Complete list of finalists

Story updated on Feb. 25, 2009, 1:59 p.m. CST

A total of 70 people judged the 2008 contest entries. These are the finalists for the writing awards. The top five places and honorable mention will be announced by April 1.

Congratulations to the finalists!

SECTIONS (complete) | WRITING (complete)

BREAKING NEWS

Greg Bishop and Pete Thamel, New York Times
Joey Bunch and Mike Klis, Denver Post
Liz Clarke and Amy Shipley, Washington Post
Brian Costa, Miami Herald
Joe Drape, New York Times
Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times
Todd Holcomb, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald
Jere Longman and Juliet Macur, New York Times
Darren Sabedra and Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News

COLUMNS

John Canzano, Oregonian
Bob Ford, Philadelphia Inquirer
Dave Hyde, Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Mark Kiszla, Denver Post
Joe Posnanski, Kansas City Star
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times
William C. Rhoden, New York Times
Michael Rosenberg, Detroit Free Press
Jeff Schultz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jim Souhan, Minneapolis Star Tribune

EXPLANATORY

FEATURES

Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times
Daniel Brown, San Jose Mercury News
Karen Crouse, New York Times
Mike Garafolo, Newark Star-Ledger
Stan Grossfield, Boston Globe
Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald
Mark Kram, Philadelphia Daily News
Michael Lee, Washington Post
Bill Lubinger, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Kevin Van Valkenburg, Baltimore Sun

GAME STORY

Chuck Culpepper, Los Angeles Times
Gordon Edes, Boston Globe
Mark Emmons, San Jose Mercury News
Steve Hummer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kevin Manahan, Newark Star-Ledger
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times
Linda Robertson, Miami Herald
Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune
Jerry Zgoda, Minneapolis Star Tribune

PROJECTS

Mike Klingaman, Rick Maese, Bill Ordine, Kevin Van Valkenburg and Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun
Shira Springer, Boston Globe
Blair Kerkoff, Brady McCollough, Joe Posnanski, Bill Reiter, Howard Richman and Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times
Wayne Coffey, New York Daily News
Rachel Bachman, Oregonian
Andrea Adelson and Chris Olds, Orlando Sentinel
Bob Brookover, Ray Parrillo, Ashley Fox and Bob Ford, Philadelphia Inquirer
Kevin Vaughan, Rocky Mountain News
Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union Tribune

BREAKING NEWS

Sam Borden, Journal News, White Plains, N.Y.
Ed Bouchette and Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Christina DeNardo and Jason Lieser, Palm Beach Post
Dustin Dow, Cincinnati Enquirer
Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tom Gage, Detroit News
Chris Givens, Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Sean Jensen, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune
Jake Trotter, Oklahoman

COLUMNS

Tom Archdeacon, Dayton Daily News
Rick Bozich, Louisville Courier-Journal
Jenni Carlson, Oklahoman
Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati Enquirer
Martin Fennelly, Tampa Tribune
Joe Henderson, Tampa Tribune
Bob Klapisch, Record, Hackensack, N.J.
Gary Peterson, Contra Costa Times
Greg Stoda, Palm Beach Post
Mark Story, Lexington Herald-Leader

EXPLANATORY

Mark Alesia, Indianapolis Star
Jeff Duncan, New Orleans Times-Picayune
Joe Henderson, Joey Johnston, Ira Kaufman, Anwar S. Richardson, Bill Ward and Nick Williams, Tampa Tribune
George Hostetter, Fresno Bee
Lisa Houk, Fresno Bee
Ed Miller, Virginian-Pilot
Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register
Bill Rabinowitz, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
Ross Siler, Salt Lake Tribune
Kelsie Smith, St. Paul Pioneer Press

FEATURES

Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post
Reid Forgrave, Des Moines Register
Vicki Friedman, Virginian-Pilot
Ron Green Jr., Charlotte Observer
Ron Kantowski, Las Vegas Sun
David Poole, Charlotte Observer
Sandy Ringer, Seattle Times
Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News
Ross Siler, Salt Lake Tribune
Marek Warszawski, Fresno Bee

GAME STORY

Bob Baptist, Columbus Dispatch
Scott Cacciola, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Gary D'Amato, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Michael DiRocco, Florida Times-Union
Brian Dohn, Los Angeles Daily News
John Eradi, Cincinnati Enquirer
Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Michael C. Lewis, Salt Lake Tribune
Bryce Miller, Des Moines Register
Mike Waters, Syracuse Post-Standard

PROJECTS

Jon Solomon, Ray Melick, Steve Irvine, Charles Goldberg, Doug Segrest and Mike Perrin, Birmingham News
Dan Johnson, Des Moines Register
Dom Amore, Paul Doyle and Jeff Jacobs, Hartford Courant
Mark Alesia, Indianapolis Star
Jennie Rees, Greg Hall and Andrew Wolfson, Louisville Courier Journal
Berry Tramel, Jake Trotter and John Helsley, Oklahoman
Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Sean Jensen and Tom Powers, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Kurt Kragthorpe, Michael C. Lewis, Steve Luhm, Tony Jones, Martin Renzhofer, Maggie Thatch, Lya Wodraska and Gordon Monson, Salt Lake Tribune
Nick Perry, Bob Condotta and Ken Armstrong, Seattle Times

BREAKING NEWS

David Birkett, Oakland Press
Pete Dougherty, Albany (N.Y.) Times Union
Gentry Estes, Mobile (Ala.) Register
Bob Heist, Lafayette (La.) Daily Advertiser
Todd Henrichs, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star
Jeffrey Martin, Wichita (Kan.) Eagle
Patrick Obley, Columbia (S.C.) State
Mike Sullivan, Jay Paris, North County (Calif.) Times
Dan Wiederer, Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
Evan Woodbury, Mobile (Ala.) Register

COLUMNS

Jeff Carroll, South Bend (Ind.) Tribune
Lowell Cohn, Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat
Randy Kennedy, Mobile (Ala.) Press Register
Peter Kerasotis, Florida Today
Ron Morris, Columbia (S.C.) State
Bob Padecky, Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat
Jay Paris, North County (Calif.) Times
George Schroeder, Eugene (Ore.) Register-Guard
David Teel, Newport News (Va.) Daily Press
Kirk Wessler, Peoria (Ill.) Journal-Star

EXPLANATORY

Eric Branch, Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat
Bob Heist, Lafayette (La.) Daily Advertiser
Brian Hiro, North County (Calif.) Times
Sal Interdonato, Middletown (N.Y.) Times Herald-Record
Rob Moseley, Eugene (Ore.) Register Guard
Chris Murray, Reno (Nev.) Gazette-Journal
Brian Rosenthal and Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star
Paul Suellentrop, Wichita (Kan.) Eagle
Allen Vaughan, Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader
Dan Wiederer, Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer

FEATURES

Mike Fowler, Palm Springs Desert Sun
Adam Jude, Eugene (Ore.) Register-Guard
Paul Klee, Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette
Scott Hotard, Naples (Fla.) Daily News
Patrick Obley, Columbia (S.C.) State
David Ramsey, Colorado Springs Gazette
Jerry Reimenschneider, Reading (Pa.) Eagle
Frank Schwab, Colorado Springs Gazette
Scott Venci, Green Bay Press Gazette
Norm Wood, Newport News (Va.) Daily Press

GAME STORY

Brian Christopherson, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star
Gareth Clary, Mobile (Ala.) Register
Brian Hiro, North County (Calif.) Times
Mark Inabinett, Mobile (Ala.) Register
Mark Lazerus, Merriville Post-Tribune
Mike Lowe, Portland Press Herald
Jeffery Martin, Wichita (Kan.) Eagle
Todd Shanesy, Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald-Journal
Annabelle Tometich, Fort Myers (Fla.) News-Press
Dan Wiederer, Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer

PROJECTS

Canton Repository
Ron Morris, Columbia (S.C.) State
Scott M. Johnson, Everett Herald
Brian McCallum, Florida Today
Kevin Witt, Kevin Gleason and Justin Rodriguez, Middletown Times Herald-Record
Nate Ulrich, Munster Times
David Teel, Newport News (Va.) Daily Press
Don Doxsie, Craig DeVrieze, Steve Batterson, Andrew Petersen and Eric Page, Quad City Times
Jason Gilmer, Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald-Journal
Kary Booher, Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader

BREAKING NEWS

Brian Bainum, Marin Independent Journal
Ross Dellenger, Decatur (Ala.) Daily
Matt Muench, Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle
Scott Petrak, Elyria Chronicle Telegram
Patrick Ridgell, Daily Times-Call, Longmont, Colo.
Steve Rivera, Tucson (Ariz.) Citizen
Brian T. Smith, Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier
Austin Ward, Casper (Wyom.) Star Tribune
Jason Wolf, Danville (Va.) Register & Bee
Mitch Worthington, Midland (Texas) Reporter-Telegram

COLUMNS

Rick S. Alvord, Longview (Wash.) Daily News
Chris Carlson, Berkshire (Mass.) Eagle
Cory Giger, Altoona (Pa.) Mirror
Anthony Gimino, Tucson (Ariz.) Citizen
Jim Ingraham, Willoughby (Ohio) News-Herald
Jeff Kidd, Hilton Head (S.C.) Island Packet
Jason Lloyd, Lorain (Ohio) Morning Journal
Patrick Obley, Charlotte (Fla.) Sun
Mark Patton, Santa Barbara News-Press
Nick Pietruskiewicz, Northwest (Ill.) News Group

EXPLANATORY

Todd M. Adams, Aurora (Ill.) Beacon News
Cory Giger, Altoona (Pa.) Mirror
Brian Howell, Longmont (Colo.) Daily Times-Call
Justin Jackson, Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
Justin Jarrett, Hilton Head (S.C.) Island Packet
Gary Kalahar, Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot
Jim Seimas, Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel
Pete Tobey, Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
David Ubben, Columbia Missourian
Austin Ward, Casper (Wyom.) Star-Tribune

FEATURES

Rick S. Alvord, Longview (Wash.) Daily News
Spencer Campbell, Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier
Tim Flagstad, Idaho State Journal
Justin Jarrett, Hilton Head (S.C.) Island Packet
Jason Lloyd, Lorain (Ohio) Morning Journal
Alex Pavlovic, Santa Barbara News Press
Kellis Robinett, Idaho State Journal
Joe Sunnen, Bellingham (Wash.) Herald
Christa Turner, Anniston Star
Dave Zeitlin, West Chester (Pa.) Daily Local News

GAME STORY

Scott Chancey, Albany (Ga.) Herald
Mick Colagelo, New Bedford (Mass.) Standard-Times
Tim Flagstad, Idaho State Journal
Paul LaTour, Naperville (Ill.) Sun
Ryan Moses, Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel
Chip Mundy, Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot
Patrick Ridgell, Longmont (Colo.) Daily Times-Call
Mitch Rupert, Press Enterprise, Bloomsburg, Pa.
Steve Sherlock, Lewiston (Maine) Sun Journal
Justin Williams, Longmont (Colo.) Daily Times-Call

PROJECTS

Paul Dehner, Albany (Ga.) Herald
Buck Frank, Altoona (Pa.) Mirror
Justin Jarrett, Hilton Head (S.C.) Island Packet
Josh Land, Bob Blubaugh and Patrick Stoetzer, Carroll County (Md.) Times
Austin Ward, Casper (Wyom.) Star-Tribune
Tim McManus and Kate Fagan, Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
Justin Williams, Longmont (Colo.) Daily Times-Call
Dan Woessner, Brian Weidman and Ty Reynolds, Sauk Valley (Ill.) Newspapers
Brian Plasters, Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun
Tommy Deas, Jason Morton and Robert DeWitt, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News

INVESTIGATIVE

Jim Carty, John Heuser, Nathan Fenno and Dave Gershman, Ann Arbor News
Gary Jacobson and Jason Trahan, Dallas Morning News
Bud Withers and Ken Armstrong, Seattle Times
Josh Margolin and Ted Sherman, Newark Star-Ledger
Michael O'Keefe, Christian Red, Teri Thompson and Nathaniel Vinton, New York Daily News
Scott M. Reid and Dan Albano, Orange County Register
Bill Moushey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ross Siler, Tony Semerad and Michael C. Lewis, Salt Lake Tribune
Brent Schrotenboer and Eleanor Yang Su, San Diego Union-Tribune
Jill Leiber Steeg, Erick Brady, Jodi Upton, Patrick Bohn, Steve Berkowitz, Michael McCarthy, A.J. Perez, Kristen Novak, Alex Newman and Garrett Hubbard, USA Today

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