Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Fargo/Moorhead - The Forum Entry Title: Handling unruly customers Entry Credit: April Baumgarten Judge Comment: Smart story takes what for many readers may mostly be the subject of jokes – bar fights and bouncers – and provides perspective-shifting insight into a widespread failure to prepare low-wage employees for potentially high-stakes confrontations. While this has been a headline-grabbing issue locally, including a fatal incident, it’s a piece that feels widely relevant as employees in similar roles deal with customer ire over mask mandates. The piece is well-written and well-edited. Sourcing and quotes are strong. 'The industry standard is, there is no standard.'
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Grand Forks Herald Entry Title: On the border: Business has been a mixed bag Entry Credit: Ann Bailey, Brad Dokken Judge Comment: Well-reported, wide-ranging story that drills down on the specific challenges and impacts on this geographic area’s ‘border businesses’ during pandemic travel restrictions. Sources are excellent, keen eye for descriptive detail and color, and well-told. Ambitious effort to help readers understand how and why the restaurant, retail, consumer and jobs landscape in their local area has changed, with a very local expert perspective. Captures that feeling of business owners trying to figure things out while still in the middle of it.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Grand Forks Herald Entry Title: Soaring lumber prices concern Grand Forks' lumber yards but construction is full steam ahead Entry Credit: Adam Kurtz Judge Comment: This piece packs a lot in, skillfully blending industry and consumer interest in high lumber prices, with a strong spine of tight writing and the data essential to illuminating this type of business story. Explains issues like high housing and remodeling costs and ever-climbing estimates, bringing to life the impact of an overheated market for an important area product. Quotes are particularly strong: “You aren’t getting your money’s worth.”
Competition Comment: It was heartening to see strong business reporting, both project-sized and everyday-news in scope, helping readers understand the economic impact of the pandemic – both expected and unexpected – as well as a rich variety of stories about significant area industries and businesses of all kinds and sizes, from large companies to small entrepreneurs, farmers and craftspeople.
