Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: The Ark Entry Title: "Harbormaster works to restore order out on Richardson Bay" Entry Credit: Gretchen Lang Judge Comment: A great feature story can take a very complicated issue and present it in a way that helps everyday readers understand. This is done to perfection in this lengthy feature story -- which doesn't "feel" long at all because of the way it flows and is interspersed with descriptions and quotations. So well done. Readers were able to understand the issue and also understand the people on both sides of something that cannot be described in just a few sentences.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Santa Ynez Valley Star Entry Title: Your Own Backyard Entry Credit: Raiza Giorgi Judge Comment: The best feature stories not only entertain but also inform. This great piece of journalism not only gives a nice look at the podcast but sheds light on new aspects of the main subject. I live on the other coast of the United States, and I had heard of this case. I imagine that for local readers, this was a great deep-dive that gave a new, fresh look.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: After Five: The North State Magazine Entry Title: Summer of '85 - A Look Back at the Filming of Stand By Me Entry Credit: Aaron Williams, Ron Harrington, Craig Harrington Judge Comment: Wonderful look at a movie that is still a fan favorite today. Adding the local interviews and showing the local tie-ins made this a wonderful read.
Place Name: Fourth Place Contestant Name: Siskiyou Daily News Entry Title: Escaping from the Slater Fire: ‘It was like Armageddon’ Entry Credit: Skye Kinkade Judge Comment: When we think of feature stories, we tend to think of stories of fluffy, happy things. This is a great example of a news feature, where we can see how these folks escaped a fire, almost step by step. The story was well-written, and the related links on your Website to all the other coverage of the fire was a perfect addition for your readers.
Place Name: Fifth Place Contestant Name: The Cambrian Entry Title: Firefighter uses sand art to cope with stress. Now he’s beautifying SLO County beaches Entry Credit: Kathe Tanner Judge Comment: Well-written feature that gives me a glimpse into the work of a man whose work I didn't even know was a "thing." I felt like I personally knew this man by the time I finished the story.
