Columnist ( 10,000 and Over Dailies,5,000 - 10,000 Dailies,Under 5,000 Dailies)Back
Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Rochester - Post-Bulletin Entry Title: Greenspace Entry Credit: John Molseed Judge Comment: Molseed writes frankly and with great fun about environmental topics of interest, inviting and encouraging readers to understand a valuable perspective. These columns showed focus and passion.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Bemidji - The Bemidji Pioneer Entry Title: Trip on a tankful columns Entry Credit: Bria Barton Judge Comment: Barton makes readers long to visit -- just as a travel column should. Her lively writing complements well the zany locales she reviews, with many great photos, too!
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Mankato - The Free Press Entry Title: Best columnist, Diana Rojo Garcia, Mankato Free Press Entry Credit: Diana Rojo-Garcia Judge Comment: Boldly tackling topics of race, nationality, and cultural sensitivity, Rojo-Garcia encourages readers to be open-minded and does so with heart, personality, and generosity.
Competition Comment: Each of the columns in this competition showed range and passionate investment in local interests. These submissions illustrate the essential role of columnists in helping readers develop their understanding of the day's news by way of a personal, often intimate, and always unique point of view.