East Bay Press Club Excellence in Print Journalism
2006 Contest Winners
Sports
Sports Feature
Third Place: Marcus W. Thompson II, Alameda Magazine, "The House
that Frank Built."
Second Place: Demian Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle, "One Surfer's
Quest."
First Place: Robert Gammon and Chris Thompson, East Bay Express, "The
Fremont Athletics."
Judge's comments: "This was a good mix of history, storytelling, and
background. Nailed the lead."
Sports Column
Third Place: The judges awarded no third place in this category.
Second Place: Tony Hicks, Contra Costa Times, "Two Cents Worth,"
"Bells, Whistles, and Baseball," and "Bonding with Other Sports."
First Place: Dave Newhouse, Oakland Tribune, "Strikeforce a Hot
Brand of Mayhem," "Divorce from Baseball Tough, But Right Move,"
and "U.S. Athletes Go From Bad to Worse."
Judges' comments: "Newhouse uses nice descriptions, writes with authority
and has a good rhythm to his writing. Plus, he picks compelling subjects."
Business
Business News Story
Third Place: David Downs, East Bay Express, "Drinking the Bills
Away."
Second Place: Jessica Saunders, East Bay Business Times, "Grape
Excess: 2006 Wine Harvest Smaller."
First Place: Barbara E. Hernandez, Contra Costa Times, "1991 Oakland
Hills Fire Leaves Mark."
Judges' comments: "This is a fascinating story that does a good job
of covering lots of angles."
Business Feature
Third Place: Adrienne Sanders, San Francisco Business Times, "Flippers
Can Flop."
Second Place: Janis Mara, Oakland Tribune, "Coffee Roaster Pushes
Beyond Its 'Peetnik' Roots."
First Place: Robert Gammon, East Bay Express, "Trouble in the Air."
Judges' comments. "Well-written. The reporting was gutsy and the story
was
fascinating."
Technology Story
Third Place: Eliza Strickland, East Bay Express, "Nice Nanostuff,
But Is It Safe?"
Second Place: Harry Harris and Heather MacDonald, Oakland Tribune, "High-
tech Tool Can Pinpoint Gunfire Source."
First Place: Chris Thompson, East Bay Express, "Publishers vs. the
Censorbox."
Judges' comments: "This was a great story idea that introduces interesting
and relevant issues."
News
Spot News-Individual
Third Place: (tie): Sophia Kazmi, Contra Costa Times, "Beyond the
Call of Duty, The Charge of Humanity," and Bruce Gerstman, Contra Costa
Times, "Dead Boy's Dad Grieves in Disbelief."
Second Place: Josh Richman, Oakland Tribune, "Ex-Nazi Living in
S.F. Deported."
First Place: Karl Fischer, Contra Costa Times, "Dead boy, 8, Was
Abused, Police Say."
Judges' comments: "This is a very well-told story with amazing details.
Thorough reporting."
Spot News-Team
Third Place: Kristin Bender and Harry Harris, Oakland Tribune, "Unsolved
Death Behind Oakland Triple Slaying."
Second Place: Karl Fischer and John Geluardi, Contra Costa Times, "Richmond
Violence Returns."
First Place: Matthew B. Stannard, Susan Sward, and Nanette Asimov, San
Francisco Chronicle, "Driver's Rampage."
Judges' comments: "The authors found great detail under pressure - even
the direction of the vehicles. Good imagery too, such as 'bounced like a mad
pinball.' And great organization of the facts made for a well-told story."
General News
Third Place: Karl Fischer, Contra Costa Times, "Latest Death Adds
to Tension."
Second Place: Sandy Kleffman, Contra Costa Times, "With Eye on the
Future, Scientists Revive Past."
First Place: Robert Gammon, East Bay Express, "We're Outta Here!"
Judges' comments: "This is simply astonishing work researched down to
the last detail, presented with clever clarity and fleshed out to make it a
living breathing general news gem. The article strives to stave off an environmental
disaster, one fueled by greed and corrupted political connections that would
forever devastate the heart and soul of the East Bay's wilderness."
In-depth or Investigative Reporting
Third Place: Jim Doyle, San Francisco Chronicle, "Extra Pay Follows
Top CSU Brass Out the Door"
Second Place: Kara Platoni, East Bay Express, "Dealing in Death."
First Place: Meredith May, San Francisco Chronicle, "Diary of a
Sex Slave."
Judges' comments: "Breathtaking in scope and aggressively reported,
this investigation blows the lid off of the sex slavery industry where San Francisco
is an international hub. Expertly balanced pieces draw back the curtain on the
behemoth scope of this multi-billion dollar business while also revealing the
horrifying human consequences."
Series
Third Place: Carrie Sturrock, San Francisco Chronicle, "Oakland:
the Birth of a School."
Second Place: Steve Geissinger, Oakland Tribune, "Lotto Operator
Buyout Raises Questions"
First Place: Suzanne Bohan and Michael Manekin, Oakland Tribune, "Teen
Activists Size Up a Toxic Threat in East Palo Alto," "Has Hazardous
Waste Recycler Worn Out Its Welcome?" and "Toxic Releases Forces Shelter-in-place."
Judges' comments: "What do you get when you mix an industrial recycler,
increased cancer rates in a city overburdened with toxins, and a youth-led political
campaign to oust the recycler? A great series worthy of much kudos for, among
other notable attributes, managing to fairly portray the issue without bias."
Columnist
Third Place: William Brand, Oakland Tribune, "Four-star Meal Deserves
Four-star Beer," "Bay Brewers are Rolling Out the Barrels and Steel
Vats," and "Craft Brewers Eye Promoting Distilled Spirits Around the
U.S."
Second Place: John Sailors, East Bay Business Times, "Web 2.0 Takes
the Office Out of the Office," "Out of the Filing Cabinet: Content
Management is Hot," and IT Threats Go from Annoying to Downright Dangerous."
First Place: Chris Thompson, East Bay Express, "Oakland Can Do One
Hell of a Lot Better," "Laundering Money with Don Perata," and
"Final Days of a Barrio Parish."
Judges' comments: "Whether it's skewering Oakland's inept government
leaders or pulling the pants down on dirty-dealing Don Perata, Thompson speaks
with a distinctive and provocative voice. One of this deep-digging man's strengths
is being able to tackle the controversial to the touching without blabbering
on about himself."
Editorial
Third Place: David Downs, East Bay Express, "Smooth Criminal Fingers."
Second Place: Michael Hytha, East Bay Business Times, "Navy: Don't
Dump Concord."
First Place: Jim Gardner, San Francisco Business Times, "Oakland
Rejects Trade Center."
Judges' comments: "A great reminder of how the past can repeat itself,
especially with economic development miscues. It was a well-written, clearly
presented piece of persuasive writing."
Beat Reporting By a Single Reporter
Third Place: (tie) Bruce Gerstman, Contra Costa Times, courts and legal
affairs; and Matt Krupnick, Contra Costa Times, higher education.
Second Place: Ellen Lee, San Francisco Chronicle, technology.
First Place: Victoria Colliver, San Francisco Chronicle, health care
industry.
Judges' comments: "Colliver has a knack for personalizing stories and
for explaining complex bureaucracy. Her stories have both investigative and
narrative elements and make for compelling reading."
Best Analysis
Third Place: Matt O'Brien and Martin Ricard, Hayward Daily Review, "Latino
Political Power in Hayward."
Second Place: Matthew B. Stannard, San Francisco Chronicle, "Hezbollah
Wages New Generation of Warfare."
First Place: Tom Abate, San Francisco Chronicle, "Speed Bumps on
the Information Highway."
Judges comments: "Great work; a very well-presented look at the challenges
facing the future of the Internet. Abate helps the average reader understand
the concepts of 'network neutrality,'which is a daunting task. Good mix of business,
tech and political reporting."
Cultural Affairs Reporting
Third Place: Momo Chang, Oakland Tribune, Asian affairs.
Second Place: Lisa Fernandez, San Jose Mercury News, Afghan affairs.
First place: Sara Steffens, Contra Costa Times, "Court Ruling Reassures
Homeless," "Off Streets, Making Beats," and "Tax Firm to
Help Determine Food Stamp Eligibility."
Judges' comments: "Steffens excels at not just analyzing problems of
the poor and homeless in the Bay area, but what is being done about them in
a real concrete fashion. Her embrace of the issues is uplifting, informative
and very well written."
Features
Short Feature
Third Place: Momo Chang, Oakland Tribune, "The Quake Was Only the
Beginning."
Second Place: Rebecca Rosen Lum, Contra Costa Times, "Ailing Girl's
Family Faces a Conundrum."
First Place: Lisa Fernandez, San Jose Mercury News, "A 99-year-old
Inspiration."
Judges' comments: "This is a very well-written story about a physical
marvel. Fernandez does a great job of bringing out the independent streak of
Mr. Chen."
Long Feature
Third Place: Stephen Buel, East Bay Express, "The Quick and the
Dead."
Second Place: Suzanne Bohan, Oakland Tribune, "Driven to the Abyss."
First Place: Eliza Strickland, East Bay Express, "Identity Theft."
Judges' comments: "A well-written look at one of the negative aspects
of Indian-run casinos and the effects on tribal members."
Lifestyle Feature
Third Place: Carolyn Jones, San Francisco Chronicle, "Out of the
Retail Rat Race."
Second Place: Alex Handy, East Bay Express, "They Walk Among Us."
First Place: Lauren Gard, East Bay Express, "Fat! Fit? Fabulous!"
Judges' comments: "Interesting and timely, this feature localizes and
humanizes the Health at Every Size movement through the work of its founder.
The sidebars added descriptive punch and personality to the overall package."
Criticism or Reviewing
Third Place: John Birdsall, East Bay Express, "Dive Bar's Manly
Meats," "Gems in the Rough," and "Bui? Mais Oui!"
Second Place: Tony Hicks, Contra Costa Times, "Willie Nelson Still
Plenty Convincing," "Singing Like She Means It On Stage," and
"Boss Takes New Street With Seeger."
First Place: David Downs, East Bay Express, "The War Profiteer,"
"Bovine Bagpipe Beatbox," and "Dashed Hoop Dreams."
Judges' comments: "Whether his subject is an aging Hall of Fame rocker
or a concert that involves a cow uterus, Downs creates entertaining and
enlightened reviews with sharp wit and razor commentary. In the best of his
columns, Downs doesn't get trapped into reviewing Neil Young for what he
was, but rather makes a poignant statement about his latest album, politics
and the relevance of protest music in our sugar-pop culture."
Profile
Third Place: (tie): James Temple, Contra Costa Times, "Waters Seduces
New Converts With Fresh Tastes at Chez Panisse" and Rachel Swan, East Bay
Express, "The Player and the Pilgrim."
Second Place: Matthew B. Stannard, San Francisco Chronicle, "The
War
Within."
First Place: Lauren Gard, East Bay Express, "What's Wrong With This
Picture?"
Judges' comments: "This is a truly comprehensive story that could serve
as a template for how a profile should be done. A fantastic piece."
Layout/Design
Page Design
Third Place: Todd Trumbull, San Francisco Chronicle, "Restoring
the Balance."
Second Place: Chris Gotsill, Contra Costa Times, "We Will Never
Forget"
First Place: Chuck Todd, Contra Costa Times, "Engineers Discover
Key to Delta Smelt Crisis."
Judges' comments: "As easy on the eyes as it is informative, Todd's
page design pulls the reader into a big fish story that unfortunately is true.
Graphics, maps, illustrations and fine production explain why this superior
entry won First Place."
Illustration
Third Place: Chris Strach, East Bay Business Times, "Shock Value."
Second Place: Dave Johnson, Contra Costa Times, "A&E 'Best and
Worst of 2006.'"
First Place: Jennifer Downey, Alameda Magazine, "The Island Nation
of Alameda: Peek into the Psyche of Real Alamedans."
Judges' comments: "In this wonderful take on Saul Steinberg's famous
and Manhattan-centric New Yorker magazine cover "A View of the World from
9th Avenue," Downey creates a delightful Alameda-centric universe. This
improbable piece of fine art far outpaces the field."
Infographic
Third Place: Todd Trumbull, San Francisco Chronicle, "Centre Attraction"
Second Place: Dave Johnson, Contra Costa Times, "Anatomy of a Retrofit."
First Place: Mitch Green, San Francisco Business Times, "Executive
Pay - Pay and Performance
Judges' comments: "This is the Mother of All Infographics. Jam-packed with
information that astounds the eyes while destroying any illusion that readers
may have had that they will ever measure up to the pay CEOs make. Numerous comparison
calculations are clearly drawn through graphs, pie charts and a kaleidoscope
of salaries only jailed Enron execs could dream of."
Editorial Cartoons
Third Place: The judges awarded no third place in this category.
Second Place: Chris Strach, East Bay Business Times, "Pelosi and
the Democrats"
First Place: Justin De Freitas, Berkeley Daily Planet, "Mousetrap,"
"Berkeley at Its Best," "Democratic Agenda," "Condi's
Corner," "Sept. 10," "Presidential Stains," and "Media
Balance."
Judges' comments: "Nothing and nobody escape DeFreitas' sharp quill
in this compelling collection of comical cartoons. From a jelly-spined Democratic
agenda to a suitable bashing of President Shrub, no one is protected from the
pugnacious pen of this irascible artist."
Photos
Spot News
Third and Second Places: The judges awarded no second and third places
in this category.
First Place: Tue Nam Ton, Contra Costa Times, "Fire on the Mountain."
Judges' comments: "The photographer got in a good position, then let
the content make an image."
General News
Third Place: Mike Kepka, San Francisco Chronicle, "iPodlette."
Second Place: Lacy Atkins, San Francisco Chronicle, "Immigration
Reform Protest."
First Place: Jane Tyska, Hayward Daily Review, "Deathbed Graduation."
Judges' comments: "Holy cow! What can you say to this picture? Not much,
because the picture says it all."
Portrait
Third Place: Jason Doiy, The Recorder, "Edward Zaelke."
Second Place: Mike Kepka, San Francisco Chronicle, "James Gaskins."
First Place: Lacy Atkins, San Francisco Chronicle, "Peter Curran."
Judges' comments: "If a portrait is to look past the skin, this image
did just that. A striking image that lingers in the mind. Though honoring to
this person, it could be an iconic image for a generation of those who suffered
with AIDS."
Feature
Third Place: Tue Nam Ton, Contra Costa Times, "Mmmm, donuts."
Second Place: Najib Joe Hakim, San Francisco Business Times, "Up
Close at the Aquarium."
First Place: Lacy Atkins, San Francisco Chronicle, "Marriage Equality."
Judges' comments: "Great reaction to a fortunate moment."
Sports
Third Place: The judges awarded no third place in this category.
Second Place: Mike Kepka, San Francisco Chronicle, "Shoot to Kill."
First Place: Jane Tyska, Hayward Daily Review, "Diving Centerfielder."
Judges comments: "Can't argue with this image. Very nice moment."
Photo Essay
Third Place: The judges awarded no third place in this category.
Second Place: Kristopher Skinner, Contra Costa Times, "Middle School
at a Crossroads."
First Place: Lacy Atkins, San Francisco Chronicle, "Faces of a Stricken
Community."
Judges' comments: "This work shows the photographer's dedication and
courage. This is a heck of a story. Some images were unforgettable. Amazing
access to intimate situations."
Online
Multimedia
Third Place: The judges awarded no third place in this category.
Second Place: Derk Richardson, SFGate.com, "Troubadour Chris Smither
Takes On Big Philosophical Questions On His Latest Release, Leave the Light
On."
First Place: Jason B. Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, "Prison
Tour Program Tries to Keep Boys On Right Path."
Judges' comments: "The author grabbed us in the first paragraph and
carried us with him through until the very end. RISE is a program that all urban
communities should take a good look at."
Mainstream Blogger
Third Place: The judges awarded no third place in this category.
Second Place: Blanca Torres, Contra Costa Times, "Contra Costa Times
Shop Talk: News and tidbits about shopping in the East Bay."
First Place: Josh Richman, ANG Newspapers/insidebayarea.com, "Political
Blotter."
Judges' comments: "Josh has a knack for writing about local politicians
in a way that is amusing yet informative. Loved the sarcasm that dripped from
every entry."
Independent Blogger
Second and Third Places: The judges awarded no second or third places
in this category.
First Place: Julia Park, "Modern Muse."
Judges' comments: "We loved the collection of blogs, especially 'Throwing
Good Money Around.' That entry brought back our childhoods, when a dollar meant
a heck of a lot more than it does today."