Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Half Moon Bay Review Entry Title: Sept. 22 and Sept. 29 Entry Credit: Staff of the Half Moon Bay Review Judge Comment: The Half Moon Bay Review is newsy and lots of fun to read. Staff written — and signed — editorials take on local issues and are well crafted. Of particular note is its Page 2 "The Inside Story," which I suspect is the best read page of each edition. It's a talker from top to bottom.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: The Ark Entry Title: The Ark - General Excellence Entry Credit: Kevin Hessel, Ark Staff Judge Comment: The Ark is filled with news you can use. From transit schedules, recipes, how to use the library and activities. Government coverage is meaty. The Ark makes its photos as important as its words.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Ojai Valley News Entry Title: Friday Sept. 3; Friday Sept. 10 Entry Credit: Perry Van Houten, Grant Phillips, Marianne Ratcliff, Laura Rearwin Ward Judge Comment: The Ojai Valley News gives readers what they like to talk about: crime, courts and politics. And lots of it. Perry Van Houten alone wrote eight stories of substance. Garage sales map is a rate treat. The archive page with an ask for money to make the archive searchable was a tasteful call for action.
Place Name: Fourth Place Contestant Name: Claremont Courier Entry Title: February Claremont Courier editions Entry Credit: Peter Weinberger, Steven Felschundneff, Mick Rhodes Rhodes, Andrew Alonzo Judge Comment: The Clairemont Courier's commitment to photography is evident with its large cover photos and photos that accompany nearly every story. The photo of the the gridlock from the snow frenzy and its nicely explained caption exemplify "a picture is worth a thousand words."
Place Name: Fifth Place Contestant Name: Lincoln News Messenger Entry Title: Lincoln News Messenger Sept. 16 and Sept. 23, 2021 Entry Credit: Carol , Shaden Solanji Judge Comment: The Lincoln News Messenger mixes news and features with little delineation. Editorials are story based not opinion based. Headlines are inviting: "Hank so goofy and lovable" on the dog of the week. Well done getting a sponsor for Car Talk.
