Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Staples World Entry Title: Red dresses in Leader raising awareness of Indigenous women Entry Credit: Dawn Timbs Judge Comment: A good explanatory piece. Kudos to the reporter for stopping to ask why the dresses were suspended and then seeing the value in telling the story.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Wadena Pioneer Journal Entry Title: LeComte sews reusable feminine hygiene products Entry Credit: Rebecca Mitchell Judge Comment: Fascinating and told without pulling punches or hiding behind politically correct sentiments.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Peqout Lakes | Pineandlakes Echo Journal Entry Title: Tessily Gregory teen pregnancy Entry Credit: Nancy Vogt Judge Comment: A well-told and rather inspiring story. Credit to the editorial staff for putting a face on a national trend that eludes most reporters.
Competition Comment: Editors, tell your feature writers to trim their ledes and flowery language and simply get to the meat of the story, as these three did.
