Division 2 winners of 2026 SFJ Excellence-in-Features journalism awards
The Society for Features Journalism is thrilled to celebrate another extraordinary year of storytelling excellence as we announce the winners of the 2026 SFJ Excellence-in-Features Contest!
This year, journalists from across the industry delivered work that informed, inspired, challenged and connected with audiences in powerful ways. The response to the contest was remarkable: Once again, we received close to 1,000 entries.
Several categories saw especially strong participation. Our General Feature (1,000–2,500 words) category attracted 100 entries across its three divisions, with General Feature (2,500+ words) drawing 93 entries, underscoring the enduring strength of long-form narrative journalism and feature writing across newsrooms of every size.
This year, 60 judges representing a wide range of journalism backgrounds generously volunteered their expertise and time to evaluate entries. We were honored to welcome many longtime returning judges and an outstanding group of new judges, whose thoughtful evaluations helped ensure a rigorous and rewarding competition.
To everyone who entered, judged, supported and championed feature journalism throughout the year: Thank you. Your work continues to demonstrate the power of compelling storytelling and the essential role it plays in our profession and our communities.
Congratulations to all of this year's winners! We are proud to recognize your achievements and celebrate the very best in features journalism.
The following are the winners in our Division 2 category.
Click here to see Division 1 winners. | Click here to see Division 3 winners. | Click here to see Combined Division winners.
DIVISION 2
Newspapers with between 51 and 200 full-time employees or magazines and web-only publications with a regional or statewide focus.
FINEST IN FEATURES SWEEPSTAKES AWARDS
These awards recognize the publications that garner the most honors in the contest’s other 18 categories. Points are awarded in this way: 20 for first, 15 for second, 10 for third and five for honorable mention.
First place: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Ten awards, including four firsts (General Feature – 999 Words or Fewer, Feature Beat Specialty Writing Portfolio, General Commentary Portfolio, Special Product – Digital or Print), two seconds (Food Writing Portfolio, Feature Beat Specialty Writing Portfolio) and four thirds (General Feature – 2,500-Plus Words, Feature Writing Portfolio, Arts & Culture Criticism Portfolio, Special Product – Digital or Print).
Second place: Houston Chronicle. Seven awards, including one first (Food Writing Portfolio), five seconds (First-Person Narrative Essay, Features Series or Project, Feature Writing Portfolio, Arts & Culture Criticism Portfolio, Special Product – Digital or Print) and one third (Food Criticism).
Third place: The (Portland, Ore.) Oregonian. Seven awards, including two firsts (Narrative Storytelling, Inclusion & Representation in Features), two thirds (Food Feature, Sports Feature) and three honorable mentions (Food Criticism, Features Series or Project, General Feature - 999 or Fewer Words).
Tied for fourth place:
South Florida Sun Sentinel. Four awards, including one first (Arts & Culture Criticism Portfolio), two seconds (Arts & Entertainment Feature, Food Criticism) and one third (First-Person Narrative Essay).
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Four awards, including two firsts (Arts & Entertainment Feature, First-Person Narrative Essay), one second (Sports Feature), and one honorable mention (General Feature – 1,000 to 2,499 Words).
GENERAL FEATURE – 2,500-PLUS WORDS
Excellent longform feature storytelling on topics such as A&E, lifestyles or news.
First place: Staff, Chicago Tribune, “64 Days in Chicago: The Story of Operation Midway Blitz”
Judge’s comments: With exceptional reporting, immersive storytelling and remarkable narrative control, this gripping and deeply atmospheric account of Chicago's immigration raids transforms a sweeping national issue into an intimate and deeply human story.
Second place: Lauren Irwin, Deseret News, “California’s Undocumented Farmworkers Built Families and Communities. Now They Face an Uncertain Future”
Judge’s comments: Intimate storytelling captures the fear, pressure and constant uncertainty shaping the lives of undocumented immigrants and their families. Culminating in a powerful reflection on the contradictions of the American dream, the story leaves a lasting emotional impact.
Third place: Laura Malt Schneiderman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Vietnam: 50 Years Later”
Judge’s comments: Powerful cinematic storytelling and richly detailed scenes bring the physical and emotional realities of the Vietnam War strikingly close. Drawing on deeply personal accounts, the story offers a powerful reflection on memory, trauma and survival.
Honorable mention: Krysyan Edler, Deseret News, “Cancer Has Limited Caroline Klein’s Tomorrows. Here’s What She’s Doing About It”
GENERAL FEATURE – 1,000-2,499 WORDS
Top-notch feature storytelling on topics such as A&E, lifestyles or news.
First place: Lillian Perlmutter, Truthdig, “How To Survive a Migrant Kidnapping”
Judge’s comments: This harrowing, gripping narrative features many voices of kidnapping victims and those trying to escape danger. The writer packs so many telling details into the piece that, while lengthy, it does not read that way.
Second place: Michelle Theriault Boots and Marc Lester, Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News, “In a Historic Canonization, the ‘Mother of the Kuskokwim’ Becomes an Orthodox Saint”
Judge’s comments: This fascinating story is told with obvious care and attention to detail. It’s clear that reporter Michelle Theriault Boots conducted extensive research and stayed on-site for hours to capture the scene. She also did a brilliant job of explaining how this occurred. The images by photographer Marc Lester help illuminate the piece.
Third place: Lane DeGregory, Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times, “She Spent 50 Years in a Perfect Pink House – Then Came Hurricane Helene”
Judge’s comments: This expertly rendered story about a major disaster is told through the specific eyes of one person whose life was upended by the tragedy. The piece brings home the physical and emotional devastation wrought by the storm.
Honorable mention: John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Her Son Was Shot by Accident With a Gun That Wasn't Hers. This Milwaukee Mom Was Charged Anyway.”
GENERAL FEATURE – 999 WORDS OR FEWER
Stellar short feature writing on topics such as A&E, lifestyles or news.
First place: Megan Guza, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “North Braddock Pastor Who Came Face to Face With Gunman Confronts Trauma and an Uneven Road”
Judge’s comments: This powerful story is well-written and well-reported. I can only imagine how difficult the reporting must have been, both emotionally for writer Megan Guza and for the Rev. Glenn Germany, who discusses an important issue that is not talked about enough in our society. Germany is a man who is suffering from a deeply traumatic experience, and yet the reporter offers a space where the reverend feels comfortable enough to relive his trauma and share his story.
Second place: Maggie Gordon, Houston Landing, “Her Make-a-Wish Dream? Plant 1,000 Trees Across Houston and Watch Hope Grow From the Dirt.”
Judge’s comments: What a lovely story about a selfless young woman who, facing her own terminal illness, decides to do something wonderful for the world and others. The story is well-written, deeply reported and nicely packaged.
Third place: Eric Stinton, Flux Hawaii, “In Haleʻiwa, a Legendary Plumeria Farm Opens Its Doors to the Public”
Judge’s comments: This story looks at plumeria, the flowers that are iconic to the island, yet little was known about the farm where they’re grown because it was long closed to the public. The story is a fine example of finding something new and presenting it to readers in a concise, clean and visually pleasing way.
Honorable mention: Samantha Swindler, The (Portland, Ore.) Oregonian, “A Grain Silo in the Middle of Nowhere Is Central Oregon’s Hottest New Bar”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE
Feature treatment of an arts and entertainment topic.
First place: Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Before She Loses Her Hearing, This Teenager Has a Bucket List of Sounds She Wants To Hear”
Judge’s comments: This lede does everything a features lede should do, and writer Jim Higgins never oversells a subject who is genuinely extraordinary. Ella Coonen's voice is rendered with care – she sounds like a teenager, not a spokesperson. The story educates readers, pulls at their heartstrings and makes them think outside the box – in this case, about a sense many of us take for granted. The ending – with the crunching leaves – is exactly where a great features writer should leave a reader.
Second place: Ben Crandell, South Florida Sun Sentinel, “A Christmas Gift for Santa: What You Learn as an Unlikely First-Time St. Nick in South Florida”
Judge’s comments: Ben Crandell's wry, unassuming voice carries this piece. The backstory about the beard is a clever structural choice that keeps this personal essay grounded, and the classroom scene delivers the warmth the story has been building toward, making this a charming, delightful read.
Third place: Mary Carole McCauley, The Baltimore Sun, “Maryland Artists Push Back Against ‘Culture of Censorship'“
Judge’s comments: A skilled writer uses strong reporting techniques on a topic that is timely and newsy.
Honorable mention: Mariya Manzhos, Deseret News, “The Ukrainian Artist Fighting Destruction With Creation”
FOOD FEATURE
A single story focusing on food, excluding reviews or commentary.
First place: René Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, “Enchilada Wednesday: San Antonio’s Beloved School Lunch Tradition Endures”
Judge’s comments: This fun, fact-filled feature offers a look at a slice of San Antonio life, features many sources and provides an unexpected take on food coverage.
Second place: Matthew Terrell, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “The Secret History of Pimento Cheese”
Judge’s comments: This tells me everything I never knew I wanted to know about pimento cheese. Extensive research went into the piece, and it shows.
Third place: Veronica Nocera, The (Portland, Ore.) Oregonian, “From Brunch to Late-Night Pho, This NE Portland Vinyl Bar Is a Love Letter to Its Owners’ Vietnamese Roots”
Judge’s comments: The writer does a nice job of seamlessly weaving in the history and personalities of the owners without bogging down the story. After reading this, I'm rooting for their success and want to visit.
Honorable mention: Matt Cortina, The (Bergen County, N.J.) Record, “Meet the Baker Making a Beloved Ice Cream Cake From His North Jersey Retirement Community”
FOOD CRITICISM
A single story, such as a restaurant review, that offers opinions about a topic or restaurant in the food industry.
First place: Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, “Commentary: Michelin 2.0 Was San Antonio’s Big Night (Or Was It?)”
Judge’s comments: This is a well-written critique with a strong local point of view about Year Two of the Michelin Guide in Texas. As Mike Sutter acerbically notes: “For Michelin 2.0, the inspectors walked to three restaurants next door to each other in the same building, then went and ate barbecue. ... I wish [they] had stepped outside Pullman Market and put some miles on their tires.”
Second place: Mark Gauert, South Florida Sun Sentinel, “Din and Bear It”
Judge’s comments: Short and sweet, this essay hits all the right notes – wistful nostalgia, current disappointments and future hopes – about our never-ending relationship with restaurants.
Third place: Bao Ong, Houston Chronicle, “A 70-Year-Old Chef’s Dream Comes to Life in One of Houston’s Best New Pho Spots”
Judge’s comments: This clean, simple writing looks at a Vietnamese pho joint with a 70-year-old chef at the helm who is “still building his legacy.” Bao Ong's striking descriptions make me crave a bowl of the slow simmered soup.
Honorable mention: Michael Russell, The (Portland, Ore.) Oregonian, “Review: At New Bistro L’echelle, a Tribute to Naomi Pomeroy Looks a Lot Like Portland’s Best New Restaurant”
NARRATIVE STORYTELLING
A single story told in a narrative style, using techniques such as character development, use of dialogue, sense of place, scene building, narrative arc and adherence to theme.
First place: Noelle Crombie, The (Portland, Ore.) Oregonian, “The Intersection: He Tried To Save Himself. He Killed an 11-Year-Old Instead”
Judge’s comments: This gut-wrenching story is expertly crafted with haunting details and taut scenes. The writer moves the piece along quickly and efficiently, keeping readers engaged throughout a story that could have become a morass of sorrow.
Second place: Bennet Goldstein, Wisconsin Watch, “Wisconsin Pig Farmer Holds on at Wonderfarm as Washington Breaks a Promise”
Judge’s comments: Although this is a policy story at its heart, it doesn’t read that way. Writer Bennet Goldstein provides enough detail about a federal food-purchasing program and the politics behind its gutting without getting too far afield of the narrative about farmer Jess D’Souza and what is at stake for her. Snappy sentences and well-chosen details keep the story cruising along.
Third place: Lane DeGregory, Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times, “At Tampa Bay’s Victory High, Newly Sober Students Get a Second Chance”
Judge’s comments: This is an expertly structured narrative that displays the writer’s extensive access to teenagers who are dealing with substance abuse and a woman who is devoted to helping them.
Honorable mention: Lois M. Collins, Deseret News, “Sisters Fight To Pick Up the Pieces After Catastrophic Car Crash”
FIRST-PERSON NARRATIVE ESSAY
An essay or first-person story that demonstrates a sense of proportion and perspective.
First place: Piet Levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “How My Teenage Son, a Nonspeaker With Autism, Became a Radio Host on SiriusXM The Beatles Channel”
Judge’s comments: At its heart, this is a love story. It reveals a father's devotion to his son, expressed through music. The essay is beautifully written and offers a full and nuanced picture of autism and apraxia, as well as the path this family has traveled not to overcome the obstacle but to thrive within it. The son's own words give the piece authenticity and power, and connecting the son’s efforts – both in school and on the show – to advocacy for the autism-apraxia community widens the effect.
Second place: Keri Blakinger, Houston Chronicle, “I Thought Prison Couldn't Take Your Soul. John Henry Ramirez, a Christian on Death Row, Made Me Wonder”
Judge’s comments: Heartbreaking and haunting, this piece refuses to let the story live only in the space between perpetrator and victim. The writer adds layers that complicate and humanize the situation, including her personal revelation that she has experienced life behind bars. Connecting the story of inmate John Henry Ramirez to state and national politics elevates it beyond a single life on death row, forcing the reader to grapple with larger questions of justice and faith. This story lingers long after the last line.
Third place: Ben Crandell, South Florida Sun Sentinel, “A Christmas Gift for Santa: What You Learn as an Unlikely First-Time St. Nick in South Florida”
Judge’s comments: Ben Crandell brings a clever, self-deprecating wit to his unlikely role of first-time Santa, and the piece never loses its warmth or its humor. The origins of the writer’s superstitious Stanley Cup beard elevate the story beyond a charming holiday essay and give it a sense of proportion and a larger emotional resonance. This delightful read left me smiling.
Honorable mention: Vanessa Lopez, Chicago Sun-Times, “He Worked Hard to Give Me a Home. ICE Took His: How I Lost My Father to Deportation”
INCLUSION & REPRESENTATION IN FEATURES
Revelatory storytelling on any lifestyle or culture topic that centers on historically marginalized or under-covered communities.
First place: Bill Oram, The (Portland, Ore.) Oregonian, “Booed for Winning a State Title, This Oregon Teen Now Just Wants a Safe Place to Run”
Judge’s comments: Bill Oram's excellent profile of a young transgender girl seeking to compete in track despite the opposition against her is compelling, poignant and informative.
Second place: Aisha Sultan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “Child Amputees From Gaza Won Hearts in St. Louis, Uniting a Community of Helpers”
Judge’s comments: This moving story personalizes the incredible trauma experienced by Palestinian children as a result of the war.
Third place: Jean Marbella, The Baltimore Sun, “Baltimore’s ‘Highway to Nowhere’ Took the Homes of Thousands”
Judge’s comments: This piece does a wonderful job explaining why some of Baltimore's neighborhoods have crumbled and how its black residents have become collateral damage.
Honorable mention: Alix Wall, J. The Jewish News of Northern California, “In Oakland, a Gay Orthodox Rabbi Is Paving the Way for Jews Like Him”
SPORTS FEATURE
Feature treatment of any sports topic.
First place: Brian Wacker, The Baltimore Sun, “Inside Malaki Starks’ Journey From Being Homeless to Ravens Draft Pick”
Judge’s comments: This is the most complete sports feature of the group: emotionally resonant, deeply reported, structurally clean and universally accessible. The writer understands that the football element is not the true subject of the story – survival, instability, family resilience and transformation are.
Second place: Kelly Meyerhofer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “The Pressure on Student-Athletes Keeps Mounting. For One UW-Madison Runner, It Was Too Much”
Judge’s comments: This is an important and well-told story.
Third place: Bill Oram, The (Portland, Ore.) Oregonian, “A Former Oregon College Basketball Player Returns to Prison, Sharing a Message of Hope”
Judge’s comments: Columns sometimes rely more heavily on interpretation than enterprise reporting. This piece might not have the same breadth of sourcing or institutional scope as other stories in this category but, from a pure writing standpoint, this was among the strongest entries.
Honorable mention: Lee O. Sanderlin and Danielle Allentuck, The Baltimore Banner, “The Unraveling of a Former Orioles Pitcher”
FEATURES SERIES OR PROJECT
Feature treatment of any lifestyle, A&E or news topic that has multiple parts.
First place: Andrew Carter and Staff, Chicago Tribune, “64 Days in Chicago: The Story of Operation Midway Blitz”
Judge’s comments: Sobering, terrifying and true – the Chicago Tribune's telling of the 64 days that ICE agents descended on the city puts the reader squarely in the point of view of the residents, who shared haunting anecdotes.
Second place: Sonia Garcia, Houston Chronicle, “On the Line”
Judge’s comments: Impressive reporting on the many business challenges facing the restaurant industry yields a trove of data and facts that could have fallen flat – but readers are carefully paced through each part of this series with engaging headlines, conversational writing and clear context.
Third place: Matt Cortina, Sarah Griesemer and Staff, The (Bergen County, N.J,) Record, “Counter Culture: The Legacy of New Jersey Diners”
Judge’s comments: This multilayered storytelling goes beyond the string of diner closings to fully unpack why the glorious neon-and-chrome fixtures are so important to New Jersey's identity.
Honorable mention: Samantha Swindler, The (Portland, Ore.) Oregonian, “How a 65-Year-Old Mall Has Become Portland's Coolest Hangout Spot, for Now”
FEATURE WRITING PORTFOLIO
Three stories by the same writer from any combination of feature beats.
First place: Lane DeGregory, Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times
Judge’s comments: The sea turtle story is one that, in a less-skilled writer’s hand, might not have kept readers invested because of its length and its niche topic. But Lane DeGregory is a master of detail and narrative pacing, and she knows how to string a good story together to make the nuances build and keep you reading. The Victory High story is a great example of perfect structuring and pacing. DeGregory followed this school through a semester, building sympathetic teen characters. The story about the pink house helps put a face on an issue.
Second place: Sarah Smith, Houston Chronicle
Judge’s comments: What a delightful collection of stories. The Camp Mystic story is a lyrical, beautiful piece of writing that is saturated with reporting in a light, unobtrusive way. Readers come away feeling as though they understand – a little better – why generations of women have sent their kids to that summer camp. The Trump Burger story is fascinating and well told. The Robert Roberson piece shows a beautiful, nuanced treatment of a complicated issue with no satisfying ending because the outcome still hangs in the balance.
Third place: Stephana Ocneanu, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Judge’s comments: It’s a rare skill to pull off investigative work that also has a human touch, and that’s what Stephana Ocneanu has done. The details woven into her investigative work help underscore why these stories matter. These are tales about people and how poor decision-making, government incompetence and – in the case of the volunteer firefighter story – the breakdown of time-honored systems can affect people’s lives.
Honorable mention: Darlene McCormick Sanchez, The Epoch Times
FEATURE BEAT SPECIALTY WRITING PORTFOLIO
Three stories by the same writer on one feature topic, such as arts and entertainment, fashion, food, health, religion, technology or travel.
First place: Jeremy Reynolds, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Judge’s comments: These tales reveal the struggles and perseverance of the arts in interior America. Stories about theater and ballet showcase the author’s esteem for the classical arts while expertly laying out the stakes of financial decisions made by arts organizations. The story on instrument accessibility in a small town is a gorgeous portrayal of music programs in average American schools.
Second place: Anya Sostek, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Judge’s comments: Anya Sostek’s work impressively localizes national topics, like the rise of vaccine skepticism and the decline of pharmacies, while carefully presenting indelible characters. Readers meet an elderly nurse who retains her childlike fascination over her role in the polio trials and a group of small-town folks rallying around their Rite Aid in a fight for their access to medicines.
Third place: Wesley Case, The Baltimore Banner
Judge’s comments: These artist profiles give readers a sense of the eclectic and determined figures who define Baltimore’s art scene. There’s a nude protester willing to lose his D.C. job to speak his mind and an established artist who’s not going to abandon his hometown for New York glitz. In each piece, Wesley Case shows you their “why.”
Honorable mention: Danielle Charbonneau, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
FOOD WRITING PORTFOLIO
Three stories, columns or reviews by the same writer on any food topic.
First place: Sonia Garcia, Houston Chronicle
Judge’s comments: These are the stories to read if you want to know why restaurants are struggling, why dining out is so expensive and why the food industry’s focus is shifting. Sonia Garcia nicely captures the zeitgeist of industry challenges by tackling multiple angles and complex subjects in a digestible way. The pieces are well-reported, in-depth, newsy and informative.
Second place: Hal B. Klein, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Judge’s comments: These stories display colorful descriptions that establish a sense of place – as well as engaging the rest of the senses – and make you feel as though you are there. The work is thoughtful, smart and engaging, and it shows a deep understanding of the subject matter.
Third place: Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News
Judge’s comments: The prose is clever, original and suspenseful, and this portfolio features top-tier analysis pieces.
Honorable mention: Matt Cortina, The (Bergen County, N.J.) Record
GENERAL COMMENTARY PORTFOLIO
Three columns or essays by the same writer on any human interest or specialty topic, excluding editorials.
First place: Gene Collier, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Judge’s comments: Gene Collier weaves an indelible sense of place by introducing readers to a series of local characters who embody the very spirit of their town. These poignant, funny and personal portraits do what features journalism can do best – remind us of our shared humanity and tell us a little more about the place we call home.
Second place: Leslie Gray Streeter, The Baltimore Banner
Judge’s comments: Leslie Gray Streeter’s voice is distinctive: These topical and timely opinions can only be hers. She doesn’t care if you agree with her – you get the feeling she might enjoy the conversation more if you don’t – and she delivers her points with grace and humor. Then, she sticks the landing.
Third place: Neil Steinberg, Chicago Sun-Times
Judge’s comments: Neil Steinberg’s collection of profiles about ordinary extraordinary people uplift and inspire. With descriptive and emotional language, he welcomes readers into these lives that shine with the best of who we are – or can be.
ARTS & CULTURE CRITICISM PORTFOLIO
Three columns, essays or reviews by the same writer on any arts and entertainment topic, including dining reviews but excluding editorials.
First place: Rod Stafford Hagwood, South Florida Sun Sentinel
Judge’s comments: There’s a glimmer of the theatrical in the way Rod Stafford Hagwood writes about theater. The beginning of his “Life of Pi” review is dazzling, and my attention stayed in his grip to the equally enthralling ending. I appreciate the personality, the style and the single-word declarations, as well as the smatterings of exclamation points. Will I ever see “Shucked?” Probably not, but I was entertained by its analysis. It’s nice to get an honest review from a friend, but it’s even better to get one from an expert who makes the whole thing fun.
Second place: Bao Ong, Houston Chronicle
Judge’s comments: I've never been to the Di An Pho restaurant in Houston, but I feel as though I were there after reading Bao Ong’s review of the place. Informative and immersive, the critiques offer vibrant details without sacrificing clarity. I could smell the steaming bowls of pho, and I could imagine the showstopping duck at the Credence restaurant. The reviews are engaging and accessible, even for me, and I’m not a foodie.
Third place: Hal B. Klein, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Judge’s comments: “Strands as tall as a person and as thin as the strings on a bass guitar” – that's the kind of evocative writing that makes Hal B. Klein's reviews stand out. Each entry does a great job of balancing thoughtful opinion about food with compelling storytelling about people.
Honorable mention: Mike Davis, Chicago Sun-Times
SPECIAL PRODUCT – DIGITAL OR PRINT
The best example of anything outside of regular coverage. Could be a one-time publication or published more often, but not a recurring weekly product.
First place: Staff, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “125th U.S. Open | Oakmont”
Judge’s comments: This is a gem of a specialty publication, with both digital and print options, that includes reams of data and helpful articles. I hope Pittsburgh golf enthusiasts know how lucky they are to have this. The use of a drone to film the course for analysis is brilliant. This could be a model for other news organizations, which should be inspired to explore how they might use drones to aid in news coverage – especially for specialty or advance circumstances like this. And the print guide thoughtfully organizes and contains loads of historical and statistical data. A tremendous amount of work went into this product, and it shows.
Second place: Staff, Houston Chronicle, “Houston‘s Top 100 Restaurants”
Judge’s comments: This is utility journalism at its best. Love the toggle option between the map and list views, along with the filters that let readers narrow the fields. Also love the “I want to go” and “I've been here” options, so readers can craft their own lists.
Third place: Josh Ewers, Polly Higgins and Ashley Marchetti, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Shop Holiday Gift Guide”
Judge’s comments: This guide features a fun cover illustration (and as a Pittsburgh native, I have long thought PPG Place resembled a Christmas present, so I was admittedly extra delighted by it). The section is thoughtfully organized, with articles based on the type of gift or the personality of the recipient. The maps are helpful, too.
Honorable mention: Tracie Rawson and Staff, The Baltimore Sun, “25 Women to Watch”
Correction: A previous version of this story had an incorrect ranking of Sweepstakes award winners. The story has been updated to reflect that The (Portland, Ore.) Oregonian came in third place and South Florida Sun Sentinel and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tied for fourth place.
