Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: The Beach Reporter Entry Title: Kindness cover Entry Credit: Paul Kryczko Judge Comment: Use of color, balance, imagery and originality make this cover a clear winner.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: The Ark Entry Title: The Ark - Special Section Cover Entry Credit: Kevin Hessel Judge Comment: Clean, impactful design that draws the reader in with a well-defined focus and strong images.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Trinity Journal Entry Title: Wildfire, Almanac, Veterans Entry Credit: Wayne Agner, Tony Reed, Tracy Reiner Judge Comment: With a cover photo like this you don't need much else, and the designer recognized that. The lack of clutter and a clear message, make this entry a stand out.
Place Name: Fourth Place Contestant Name: Comstock's Magazine Entry Title: City of Stockton, McClellan Park, Greater Sacramento Entry Credit: Marissa Lewis, Eva Roethler, Jennifer Junghans Judge Comment: Good, clean design, but lacks the "read me" element.
Place Name: Fifth Place Contestant Name: The Business Journal Entry Title: SJV Ag/ Diversity in Business/How She Leads Entry Credit: Gabriel Dillard, Jessica Surrett, Ram Reyes Judge Comment: The initial cover in this entry is the best, but they progressively lose impact and the third (diversity) is a hodgepodge that does nothing to compell me as a reader.
