takes an unusual approach. It seems desperation to buy has resulted in a mass lowering of expectations. Location, location, location? Now, any location will do, even ones with views of real eyesores. Story provided strong insight into the effects of rising land cost and how location affects the costs of lots and homes. Interesting angle on the housing phenomenon, the kind of story readers really relate to. Worth a note: Graphic showing key eyesores and neighboring developments was well done and essential.

#2381: Ventura County Star
LEAVING VENTURA COUNTY — It’s not unusual for the hometown paper to write about an exodus of residents, but this reporter followed the flock to the end of the rainbow to ferret out the big attraction. Loved the comparison of communities by cost, weather, amenities, etc. Stories like this appeal to a huge number of readers because they literally hit us where we live — our homes. Gives readers a real sense of where they fit into the housing picture, and uses a cast of characters to allow readers to explore their dreams of cashing out. How do other people do it, and why? The answers are all here.

Judges:
Paige Oliver Taylor, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Joanne Kimberlin, The Virginian-Pilot
Getahn Ward, The Tennessean

ENTERPRISE – Medium:

#2641: The Virginian-Pilot
In a superb report, Allison Connolly of The Virginian-Pilot poses the question of "Is it fair?" that Native American tribes in Alaska are awarded lucrative federal contracts without competitive bidding. Her story examines all aspects of the issue, economic, political, social and historical. In a field of many worthy entries, this report stands above them all by bringing home to readers a compelling saga of the way of life for a people at the far end of the continent.

ENTERPRISE -- Large

# 2374: The Columbus Dispatch
A Life Unraveled by Jeffrey Sheban
A compelling, well sourced look at a swindler told as the story was still unfolding, this story has it all. The subject was so compelled to continue his illegal tactics that his did so nearly to the very day he took his life, yet authorities were unable to gain a handle on facts that Sheban’s story laid out clearly. An intimate portrait of a man gone wrong, the story managed under difficult circumstances to elicit comments not only from the perpetrator’s family, but from investigators and victims.

#2518: The Denver Post
A Denver Power Broker’s Life or Death Drama by Greg Griffin
Here is an example of great access to a man faced with a life-threatening choice: endanger his son or risk prison. It’s an extraordinary human tale from the inside. Without sacrificing the drama, this story examines the effects on two businesses as they intersect; a city’s leading law firm, and the transplant industry.

#2216: San Diego Union-Tribune
In Harm’s Way: Titan in Iraq by David Washburn and Bruce V. Bigelow
A behind-the-scenes look at Americans fighting the Iraq War as commercial workers, not as soldiers – forced into duty without the benefit of a uniform or an assigned weapon, with neither the training nor the protection. The reporters were able to draw remarkably damning statements out of the company’s key executives and managers – while at the same time telling the story of Titan Corp. workers on the ground. It is a rare, inside look at a national issue widely reported but poorly examined elsewhere.

ENTERPRISE – Giant:

#2627: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"Home Depot Skips on Philanthropy"
In the best tradition of watchdog journalism, Matt Kempner of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution looks beyond Home Depot's marketing and hype of corporate philanthropy to show the Atlanta-based company gives a far smaller percentage to charities than most corporations. The story was easy to follow and informative, delving both into why it is good business to donate as well as putting Home Depot's contributions into context.

#2439: The New York Times
"A Sordid Online World"
Kurt Eichenwald of The New York Times followed a tortuous series of shadowy leads to a dark neighborhood of the Internet, where cheap technology brings together young people and those sexually attracted to them. The result was an outstanding expose of the self-generated Internet child pornography business in "A Sordid Online World." Capping a six-month investigation, Eichenwald revealed a seamy section of the Web through the riveting story of Justin Berry, who was 13 when he was lured into becoming a cyberporn star in his own bedroom.

#2587: The Wall Street Journal
"Jet Green"
Mark Maremont's smartly reported "Jet Green" story in "The Wall Street Journal" neatly dissected and laid bare an expensive executive perk that ordinarily would have remained hidden. Maremont demonstrated that recent corporate scandals and subsequent demands for transparency haven't registered with some CEOs, whom he caught indulging their hobby at shareholder and taxpayer expense.

ENTERPRISE – Weekly:

#2123: Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal
A Deal Undone: The Unraveling of Atlanta’s Ownership Group By Bill King and John Lombardo
A thoroughly reported, well-written piece that lets us pull up a chair and watch as the art of the deal gives way to bruised egos, conflict and hard feelings. As the sub-headline promises, the reader indeed gets an "An Inside Look" -- at a failed (sports) marriage, with portrayals of the personalities and the motives behind the deal.

#2677: Crain’s Chicago Business
Image Trumps Reality in Urban Retail Rivalry By Sandra Jones
This story brings the reader into the often perplexing and contradictory politics of retailing and land development. A telling example of the divergent progress of Wal-Mart and its competitor, Target. The piece spotlights corporate strategy vs. politically correct activism, as well as the biases of unions and politicians for sometimes inconsistent reasons.

# 2244: Puget Sound Business Journal
Shifting Sands By Eric Engleman
An outstanding profile of an insurance man who seems more comfortable in body armor than shirt-and-tie. This is a well-reported, compelling piece of enterprise about a civilian soldier who has returned from Iraq with a changed perspective toward work, family and life itself -- a life no longer consumed by worries about staying alive for another day, but one in which he is no longer satisfied to remain a cubicle-dweller.

ENTERPRISE -- Real Time:

#2767: Associated Press
“ROWING AGAINST OFFSHORE”
This is good business journalism that goes beyond the problem and a well-executed look at an unusual twist of globalization: American companies trying to compete with overseas labor move big-city workers to cheaper real estate in Mayberry USA, were they find themselves slightly dazed but adapting. Story shed light on the latest tactic in the struggle to keep jobs afloat in America, and its end effect on employees. Culture shock was a fascinating aspect of the story — workers go from asphalt jungle to live elk outside the front office door. Story also revealed how much we’re all the same: Workers from India taking American jobs are worried about the Chinese taking theirs.

#2770: Associated Press
“HUMAN-ANIMAL MIXING”
Fascinating story about the unnerving science of mixing human and animal DNA. Brings readers to the outer edge of this kind of research, sparking debate for all kinds of moral and ethical issues. This story illuminates an area of science that is indeed stranger than fiction, which has the potential to snowball into a late-night horror movie. Some images will be unforgettable: A committee that recommends scientists instantly kill any hybrid mice/men that display human behavior. And this line: “What happens if a human mind somehow got trapped inside a sheep’s head?”
Haunting stuff.

#2106: Bloomberg News
“JP MORGAN…”
Took readers inside the world of municipal finance and shows how such financial transactions have implications for the public. Who knew that localities are costing citizens a fortune by making no-bid deals that are so complicated no one on the local level can grasp the fine print — unless they’re one of the insiders making a cut? Story skillfully breaks down an extremely complicated financial topic; Regular Joes facing the results pump life into what could otherwise be a dry “numbers” story. Parents are having to furnish soap for their kids' schools. An elderly woman can’t afford to flush her toilet more than once every other day. Those folks are a powerful contrast with Wall Street greed and the arrogance of the local officials, who seem astonished that anyone blames them. Makes you wonder what’s going on in your own town.

PROJECT -- Small:

#2769: Lexington Herald-Leader Wrong Side of the Track. By Janet Patton.
The judges were impressed by the way the writer exposed the lack of workers comp coverage provided to Kentucky’s low-paid and little-seen horse-racing workers by showing the industry’s failures through the personal stories of the workers themselves. Strong reporting and vivid story telling. The judges commend the reporter and the paper for aggressively reporting on a major industry in the Lexington area. The story appears to have had an impact.

#2814: Lexington Herald-Leader Win, Lose or Draw: Gambling for Jobs. By John Stamper, Bill Estep and Linda Blackford. This series exposed the systemic problems with Kentucky’s job-creation incentives and brought the impact to life though personal stories of the state’s residents.

PROJECT -- Medium

#2448: Charlotte Observer
"The Hard Truth in Lending" by Binyamin Appelbaum, Ted Mellnik and Rick Rothacker.
This three-day series, based on an extensive analysis of data on 2.2 million mortgages from 25 of the country's biggest lenders, showed that blacks who bought homes in 2004 were more likely than whites to get high interest rates for mortgage loans, even when blacks had substantially higher incomes. The series nimbly explored the possible root causes of these interest rate disparities while pointing toward solutions, calling for legislators to revamp how this country regulates and collects information on mortgage lending. Said one judge: "A topical bulls-eye, with a high news impact."

#2046: Des Moines Register
"On New Ground" by Philip Brasher, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Anne Fitzgerald and Lee Rood
Almost half of Iowa's farmland is owned by people over the age of 65. The pending massive transfer of farmland, to heirs and to private developers, weighs on Iowa's economy as well as its way of life. This is the subject of the Register's two-part project that combined fresh data analysis with great narrative storytelling to offer readers an engaging and thoughtful look on a topic of great relevance to its community. The Register also provided readers with the tools needed to express their own views on the subject, which included hosting a roundtable discussion. A highly readable and cohesive package.

PROJECT -- Large

#2027: The Seattle Times
“Drug researchers leak secrets to Wall Street”
Discovered something new. A groundbreaking work, with diligent, thorough, hard-nosed reporting. Balanced and rich in detail. Innovative use of graphics and web. Very informative work.

#2484: Rocky Mountain News
“The PERA Puzzle”
A striking piece of investigative journalism. Truly revealing. Hard work and time went into this. A challenging and timely subject thoroughly reported.

#2378: The Columbus Dispatch
“White Pearls”
One of the best written entries. Very well explained and drawn out. Nice structure, pictures and graphics. A timely story, tying local with global angles.

PROJECT -- Weekly

#2250: Puget Sound Business Journal
“The Road from Cuautla”
Very original work. Breaking ground. Big, important and timely subject. Well written and structured. Good detail, especially color and personal angles.
#2202: Jacksonville Business Journal
“Disappearances Leave Mystery”
Am very different angle for a business story. Detailed research, especially with Coast Guard reports. Good graphics and pictures. Well structured.

#2791: Orlando Business Journal
“’Outrageous’ insurance claims”
A timely subject, well explored. Terrific map and graphics.

PROJECT – Giant:

#2623: The Atlanta Journal Constitution
"Borrower Beware: Why Georgia is a bad place to borrow money" by Ann Hardie, Alan Judd and Carrie Teegardin
An incisive, authoritative examination of lending practices in Georgia that favor creditors over consumers, including one of the fastest foreclosure processes, highest finance charges on small loans and most lax lending regulatory systems in the country. Among the results: One of the country's highest personal bankruptcy filing rates and record numbers of state residents losing their homes. This AJC package had it all: thorough reporting, great narrative, effective use of graphics, resources boxes and sidebar elements that made the package as reader-friendly as it was compelling. "Teeming with excellence," commented one judge.

#2444: The New York Times
"Flawed Design: Patients at Risk" by Barry Meier
It's easier to find out information on your car than on a medical device that's implanted in your body. So reveals Barry Meier in a series of reports on how Guidant Corp. kept data about flaws in its heart defibrillators from doctors and the public. Starting with the case of a 21-year-old college student who died from the defibrillator defect, Meier developed the issue into a wide-ranging look at the lack of guidelines governing how much device makers are required to disclose to federal regulators and physicians. Meier's exhaustively reported coverage had tremendous impact, leading to product recalls, a Food and Drug Administration investigation and a disrupted merger with Johnson & Johnson.

#2163: Washington Post
"Medical Device Reprocessors" by Alec Klein
A well-written look at U.S. hospitals' increasing use of reconditioned medical devices such as cardiac catheters intended for one-time use only. Klein's series documented patient injuries - and one death - attributable to reused devices, and the economic forces behind their growing use (hospitals can buy reused devices at a fraction of the cost for new; and a host of entrepreneurs smelled those potential profits). He also illuminated the lack of regulatory oversight of reused devices, which even showed up for sale on eBay. Klein's reporting resulted in a Government Accountability Office investigation, congressional action and moved the reprocessing industry to change their position and support disclosure to patients of the use of reconditioned devices in surgery.

PROJECT – Real-Time:

#2108: Bloomberg News
“Big Pharma’s Shameful Secret” by David Evans, Michael Smith and Liz Willen.
A fabulous piece of work, top to bottom. A blockbuster investigative reporting package that exposed systemic problems with the nation’s clinical drug trial system and the impact on trial participants, who were often from low-income and minority communities.

 

SECTION – Small:

#2099: Daily Press (Newport News, VA)
The judges found that this business department did a good job of covering issues that affect area residents. The "Cost of Being Poor" took on a topic that was important to the city. The story was presented well, and, it had a strong photo that looked neither posed nor contrived. We also liked the piece on the port chief's pay. That was a nice scoop. We also found that there was good coverage during the week, whereas many sections tend to save all their stories for the weekend.

We liked the placement of the market indices. The thin rail provided the information needed, but did not take up valuable space since most readers probably already know the previous day’s market close. Graphics were used well and gave the section a pulled-together appeal.

#2321: The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, CA)
The judges did not need to see where this paper was based to know that it was somewhere in wine country. We felt that the department did a good job of establishing identity and covering the issues that were important to the community. Among the standouts: the tourism report and the piece about migrant workers being forced to sleep outdoors.

We liked the locally generated briefs - a sign of a hard-working staff that isn't defaulting to wire. There aren't a lot of graphics or graphic elements to the section, but when they are used, they are used well.

#2598: Scranton Times Tribune
This is the little paper that could.
The Outlook 2005 was a well-executed section that offered a lot of information, although one judge felt that it may have been a little too much. The only detractor was the wish that the numbers in the photo key were added to the mug shots on the side rails. That would have been a nice addition to identifying all the players faster.

We felt the section was fairly strong considering it was relegated to the back page. That would explain the lack of jumps and the need to make every story self-contained. One disappointment, the wire story on AOL/Time Warner with the static and boring wire photo. As evidenced by the expression of the woman standing on the left, it just seemed to say "don't read me."

#2772: The State (Columbia, SC)
We felt the piece on immigrant brothers who died in a construction accident was a compelling piece of journalism that showed how business reporting can step out of its box and still be relevant to the industry.

The entire report had great art and a great presentation. We felt this business department did the big story well and the small story well. We liked the little extras such as the Daily Report and What the Boss Makes. The Daily Report was fun and its placement by the stock tables is a nice reward for people who dig that far back.

We liked the use of graphics in the briefs rail; it broke up the type and provided more information. The use of white space around the headlines was also a nice touch, as was using the markets info across the top of the page where it is more efficient.

#2815: Mobile Register
We were impressed that the staff took on the CAFTA piece. It was a nice touch to see the paper tell its reader that was playing out in South America had relevance to Alabama.

We enjoyed seeing the Katrina impact stories on the used car and nursery industry. It would have been easy for the staff just to call around to businesses and do a general piece on the aftermath of the storm, but it was nice to key into two specific areas.

It was impressive to see the number of business stories that made it to the front page and to the section front. Someone is paying attention to the value of good stories, regardless of what department is generating the piece. However, because the business and local departments share a section, it would be nice to see a teaser on the section front, or front page, that tells readers "for more business stories, turn to page X." By the way, we loved the orange dots.

SECTION – Medium:

#2511: Boston Herald
The Boston Herald business section stood out for its fresh approach, its consistently strong writing, and its original news content. As a tabloid, the business section is placed fairly far back in the paper, so editors are challenged to make business news stand out from page 35. They succeeded with lively stories that never went ‘over the top.’ The paper’s use of graphics was substantial. Unconventional coverage included a piece on executive pay and what workman compensation claims pay for specific job-related injuries.

#2289: Des Moines Register
The Des Moines Register business section provided readers with a valuable sense of place. The pages of the section were crisp and clear and its efforts clearly supported by the paper as a whole based on its front-page presence. The section itself effectively used color and design and was consistently well-reported. Further, the business team showed tremendous in-depth enterprise, particularly with its special section on the dramatic change in the land ownership of the state and its changing agricultural industry.

#2302: Seattle Post Intelligencer
The Seattle Post Intelligencer looked often to its business team to contribute to the front page, including one entry that featured all business news. Its daily reporting was exceptionally strong. While its section was not special looking, it was filled with aggressive, hard hitting stories about the companies in its market. A breaking news story about a change in leadership at Boeing – covered nationally – was particularly noteworthy because its reporting showed the paper was plugged in to the company at a deep level. The section did not feature a lot of ‘bells and whistles’ but wins on its consistently strong content.

#2752: Virginian Pilot
The Virginian-Pilot excelled in explanatory journalism. Its stories regularly had useful graphics, breakout boxes that told what the story meant, and used other tools to help draw the reader in. Equally important, those elements dovetailed nicely with story text. Reporting was solid and generally aggressive, and news stories consistently featured strong leads that further helped to draw readers in.

Certificate of Merit
#2715: Florida Times-Union
The Florida Times-Union receives an honorable mention for its lively Monday section. At a time when many papers have discontinued the Monday business tabloid, Jacksonville continues to reach out to its business community. Its front page art was strong while the inside played to local businesses with columns and items about business personalities. It also effectively used rails and breakouts.

SECTION – Large:

#2447: The San Jose Mercury News:
"...for its global perspective, as illustrated in its coverage of Intel's search for foreign assembly sites; its innovative use of the Web, especially by allowing readers to download and search its executive pay coverage; and its ability to make technology topics both comprehensive and reader-friendly, as demonstrated in its introduction to podcasting."

#2021: The Seattle Times:
"...for its continuing excellence in covering Boeing, a core hometown employer; its superlative use of informative and eye-catching word graphics and its fresh approach to consumer service, especially its well-executed and authoritative guide to navigating the automated phone systems at dozens of important local companies and organizations."

#2104: The Kansas City Star:
"...for its savvy, vigorous efforts to localize national trends and news events; its reliance on strong staff-written stories; and its willingness to commit resources to ground-breaking investigations, especially its smart, thorough examination of shrinking refinery capacity."

#2268: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
"...for putting local news events into a national context; its broad and surprising mix of stories, with topics ranging from biomedical research rats to entertainment, from energy conservation to sheet-music publishing; and for its courageous handling of sensitive matters on its own doorstep, including a lawsuit alleging circulation fraud that was filed against the paper itself."

Certificate of Merit
#2068: Cleveland Plain Dealer:
"...for exceptional reader service, illustrated by its special sections, especially "Brick by Brick"; its information-rich graphic on detecting consumer scams; and its excellent weekly BusinessMonday sections."

SECTION – Giant

#2390: The New York Times
consistently distinguishes itself with the breath and depth of its business coverage. Aggressive reporting often breaks important news and brings original perspectives. A strong lineup of columnists and well-executed graphics round out an excellent section.

#2591: Minneapolis Star Tribune
provided its readers with robust coverage of local businesses and economic issues. Produced excellent takeouts, many of them presented on the paper’s front page. Stood out for reader-friendly graphics and lively presentation.

#2458: Philadelphia Inquirer
stands out for the excellence of its business and economic columnists. Its business staff also delivered high-impact investigative work along with its smart coverage of local business and economic news. Did a particularly good job of tying in online content to its coverage.

#2186: San Francisco Chronicle
covers the business waterfront, often with imagination and originality. Strong commitment to info-tech and bio-tech coverage serves its readership well. Both its day-to-coverage and special reports are well-conceived and creatively executed.

#2383: USA Today
excels in its smart story selection. Readers get a great mix of the must-read news plus ahead-of-the-pack treatment of trends and issues. Concise writing and compelling graphics add to the section’s usefulness.

Certificate of Merit
#2330: The Newark Star-Ledger
For excellence in specialized coverage. The Newark Star-Ledger’s aggressive and analytical coverage of Merck’s travails set it apart as a leader in reporting on the pharmaceutical industry. Delved expertly into the legal and business issues, and explained it all well with clear writing.

#2177: The Boston Globe
For excellence in a special section. The Boston Globe’s “A Guide to Tickets” was an enlightening and entertaining package. Combined serious economic analysis with practical and original information about how to track down a hard-to-get ticket.

SECTION – Weekly:

#2210: Puget Sound Business Journal
Puget Sound Business Journal: "Impressive and creative enterprise stories. The Seattle monorail examination was deep yet highly accessible. One of the few papers to look at immigrants and their effect on the economy; the Seattle/Mexico business connection piece was a fine read. Nice use of photos and graphics. Also: An emphasis on quality writing was clear. The stories are crafted, not just reported.

#2638: Crain's Chicago Business
Crain's Chicago Business: "The special 'Focus' section on the 10 most powerful families in Chicago was a great piece of journalism. Who knew the Wrigley’s had such vast holdings in California and Arizona? Nothing shows a paper knows its community like this kind of depth on local history. Overall, Crain's Chicago makes good use of art elements such as graphs and charts, and gets the most possible from every posed-executive photo – not an easy feat. The writing is learned and sharp. It's especially strong across industry coverage that reported on financial markets, media, and consumer products. The headlines are bold. And there's a willingness to go hard at the big Chicago institutions. The front-pager on Sears gutting its philanthropic budget after the Kmart takeover was fine stuff."

#2012: Triangle Business Journal
Triangle Business Journal: "Enterprising and authoritative. Its comprehensive coverage of corporate tax credits was excellent, tracking not only who got the benefits but why they often failed to create lasting new jobs as intended. In particular, it's coverage of Collins & Aikman, which cut its workforce by 70 percent while generating the state's most tax credits. Other coverage of real estate, finance and company news was consistently solid. Its reporting on a biotech company that spent $100 million developing a drug with disastrous results was another stand-out. Like others that are among the best, this presented stories as a weekly, not just catching up with the dailies."

#2071: Atlanta Business Chronicle
Atlanta Business Chronicle: "Gave readers a lot to dig into every week. Its exhaustive news coverage offered something for everyone. Aggressive corporate coverage, excellent real estate reporting and a strong exclusive on city corruption were front-page highlights. The industry-specific special sections (i.e. - Too Much Office Space?) were real solid. Nice job putting a staffer on the restaurant and hospitality beat. And "The Insider's" society-page influence is a nice touch. We bet Atlanta execs turn to that page every week looking for themselves and their friends."

#2306: Washington Business Journal
Washington Business Journal: "Wow. What a power-packed cover. The bold headline treatment for the featured cover package is great. The "Out of Control" piece on the stress from overcrowding in D.C. Metro area was excellent. Fed government regulatory stuff has its appropriate representation, but it doesn't overwhelm the paper. With the InnerLoop feature on cover, right away you know the staff is in on the buzz.

Certificate of Merit
#2373: Pacific Coast Business Times
"Talk about really knowing your community. A true sense of "place" is evident here – no cookie-cutter look or feel, which hampered some of the other entries. The mudslide coverage was very good."

Judges: Cosmo Macero Jr. - Assistant ME for business news, Boston Herald
Steve Syre - Columnist, Boston Globe
Susan Moeller - News editor, Cape Cod Times