Entries chosen as finalists in the 2005 Alternative Newsweekly Awards include stories of sexual wrongdoing, injustice, newspaper circulation fraud, homeland security and more. Among the honored entries are a critique of filmmaker Michael Moore, commentary on the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, photos of war zones and nightlife, and “Best of” issues.

Of the 97 papers that entered the contest, 70 are being honored in at least one category. L.A. Weekly is ahead of the pack with 10 finalists. In its size division, the next highest number of finalists from a single paper was four. Houston Press gathered that number of recognitions.

Three papers in the smaller size division have six finalists each. They are Folio Weekly of Jacksonville, Fla., Independent Weekly of Durham, N.C., and The Texas Observer. Orlando Weekly has five finalists, and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y., four.

This is the 10th year of the annual awards, which recognize the best work in the 123 newsweeklies that belong to the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. The order of finish will be announced at an awards luncheon to be held June 17 at the AAN annual convention in San Diego. Dan Savage, sex advice columnist and editor of Seattle’s The Stranger, will host the luncheon.

This year a dozen people will accept more than one award. Writer Jeffrey C. Billman of Orlando Weekly, who won three awards last year, is a finalist in three categories again this year: Format Buster, Media Reporting/Criticism and News Story–Short Form.

Named as finalists twice are an illustrator, Rick Sealock, and three art directors: Kris Adams of Charleston City Paper, Karen Steichen of Seattle Weekly, and Don Eggert of Seven Days. Eight writers are named twice: Susan Cooper Eastman of Folio Weekly, Steve Fennessy of Creative Loafing (Atlanta), Terje Langeland of Colorado Springs Independent, Josh Harkinson of Houston Press, Chris Herrington of The Memphis Flyer, Paul Bass of New Haven Advocate, Paul Rubin of Phoenix New Times and Christopher Twarowski of Long Island Press.

Finalists include an unidentified prison inmate who wrote a column from behind bars (Anonymous, Pittsburgh City Paper), the winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting (Nigel Jaquiss, Willamette Week) and both of the writers selected for AAN’s winter/spring 2004 Diversity Internship grants (Abraham Mahshie, San Antonio Current, and Ayana Taylor, Jackson Free Press).

Finalists are listed in alphabetical order by newspaper. If five finalists are listed in any given division and category, it indicates there is a tie. Links to the winning articles will be added as entrants submit them.

Even if an alt-weekly’s particular entry doesn’t appear below, at least one judge may have championed it. Judges’ complimentary remarks and constructive criticism will be made available to entrants in late June.

ARTS CRITICISM

Circulation < 50,000

• Film Reviews: “All in the Family,” “The Passion of Michael Moore” and “Preaching to the Choir,” Nicholas Collias, Boise Weekly
• Film Reviews: “Persian Crack-Up,” “The Prodigal Father” and “Of Stars and Skies,” Godfrey Cheshire, Independent Weekly
• Theater Reviews: “Hurts So Good,” “Hot for Alien Trannies” and “Fun for All,” Ryan Masters, Monterey County Weekly
• Book Reviews: “Daddies Dearest” and “No News is Bad News,” Margot Harrison, Seven Days

Circulation > 50,000

• Television Reviews: “Prime Jane,” “Adventures in the Skin Trade” and “Smooth Operators,” Joyce Millman, Boston Phoenix
• Reviews of Film, Art and Music: “No Pain, No Gain,” “Bare-Naked Lady” and “A Nice Set of Pipes,” Kent Williams, Isthmus
• Book and Film Reviews: “From Latvia With Love,” “Agent Provocateur” and “The Red Stuff,” Brendan Bernhard, L.A. Weekly
• Film Reviews: “About a Boy,” “Lands of Milk and Honey” and “Crying Time,” John Powers, L.A. Weekly

ARTS FEATURE

Circulation < 50,000

• “Seeking Son House,” Rich Gardner, City Newspaper
• “Jingle Bell Crock,” Susan Cooper Eastman, Folio Weekly
• “The Conversation Artist,” John Rodat, Metroland
• “Twas Awe Like a Tewibble Dweam,” Dave Hickey, The Texas Observer
• “Artistic Warning,” Margaret Regan, Tucson Weekly

Circulation > 50,000

• “The 60 Million Dollar Man,” Steve Fennessy, Creative Loafing (Atlanta)
• “Paint by Numbers,” Andrea Grimes, Dallas Observer
• “The Lighter Side of Torture,” Casey Logan, The Pitch
• “Lunatic Fringe,” Michael Little, Washington City Paper

CARTOON

Fewer than five publications

• “Lance Boyle,” Kirk Anderson
• “Hoagie Dip,” Jay Bevenour
• “BEK,” Bruce Eric Kaplan
• “Topics,” Harley Schwadron
• “Slowpoke,” Jen Sorensen

Five or more publications

• “The City,” Derf (John Backderf)
• “Tom the Dancing Bug,” Ruben Bolling (Ken Fisher)
• “No Exit,” Andy Singer
• “Sutton Impact,” Ward Sutton

COLUMN

Circulation < 50,000

• Citizen’s Journal: “Driving Lessons,” “Sunday Mourning & the Moral Mandate” and “Hate Group Groupie?”, Mark Kelly, Birmingham Weekly (PDF file)
• The XX Files: “Steal Away,” “[Expletive Deleted]” and “Tainted Love,” Jennifer Loviglio, City Newspaper
• “Pecking Order,” “It’s About Time” and “Going Out of Style,” Melinda Ruley, Independent Weekly
• Danehy: “If a Kid Doesn’t Go to High School,” “Don’t Believe What Some Idiot Lawyers Say” and “May Ronald Reagan Rest in Peace,” Tom Danehy, Tucson Weekly

Circulation > 50,000

• Courtside: “What They See and What They Don’t,” “The Grand Inquisitor” and “Justice Junkies,” Steve Bogira, Chicago Reader
• KC Strip: “Jail Baited,” “Star Stuck” and “Dream On, Chiquita,” Tony Ortega, The Pitch
• Downing: “Watching You,” “A Dog’s Life” and “Up in the Air,” Margaret Downing, Houston Press
• Sentences: “Bear Witness,” “The Long and the Short of It” and “Upper Case,” Anonymous, Pittsburgh City Paper

COLUMN — POLITICAL

Circulation < 50,000

• Spin Cycle: “Don’t Be Hatin’,” “Legislating Under the Influence” and “Leapin’ Larry Raises the Stakes,” Kyle Whitmire, Birmingham Weekly (PDF file)
• Hit & Run: “School Bucks” (PDF file), “Friends Like These” and “Community Inaction,” Paul Bass, New Haven Advocate
• Andrew Wheat: “Kings’ Court,” “Indictment Heat Hits the Lobby,” and “Texas’ First Postmodern Lobbyist,” Andrew Wheat, The Texas Observer
• Frank Talk: “New Kid on the Block,” “Homeland Security on ICE” and “Voting Records Are True Lies,” Frank Cagle, Metro Pulse (PDF file)

Circulation > 50,000

• Freedom Watch: “The Criminal-Justice System Messes Up,” “Hiding the Gulag,” and “Street Artists Fight to Perform in Boston,” Harvey A. Silverglate (with Carl Takei and Dan Poulson), Boston Phoenix
• The Works: “Property Tax Roulette,” “The Government Is Lying to You” and “Hey Preservationists,” Ben Joravsky, Chicago Reader
• “Tower Inferno,” “Partners in Slime” and “Development Pressure,” Matt Smith, SF Weekly
• Nation: “Cuba Cages Librarians,” “GOP’s Heart of Darkness” and “John Ashcroft’s Achievements,” Nat Hentoff, The Village Voice (PDF file)
• Calhoun: “The Joke’s on Us,” “Where’s the Rest of Him?” and “True Lies,” Patricia Calhoun, Westword

COVER DESIGN

Circulation < 50,000

• “The Parking Issue,” “With a Vigilant Eye” and “FCC,” Kris Adams and Alfred Hall, designers; Nancy Santos and Jason Zwiker, photographers; Charleston City Paper (PDF files)
• “Nader Wins!” “Von Who?” and “94 Reasons Not to Vote for Bush,” J.J. Marley, art and photo director; Brook Pifer, photographer; and Glenn Ferguson, illustrator, Orlando Weekly (PDF files)
• “Biotech Gold Rush,” “The Brat Boom” and “Married With Problems,” Beth Allen, art director; Rory McNamara, photographer; Ben Fishman and Gordon Studer, illustrators; Pacific Sun
• “No Soldier Left Behind,” “Nuclear Shuffle” and “The Aftermath,” Angela Moore, Santa Fe Reporter (PDF files)

Circulation > 50,000

• “The Art Is in the Mail,” “Falling on Deaf Ears” and “The Education of Lance Hill,” Dora Sison, Gambit Weekly (PDF file)
• “Becoming ‘Ungay’,” “Forgotten” and “DELLeted,” Chris Street and Shannon Cornman, Oklahoma Gazette (PDF files)
• “Eat Me,” “Gay Marriage Issue” and “Black Box Backlash,” Karen Steichen, art director; Jacobson/Fernandez, illustrators; Rick Dahms, photographer; Seattle Weekly
• “The Incredible Wicker Motorcycle,” “Fox5” and “Mac Daddy,” Pete Morelewicz, Washington City Paper

EDITORIAL LAYOUT

Circulation < 50,000

• “Style: The Home Issue,” Kris Adams, Charleston City Paper
• “Me Regeneration,” Kat Vellos, Folio Weekly (PDF file)
• “The Blogger,” Don Eggert, Seven Days (PDF file)
• “Out Damned Spot!”, Monica McGregor, Ventura County Reporter

Circulation > 50,000

• “Kids Rock,” Ryan Ward, Cole Gerst and John Curry, L.A. Weekly
• “Wave Action,” Kara Brown, Metro Silicon Valley
• “Coffin Classics,” Michael Shavalier, Miami New Times (PDF file)
• “Psyched Out,” Karen Steichen, art director; Jay Vidheecharoen, assistant art director; Tra Selhtrow, illustrator; Seattle Weekly
• “The Chiva Game,” Jay Vollmar, Westword (PDF file)

EDUCATION (Wild Card Category)

Circulation < 50,000

• “School or Scam?“, Jennifer Barnett Reed, Arkansas Times
• “Command Performance,” Parts 1 and 2, Terje Langeland, Colorado Springs Independent
• “Why Luis Can Read,” Carole Bass, New Haven Advocate
• “No Soldier Left Behind,” Zachary Smith, Santa Fe Reporter

Circulation > 50,000

• “Flawed Priorities,” Tara Servatius, Creative Loafing (Charlotte)
• “HCCS’s Gift Basket Bonanza,” Josh Harkinson, Houston Press
• “School of Life,” Lisa M. Collins, Metro Times
• “The Girl in the Bathroom,” Kendrick Blackwood, The Pitch

FEATURE STORY

Circulation < 50,000

• “Alleged Victims: Jackson Family Wants Closure From the Church,” Donna Ladd, Jackson Free Press
• “Sight for Sore Eyes,” Travis Durfee, Metroland
• “Alien Odyssey,” Brad Summerhill, Reno News & Review
• “Tom Metzger Sings Karaoke,” Didier Diels, San Diego CityBeat
• “The Visionary Blues,” Stephanie Kinnear, Ventura County Reporter (PDF file)

Circulation > 50,000

• “Learning to Hit a Lick,” Mara Shalhoup, Creative Loafing (Atlanta)
• “Lizard Is a Rat,” Justin Berton, East Bay Express
• “An American Family,” Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, and Epilogue, Celeste Fremon, L.A. Weekly
• “Too Dumb to Die,” Trevor Aaronson, New Times Broward-Palm Beach
• “The Deadliest Day,” Eric Alan Barton, New Times Broward-Palm Beach

FOOD WRITING

Circulation < 50,000

• Gut Instincts: “Burger Patrol,” “Give It Your Best Niggle” and “From the ‘Hood to Henrietta,” Adam Wilcox, City Newspaper
• “Walking the Floor Over Stock,” “Artichoke Virgins and Other Annoyances,” and “Of Fish and Fists,” Jesse Yancy, Jackson Free Press
• “Kraut in the Act,” “Bowled Over” and “Reclaiming Meatloaf,” Steve Billings, Metro Santa Cruz
• Flash in the Pan: “The Third Jerusalem Artichoke,” “Beet Surrender” and “Frolicking in the Fungal Jungle,” Ari LeVaux aka Chef Boy Ari, Missoula Independent
• Clean Plate Club: “The Menu As Masterpiece,” “The Burrito Wars” and “Rabbit Food, Reconsidered,” Melanie McGee, Mountain Xpress

Circulation > 50,000

• “How Now Mad Cow?“, “Marking Time” and “Daddy, Help!“, Mark Stuertz, Dallas Observer
• “Where There’s Smoke,” “Tried and True” and “Cottage Industry,” Sara Roahen, Gambit Weekly
• “The Cow Says Oink,” “Sex, Death & Oysters” and “Osso Buco Me? Osso Buco You!“, Robb Walsh, Houston Press
• “Beyond Urban Rustic,” “The Post-Puck Generation” and “Koreatown’s Top 40,” Jonathan Gold, L.A. Weekly
• “Two Sides of Beef,” Philip Dawdy, Seattle Weekly

FORMAT BUSTER

Circulation < 50,000

• “107 Reasons to Vote for Bush on Tuesday,” Paul McMorrow, Seth McM. Donlin and Joe Keohane, Boston’s Weekly Dig (PDF file)
• “Come Here Often?“, Nell Boeschenstein, John Borgmeyer, Paul Fain and Ben Sellers, C-Ville Weekly
• “Dyer, Annotated,” Jeffrey C. Billman and J.J. Marley, Orlando Weekly (PDF file)
• “Divided We Stand,” Inlander Staff, Pacific Northwest Inlander (PDF file)

Circulation > 50,000

• “Homicidal Tendencies,” Van Smith, writer; M. Wartella, illustrator; and Joe MacLeod, art director; Baltimore City Paper
• “15 Candidates! We Can Help: The Reader’s Guide to the Big Showdown,” Harold Henderson, Ben Joravsky, Ted Kleine, Tori Marlan, Michael Marsh, Michael Miner, Grant Pick, Kate Schmidt and Mike Sula, writers, and Tom Chalkley, illustrator, Chicago Reader
• “The Zeitlist,” L.A. Weekly Staff, L.A. Weekly (PDF file)
• “Coors Bitter Brew,” “Minority Report” and “The Square in Still Life,” Enzo DiMatteo, NOW Magazine

ILLUSTRATION

Circulation < 50,000

• “Steve McQueen,” Mario Zucca, C-Ville Weekly
• “Summer Books,” Joe Bluhm, Orlando Weekly
• “Best of Northern Nevada 2004,” Rick Sealock, Reno News & Review
• “Inside the Black Box,” Richard Borge and Angela Moore, Santa Fe Reporter (PDF file)

Circulation > 50,000

• “What’s Eating Us?“, Ryan Greis and Sean Hughes, Cincinnati CityBeat
• “The Cuba Factor,” Sheppard Fairey, Miami New Times (PDF file)
• “Blood on Their Hands,” David Hollenbach, Phoenix New Times
• “Boss Doolittle,” Rick Sealock, Sacramento News & Review
• “Above It All,” Robert Meganck, Washington City Paper

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

Circulation < 50,000

• “Honor Among Thieves” Parts 1 and 2, Terje Langeland, Colorado Springs Independent
• “Booty Call,” Susan Clark Armstrong, Folio Weekly (PDF file)
• “LA’s Real Drinking Problem,” Chip Jacobs and Kevin Uhrich, Pasadena Weekly (PDF file)
• “Rate of Exchange,” Jake Bernstein and Dave Mann, The Texas Observer

Circulation > 50,000

• Newsday Circulation Scandal Investigative Series, “Loseday,” “Dumping Newsday Every Day,” “For a Few Dollars More,” “Cleanup or Shakedown” and “Unbelievable!”, Christopher Twarowski and Long Island Press news staff, Long Island Press (PDF file)
• “Sick District,” Bob Norman, New Times Broward-Palm Beach
• “Blue Mob,” Parts 1 and 2, Aina Hunter, Scene
• “The 30-Year Secret” and “Who Knew,” Nigel Jaquiss, Willamette Week

MEDIA REPORTING/CRITICISM

Circulation < 50,000

• “A Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy” and “The Monitor,” Fiona Morgan, Independent Weekly
• “Bogus Outrage” and “Reagan Ain’t God,” Jeffrey C. Billman, Orlando Weekly
• Owning the Airwaves and Media Monopoly series, “Cross Talk,” “The Beast by the Tail,” “A Confluence of Dunces,” “Currying Favor,” “Talking Heads,” “Radio Free Gonzales,” “The Uprising” and “Policing the Airwaves,” Lisa Sorg, Elaine Wolff, Gilbert Garcia, Michael Cary, Abraham Mahshie and David Martin, San Antonio Current
• “Deconstructing Al,” Brenda Bell, The Texas Observer

(The first-place winner in this category and division will also be the recipient of the Connye Miller Award for Media Reporting.)

Circulation > 50,000

• “A Tale of Two Papers,” “Feed Your Head” and “Secret Agents,” Dan Kennedy, Boston Phoenix
• “At the Ripping Point,” Eric Celeste, Dallas Observer
• “Gary Webb, R.I.P.,” Marc Cooper, L.A. Weekly
• “Credibility Gap,” “Unethical or Accidental?” and “Newsday: Game Over,” Christopher Twarowski, Long Island Press

MUSIC CRITICISM

Circulation < 50,000

• Sound Patrol: Reviews of Ike Turner’s “His Woman, Her Man,” Wilco’s “A Ghost Is Born” and Eminem’s “Encore,” René Spencer Saller, Illinois Times
• Latin Beat: “Sabado Gigante at Chino Latino,” “Mundo Rico” and “Salsa’s Sun and Lisbon by Night,” Sylvia Pfeiffenberger, Independent Weekly
• “Untitled” and “Rock & Roll Digger,” Steve Palopoli, Metro Santa Cruz
• “Sound Poems” and “Buying Blare,” Sara Bir, North Bay Bohemian (PDF file)

Circulation > 50,000

• I’m All Ears: “Why Don’t We Do It on the Road?” “Shake Your Tits,” “Playing Doctor,” Melissa Maerz, City Pages (Twin Cities)
• “Happy in Hoboken,” “The Kids Are Alright” and “Whose Blues?“, Chris Herrington, The Memphis Flyer
• “Joiners In Believing,” “A New Small Future,” “Weddings and Funerals,” Alec Hanley Bemis, L.A. Weekly
• “Riddle Me This,” “The Bomb Squad” and “Buy These Records,” Jonathan Valania, PW-Philadelphia Weekly (PDF file)

NEWS STORY –- LONG FORM

Circulation < 50,000

• “Dump Life,” Susan Cooper Eastman, Folio Weekly (PDF file)
• “There Goes the Neighborhood,” John E. Citrone, Folio Weekly (PDF file)
• “The Companies He Keeps,” Jennifer Strom, Independent Weekly
• “The Golden Hour,” Emily Pyle, The Texas Observer
• “Cancer Wars,” Renee Downing, Tucson Weekly

Circulation > 50,000

• “Insane Asylum,” Steve Fennessy, Creative Loafing (Atlanta)
• “Confessions and Recantations,” Ann Mullen, Metro Times
• “Catch Him If You Can” and “Lord of the Lies,” Paul Rubin, Phoenix New Times
• “Molecular Damage” and “Civil Outcome,” Paul Rubin, Phoenix New Times

NEWS STORY –- SHORT FORM

Circulation < 50,000

• “Zone of Contention,” “Clinic Wins on Appeal,” Noise in the ‘Hood,” John Borgmeyer, C-Ville Weekly
• “Not About Intimidation,” “Words vs. Deeds” and “X Marks the Boycott,” Ayana Taylor, Jackson Free Press
• “Smuggler’s Woe,” “Roach to the Rescue” and “The Plea of Tony the Beaver,” Paul Bass, New Haven Advocate
• “The Election That Won’t Die,” “Problems in Pepperhill Park” and “Florida vs. Orkin,” Jeffrey C. Billman, Orlando Weekly

Circulation > 50,000

• “Another Carswell Conviction,” “Prosecuting Patsy” and “Doing the Math,” Betty Brink (with Brooke Gray), Fort Worth Weekly
• “Firing Line,” “Carrying the Torch” and “Cooked Book,” Josh Harkinson, Houston Press
• “Kidnapping the Kidnapper” and “Days of Fear, Days of Horror,” Borzou Daragahi, Long Island Press
• “Call Me,” “File Not Found” and “Pepper Jacked,” David Holthouse, Westword

PHOTOGRAPHY

Circulation < 50,000

• “A Gullah Tale,” photo essay, Nancy Santos, Charleston City Paper
• “Rites of Spring,” Walter Coker, Folio Weekly (PDF file)
• “Haiti After the Coup,” Alan Pogue, The Texas Observer (PDF file)
• “Nick at Night,” Nick Goodenough, Ventura County Reporter

Circulation > 50,000

• “Prettyboy Reservoir,” Uli Loskot, Baltimore City Paper
• “Let’s Have a War,” David Butow, Los Angeles CityBeat
• “Northeast of Kandahar,” Teun Voeten, L.A. Weekly (PDF file)
• “Praying for Recovery,” Max Whittaker, photographer, and Don Button, designer, Sacramento News & Review

SPECIAL SECTION

Circulation < 50,000

• “The Best of Greater Rochester,” Erica Curtis, City Newspaper
• “Annual Manual,” Kirk Ross, Grayson Currin, Byron Woods, York Wilson, Liz Holm and Kelly Lojk, Independent Weekly (PDF file)
• “Summer Guide 2004,” Inlander Staff, Pacific Northwest Inlander
• “7 Nights,” Don Eggert, art director; Paula Routly, writer/editor; and Matthew Thorsen, photographer; Seven Days (PDF file)

Circulation > 50,000

• “Marketing 215: Making a Good City Great,” City Paper Staff, Philadelphia City Paper
• “Best of L.A.,” L.A. Weekly Staff, L.A. Weekly (PDF file)
• “50 Years of Rock-and-Roll,” Bruce VanWyngarden, editor; Chris Herrington, music editor; and Carrie Beasley, art director; The Memphis Flyer
• “Restaurant Guide 2004,” Byron Beck, Willamette Week