Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Alexandria - The Echo Press Entry Title: General Excellence Entry Credit: Echo Press Judge Comment: Top quality. Echo Press was clear favorite among staff. Clean, easy to read. Good reproduction and quality photos.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Eden Prairie News Entry Title: Eden Prairie News - General Excellence Entry Credit: Staff Judge Comment: Solid second place. Watch details but there's plenty to like about this paper. Nice layout, solid writing. Some photos flat, others crisp. Keep eye on toning. Generally good use of graphics to illustrate story.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Wayzata - Lakeshore Weekly News Entry Title: Lakeshore Weekly News - General Excellence Entry Credit: Staff Judge Comment: Closely tied with Eden Prairie News. Again, lots to like about this paper. Clean layout but watch competing headlines. Pull out quotes or in-story subhead would help some of the longer stories.
Competition Comment: Lots of nice entries in this class as well. Again, often came down to little things, details for overall impression. Top papers solid in writing, coverage and layout. Everyone seem to have strengths and weaknesses, with top papers just having more strengths in the end.
