Premier Awards - Best Feature Story ( Circulation 10000 to 12499,Circulation 12500 to 17499,Circulation 17500 and over)
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Place Name:
First Place
Contestant Name:
St. Albert Gazette (St. Albert, AB)
Entry Title:
Our summer of smoke
Entry Credit:
Kevin Ma
Judge Comment:
Holy smokes – all pun intended.
This story takes an issues that affects everyone and breaks it down. It starts with the impact on a baseball team, then expands on the effects the smoke have on everyone, then concludes with the baseball team.
This is a textbook feature of the highest quality.
Place Name:
Second Place
Contestant Name:
Orangeville Banner (Orangeville, ON)
Entry Title:
Racism at a small-town fire department
Entry Credit:
Brad Pritchard, Adam Martin-Robbins
Judge Comment:
This story takes on a difficult issue with tact and sensitivity. What sets it apart is the exploration of this issue being more prevalent than in one particular fire department.
The writing is strong and the effort at trying to provide balance should be applauded.
Place Name:
Third Place
Contestant Name:
Nanaimo News Bulletin (Nanaimo, BC)
Entry Title:
Project Rise helping workers overcome barriers
Entry Credit:
Chris Bush
Judge Comment:
The strength in this story is the two personal stories that put a face on what Project Rise is trying to accomplish. They provide an insight into the program and its impact.
This provides some powerful details, that illustrates the impact.
Competition Comment:
Everyone who entered should be commended for their effort, initiative and skill.
There was a wide variety of topics, making it difficult at times to judge.
However, a feature story is more than a profile, new story, or human interest story. It takes an issue and examines it through the lens of an individual, magnifies it to the bigger picture to see what it means in a wider context, then goes back to the individual.
The three winners in this category did just that, whether it is the effect of smoke on everyone, racism in the workplace, or services to help those in need.
These entries had strong writing, backed up by good details and were well presented.
Everyone did a great job.
