City Weekly represented at the Utah Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists on June 12, and we’re rightfully proud. We competed head-to-head with the metro dailies (including Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News) on our 2008 stories. Congrats to our gang of relentless inkslingers, including Stephen Dark, Ted McDonough, Eric Peterson, Scott Renshaw, Brandon Burt and Carolyn Campbell:
Best Newspaper Reporter
1st Place Stephen Dark Salt Lake City Weekly
Judges wrote: By far Dark had the most diverse and interesting subject matter. His ability to tell a story in a clean and compelling manner also stood out.
2nd Place Ben Winslow Deseret News
3rd Place Matthew D. LaPlante Salt Lake Tribune
Honorable Mention Ted McDonough Salt Lake City Weekly
Review/Criticism
1st Place Ellen Fagg Weist Salt Lake Tribune, Just Between Friends You Must See Stirring, Soulful Caroline
2nd Place Scott Renshaw Salt Lake City Weekly, Romancing the Stoned
Criminal Justice Reporting
1st Place Lisa Rosetta Salt Lake Tribune, Woman linked to FLDS call troubled
2nd Place Eric S. Peterson Salt Lake City Weekly, Hard Labor
3rd Place Erin Alberty Salt Lake Tribune, Do gun laws work for the mentally ill?
Honorable Mention Ted McDonough Salt Lake City Weekly, Books Behind Bars
Consumer Reporting
1st Place Eric S. Peterson Salt Lake City Weekly, Jacked
Judges wrote: Peterson did an excellent job of raising questions about the necessity for steep state tax breaks for oil companies at a time when they were earning record profits. He attempted to independently calculate the cost to taxpayers, who he pointed out are paying more at the pump in Utah than residents of other states without such a big industry presence. He was also fair, offering significant commentary from oil executives who way they need breaks to counter the costly process of production. With both sides, Peterson facilitated an intellectual debate with no easy answers.
2nd Place Lee Davidson Deseret News, Lawsuits by payday lenders swamp courts
3rd Place Ted McDonough Salt Lake City Weekly, Renting Sucks!
Honorable Mention Nate Carlisle Salt Lake Tribune, Undetected Danger
Government Reporting
1st Place Eric S. Peterson Salt Lake City Weekly, Drug Deal
Peterson offers a comprehensive analysis of a no-bid contract and the influences that contributed to the deal-making process. Reporter went above and beyond his call of duty by investigating business incorporation records, raising questions about the validity of the company awarded work and the state’s attending to detail. Looks ripe for a follow-up.
2nd Place Lee Davidson and Stephen Speckman Deseret News, Fewer Funds, More Visitors hurt National Parks
3rd Place Brice Wallace Deseret News, The Screening Process
Honorable Mention Ted McDonough Salt Lake City Weekly, Badgered
Medical/Science Reporting
1st Place Lisa Rosetta and Heather May Salt Lake Tribune, Jarvik’s credit for heart disputed
2nd Place Lisa Rosetta and Heather May Salt Lake Tribune, Caring for the uninsured
3rd Place Ted McDonough Salt Lake City Weekly, Dust Up
Honorable Mention Eric S. Peterson Salt Lake City Weekly, Life and Limb
Military Reporting
1st Place Stephen Dark Salt Lake City Weekly, Diary of a Suicide
Dark tells a gripping story of an any-American family tragedy. Midway through the read, I forgot I was judging. I wanted to know more about Jason and his family.
2nd Place Matthew D. LaPlante Salt Lake Tribune, In his new home, wounded refugee losing hope for aid
3rd Place Amy Macavinta Deseret News, Painful Trauma Resonate After Wars …
Honorable Mention Matthew D. LaPlante Salt Lake Tribune, US: Torture, murder at Iraqi Juvenile Prison
Minority Issues Reporting
1st Place Lisa Rosetta Salt Lake Tribune, Patient Navigators treat Cancer Taboos
2nd Place Jennifer Sanchez Salt Lake Tribune, Still Rebuilding
3rd Place Eric S. Peterson Salt Lake City Weekly, Afraid to Talk
Personality Profile
1st Place Heather May Salt Lake Tribune, To See These Babies as God Sees Them
2nd Place Matthew D. LaPlante Salt Lake Tribune, What She Signed Up For
3rd Place Ted McDonough Salt Lake City Weekly, Final Shot
Honorable Mention Gordon Monson Salt Lake Tribune How does this guy want to be known?
Religion/Values Reporting
1st Place Ellen Fagg Weist Salt Lake Tribune, Circle of Life
2nd Place Stephen Dark Salt Lake City Weekly, Swap Meet
3rd Place Carolyn Campbell Salt Lake City Weekly, Gay Bride
Sports Reporting
1st Place Michael C. Lewis Salt Lake Tribune, A Champion Finish to an Agonizing Race
2nd Place Tim Buckley Deseret News, Livingston Take First Step in New Career Path
3rd Place Doug Robinson Deseret News, An Uphill Climb
Honorable Mention Mike Sorensen Deseret News, Summerhays wins Utah Open at age 64
Honorable Mention Stephen Dark Salt Lake City Weekly Reality Check
Headline Writing
1st Place John A. Davis Salt Lake Tribune, Headlines
2nd Place Scott Renshaw Salt Lake City Weekly, Headlines
3rd Place Eric Walden Salt Lake Tribune, Headlines
Best Blog Entry
1st Place Brooke Adams Salt Lake Tribune, The Plural Life Blog
2nd Place Trent Nelson Salt Lake Tribune, Children Return to YFZ
3rd Place Brandon Burt Salt Lake City Weekly, There Are/Were Gay People at BYU
