2008 Winners

59TH ANNUAL
GREEN EYESHADE AWARDS
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SARAH PRICKETT, awards administrator: sprickett@arkansasonline.com
SONNY ALBARADO, SPJ Region 12 director:
salbarado@arkansasonline.com
DARCIE LUNSFORD, SPJ Region 3 director:
dlunsford@businessjournals.com
Lane DeGregory of the St. Petersburg Times took top honors in the 59th Annual
Green Eyeshade Awards, a journalism contest that recognizes excellence in 11
Southern states. DeGregory won “Best of Show” for her feature story, “The Girl in
the Window.”
“I dare any parent to read that story and not call or immediately go hug their
children,” best-of-show judge Shane Fitzgerald of the Corpus Christi Caller-
Times wrote. “As strong as the online entry of this story was, the way DeGregory
weaved the print story together from start to finish was truly touching, finishing
with the outrage of how a mother could even remotely let a child live in those
conditions.”
Fitzgerald praised DeGregory’s abiity to get the child’s mother to talk and her use
of quotes from the child’s stepparents and stepbrother to “put me in the middle of
their situation.” He also cited the “remarkable photos” of photographer Melissa
Lyttle that accompanied the story.
“It’s no surprise at the tremendous response the paper received for this
remarkable, remarkable story,” Fitzgerald said. “Congratulations, Lane, for
winning the Green Eyeshade Award. It’s richly deserved.”
DeGregory also won first place in the daily division of the annual Green
Eyeshade Awards contest, which drew more than 500 entries from media outlets
in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Other divisional winners were:
Nondaily Print – Miami New Times of Miami, Fla., for “Wet Foot, Dusty Foot” by
Francisco Alvarado, Russell Cobb and Paul Knight.
Radio – WBHM-FM of Birmingham, Ala., for “Considering Faith,” by its news
team.
Television – WREG-TV of Memphis, Tenn., for “Charity or Con?” by Kelli Rabon
and Jim O’Donnell
Online – Tampabay.com of St. Petersburg, Fla., for “The Girl in the Window”
online coverage.
Started by the Atlanta Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional
Journalists, the contest is now administered by regional directors for the Society.
The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism.
The organization is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization,
dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high
standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ
promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry, works to
inspire and educate the next generation of journalists and protects First
Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.
The complete list of Green Eyeshade Award winners follows:
Print- Daily Division
1. and 2. Breaking News
1st Place: “First terror, then grief” Staff, The Tennesseean, Nashville
2nd Place: “Sunday of Sorrow” News Sentinel Staff, News Sentinel, Knoxville
3rd Place: “Desperate Search” News Staff, Press-Register, Mobile
3. Non-Deadline Reporting (large dailies)
1st Place: “Rx O.D.” Chris Tisch and Abbie Vansickle, St. Petersburg Times
2nd Place: “Taken for a Ride: How the transit tax went off track” Larry Lebowitz,
The Miami Herald
3rd Place: “Gone too Soon” Claudia Pinto, The Tennessean
4. Non-Deadline Reporting (small dailies)
1st Place: “Hidden: On the trail of a bank robber” Gary A. Hark, The Charleston
(W.V.) Gazette
2nd Place: “Confession from Prison” Ryan Mills, Naples Daily News
3rd Place: “School funding” Andy Meek, The Daily News, Memphis
5. Feature Writing (large daily)
1st Place: “The Girl in the Window” Lane DeGregory, St. Petersburg Times
2nd Place: “Paving the Way” Zack McMillin, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis
3rd Place: “John’s Wish” Mitch Stacy, The Associated Press (Florida)
6. Feature Writing (small daily)
1st Place: “A Long Time Healing” Jimmy Tomlin, High Point Enterprise
2nd Place: “Rumble, Rumble, Rumble” Challen Stephens, The Huntsville (Ala.)
Times
3rd Place: “Economic misfortune leaves students without a place to call home”
Matthew Clark, Naples Daily News
7. Investigative Reporting
1st Place: “Right by Miles” Meg Laughlin, St. Petersburg Times
2nd Place: “Borrowers Betrayed” Jack Dolan, Matthew Haggman and Rob Barry,
The Miami Herald
3rd Place: “Law and Disorder” Glenn Smith and Doug Purdue, The Post and
Courier, Charleston, S.C.
9. Sports Reporting
1st Place: “Struggling Jai-Alai” Antonio Gonzalez, The Associated Press (Florida)
2nd Place: “Goalie’s Battle” Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press (Florida)
3rd Place: “Players are dying from mat drills” Andrew Carter, The Orlando
Sentinel
11. Public Service
1st Place: “The Cruelest Cuts” Ames Alexander, Kerry Hall, Franco Ordonez and
staff, The Charlotte Observer
2nd Place: “DHEC Under Fire” Sammy Fretwell, John Monk, The State
3rd Place: “Politifact” Times Staff, St. Petersburg Times
13. Sports Reporting
1st Place: “Sports Commentary by John Helyar” John Helyar, Bloomberg News,
Atlanta
2nd Place: “An unsung hero, Memphis sings the blues, Rhodes star truly super”
Geoff Calkins, The Commercial Appeal
3rd Place: “Collection of Three” Gary Shelton, St. Petersburg Times
14. Breaking Business News
1st Place: “Whiplash” Staff, The Charlotte Observer
2nd Place: “Sky-High” George Talbot, Jeff Amy, Dan Murtaugh, Press-Register
3rd Place: “Broken Rules, Broken Fortunes” John Pacenti, Daily Business
Review
15. Enterprise Business Reporting
1st Place: “Lost Paradise” C.S. Murphy, Amy Upshaw, Arkansas Democrat-
Gazette
2nd Place: “At the Center of Everywhere” Michael Kruse and Theresa Blackwell,
St. Petersburg Times
3rd Place: “The Good Deal that Wasn’t” Rick Rothacker, The Charlotte Observer
16. Courts and the Law Reporting
1st Place: “South Florida’s Medicare Racket” Jay Weaver, The Miami Herald
2nd Place: “Guantanamo’s War Court” Carol Rosenberg, The Miami Herald
3rd Place: “Big Bad Wolf Hunt” Brendan Kirby, Press-Register
17. Public Affairs Reporting
1st Place: “DHEC Under Fire” Sammy Fretwell, John Monk, The State
2nd Place: “Mayor Willie W. Herenten” Mark Perrusquia, The Commercial Appeal
3rd Place: “Schools act as money funnels” Diane Knich, The Post and Courier
18. Disaster Coverage
1st Place: “First terror, then grief” Staff, The Tennessean
2nd Place: “Night of Destruction” Tom Charlier, Clay Bailey, Kristina Goetz,
Trevor Aaronson, The Commercial Appeal
3rd Place: “South’s storm toll up to 54” Carolyne Park and Arkansas Democrat-
Gazette Staff, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
19. Coverage of Politics
1st Place: “Florida Minority Vote” Brendan Farrington and Laura Wides-Munoz,
The Associated Press (Florida)
2nd Place: “PolitiFact” Times Staff, St. Petersburg Times
3rd Place: “Collier Sheriff’s Race” Ryan Mills, Naples Daily News
21. Consumer Reporting
1st Place: “Danger at the Mall” Sun-Sentinel Staff, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
2nd Place: “Taken for a Ride?” Billy Shields, Daily Business Review
3rd Place: “Florida Gas Prices” Mc Nelly Torres, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
22. Criticism
1st Place: “Nuts, bolts, and heart; Peers pay respects; His favorite subject” John
Beifuss, The Commercial Appeal
2nd Place: “Critical Mass” Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
3rd Place: “Collette Bancroft Collection” Colette Bancroft, St. Petersburg Times
23. Serious Commentary
1st Place: “Myriam Marquez Columns” Myriam Marquez, The Miami Herald
2nd Place: “End of a Nightmare” Joe Kirby, Marietta Daily Journal
3rd Place: “If Gays Can Marry, I Just Might Annul My Wedding” Ann Woolner,
Bloomberg News
24. Humorous Commentary
1st Place: “Parenting” Annette Clifford, Florida Today
2nd Place: “Internet puts some in ticklish situations, Burgers and fries?, VP
Palin?” Geoff Calkins, The Commercial Appeal
3rd Place: “Kelly Kazek’s Columns” Kelly Kazek, The News Courier
25. Editorials
1st Place: “Collection of Editorials” Mac Thrower, Mobile Press-Register
2nd Place: “Collection of Three” Tim Nickens, St. Petersburg Times
3rd Place: “Editorials” David Barham, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Print- Nondaily Division
26. Non-Deadline Reporting
1st Place: “To Hug a Porcupine” Deirdra Funcheon, New Times Broward/Palm
Beach
2nd Place: “The Bankruptcy Burn in Tampa Bay” Margie Manning and the Tampa
Bay Business Journal Editorial Team, Tampa Bay Business Journal
3rd Place: “Running on Empty” Andy Meek, The Daily News
27. Feature Writing
1st Place: “Staying Stephen” Michael Kruse, Richard Thurmond, Charlotte
Magazine
2nd Place: “Missing” Marilyn Sadler, Memphis Magazine
3rd Place: “Outside Agitators” David Holthouse, Intelligence Report
28. Investigative Reporting
1st Place: “Water Woes” Staff, Orlando Business Journal
2nd Place: “Ten Days Changed Wall Street” John Helyar, Alison Fitzgerald, Mark
Pittman and Serena Saitto, Bloomberg News
3rd Place: “Bernanke Grapples with Greenspan” Steve Matthews, Bloomberg
News
29. Sports Commentary
1st Place: “The Lost Season” Bob Norman, New Times Broward/Palm Beach
2nd Place: “Double Team: How long can Memphis support two teams?” Eric
Smith, The Daily News
3rd Place: “Spaceships and Playoff Systems” Scott Wright, The Post
30. Business Reporting
1st Place: “A Troubled Town” Lee Weisbecker, Amanda Jones Hoyle, Adam
Linker, Triangle Business Journal
2nd Place: “Cleaning Up South Florida’s Foreclosure Mess” Brian Bandell, Oscar
Pedro Musibay, Bill Frogameni, Ed Duggan and Darcie Lunsford, South
Florida Business Journal
3rd Place: “Implosion of Fireline” Janet Leiser, Tampa Bay Business Journal
31. Courts and the Law Reporting
1st Place: “Petties DTO: Feds Target Memphis Kingpin to Unravel City’s Biggest
Drug Case” Bill Dries, The Daily News
2nd Place: “Black October” Tim Elfrink, Miami New Times
3rd Place: “Capital Murder Trial Coverage” Scott Wright, The Post
32. Public Affairs Reporting
1st Place: “Wet Foot, Dusty Foot” Francisco Alvarado, Russell Cobb, Paul
Knight, Miami New Times
2nd Place: “Behind the Back Spending, Bucking the Trend, Constitutional
Considerations” Amy Keller, Cynthia Barnett, Florida Trend
3rd Place: “With a Bullet” Thomas Francis, New Times Broward/Palm Beach
34. Coverage of Politics
1st Place: “Dead Weight” Francisco Alvarado, Miami New Times
2nd Place: “Ricky and Joe: The Quest for a Comeback” Bill Dries, The Daily
News
3rd Place: “And Still We Rise!” Charles W. Cherry II and Florida Courier Team,
Florida Courier
37. Criticism
1st Place: “Café Reviews” Lee Klein, Miami New Times
2nd Place: “The Magic City” Brett Sokol, Ocean Drive Magazine
3rd Place: “Collection” Joan Altabe, Bradenton Herald
38. Serious Commentary
1st Place: “Lauren” Laurel Mills, Lipstick Magazine
2nd Place: “Simple Pleasures We Enjoy” Mark W. Maguire, Cobb Life Magazine
3rd Place: “Bambi Bump-off, Che Who?, Wacko Like Winton” Chuck Strouse,
Miami New Times
39. Humorous Commentary
1st Place: “This one time at camp…” Laurel Mills, Lipstick Magazine
2nd Place: “Series of Columns” Tim Sanders, The Post
3rd Place: “Ask Vance” Vance Lauderdale (Michael Finger), Memphis Magazine
40. Editorials
1st Place: “Editorials” Cindy Barth, Orlando Business Journal
2nd Place: “Theology of the Dispossessed” Mark Potok, Intelligence Report
3rd Place: “Local School System Controversies” The Memphis News Staff, The
Daily News
41. Public Service
1st Place: “The F-school Bomb” Francisco Alvarado, Miami New Times
2nd Place: “Sticker Shock” Andy Meek, The Daily News
3rd Place: “The State of the Dream: 40 Years Later” Mary Helen Randall,
Michael Finger, Marilyn Sadler, Frank Murtaugh, Memphis Magazine
All Print Divisions
43. Feature Photography
1st Place: “Home Gone” John Raoux, The Associated Press
2nd Place: “Haute Hues” Carrie Campbell, Chris Edwards, Blake Miller, Lisa
Summerell and Jade Willis, Charlotte Magazine
3rd Place: “Nashville Ballet” Dipti Vaidya, The Tennessean
44. Sports Photography
1st Place: “Home Run Ball” Wilfredo Lee, The Associated Press
2nd Place: “Tennessee Football” Larry McCormack, The Tennessean
3rd Place: “A Dream Come True” Chris O’Meara, Associated Press
45. Graphics
1st Place: “Skimboarding” Bronwyn Coffeen, Mobile Press-Register
2nd Place: “Now what?” John Corbitt, St. Petersburg Times
3rd Place: “The Iraq War: What Would MLK Say?” Charles W. Cherry, Florida
Courier
46. Editorial Cartoons
1st Place: “Best Cartoons” Bill Day, The Commercial Appeal
2nd Place: “Cartoons” Clay Bennett, Chatanooga Times Free Press
3rd Place: “J.D. Crowe Editorial Cartoons” J.D. Crowe, Mobile Press-Register
Television Division
47. News Coverage
1st Place: “I-4 Pile-Up” Bay News 9, Bay News 9
2nd Place: “Kite Surfer” Peter D’Oench, Yuzeith Osorio, Adrienne Roark, WFORTV
3rd Place: “I-4 Disaster” ABC Action News Staff, WFTS-TV, ABC Action News
49. Investigative Reporting
1st Place: “Charity or Con?” Keli Rabon, Jim O’Donnell, WREG-TV
2nd Place: “Shiloh Eyesore” Steve Burgin, Paul Ahmann, WLKY TV
3rd Place: “The Robert Felner Investigation” Adam Walser, Steven Richard,
Jason Solan and Aron Pryor, WHRS
52. Feature Reporting
1st Place: “Seizure Dog- Katya’s Sixth Sense” Debi Chard, Matt Gladwell, Craig
Lloyd, WCSC-TV
2nd Place: “Daytripping: Gatorama” Kyle Jordan, Jason Sill, WINK
3rd Place: “Olympic Tailor” Mike Hardin, Quintin Wynn, Bay News 9
58. Public Service
1st Place: “Watching Your Money” Richelle Ridgeway, Jacqui Clark, Al Ruchel,
Bay News 9
2nd Place: “Growing up with Gangs” David Zelski, Philip C. Proctor, Carol Flask,
Georgia Public Broadcasting
3rd Place: “Mold” Marisa Mendelson, Jason Richards, James Goodwin, Miguel
Gayton, WFTX-TV
Television Specialized Reporting
1st Place: “Deadly Tornadoes” Shae Crisson, WTVD-TV
2nd Place: “Tropical Storm Fay” News 13, News 13
3rd Place: “Truth Tests” Greg Fox and Pete Delis, WESH-TV 2
Radio Division
69. Feature Reporting
1st Place: “Organic Meat Farm” Mary Kay Mitchell, WUGA-FM
2nd Place: “Cave Conservation” Kristin Espeland, WFPL
3rd Place: “Everything is Coming up Rosa” Bobbie O’Brien, WUSF
70. Public Affairs Reporting
1st Place: “The Learning Curve at Just Elementary” Bobbie O’Brien, WUSF
2nd Place: “Genocide Studies” Elizabeth Kramer, WFPL
72. Public Service
1st Place: “Considering Faith” WBHM News Team, WBHM-FM
2nd Place: “Drilling Fluids” Ron Breeding, KUAR Radio
3rd Place: “Ready for Independence at 18?” Margie Menzel, WFSU-FM
74. Courts and the Law Reporting
1st Place: “DNA Exonerations” Melissa Stiers, Georgia Public Broadcasting
2nd Place: “Domain Name Seizures” Tony McVeigh, Kentucky Public Radio
3rd Place: “Electing Judges” Bobbie O’Brien, WUSF
76. Coverage of Politics
1st Place: “Race in the Presidential Election” Simone Orendain, WFAE-FM
2nd Place: “Robocalls” Gabe Bullard, WFPL
3rd Place: “Senate Runoff Special” Rickey Bevington, Mary Ellen Cheatham,
Josephine Bennett, Noel Brown, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Radio Specialized Reporting
1st Place: “The Letters” Kathryn E. Mobley, 88.5 WFDD
2nd Place: “Beer Law, Wilcox Gas, Fight Song” Tanya Ott, WBHM-FM
3rd Place: “Bad News in News” Orlando Montoya, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Online Division
80. Best Multimedia
1st Place: “The Girl in the Window” Times Staff, St. Petersburg Times
2nd Place: “Hidden Lead” Ilyce Mackler and Leonora LaPeter Anton, St.
Petersburg Times
3rd Place: “Hidden: On the trail of a bank robber” M.K. McFarland, Gary A. Hork,
James I. Davison, Leslie M. Arntz, The Charleston Gazette
82. Best Blog
1st Place: “The Buzz” Times Politics Team, St. Petersburg Times
2nd Place: “Stuck in the 80s” Steve Spears, St. Petersburg Times
3rd Place: “Deal Divas” Stephanie Hayes, Nicole Hutcheson, Colleen Jenkins,
Letitia Stein, St. Petersburg Times
85. Non-Deadline Reporting
1st Place: “Gone too soon” Claudia Pinto, The Tennesseean
2nd Place: “The Murders at Grassy Creek” Winston-Salem Journal Staff,
Winston-Salem Journal
3rd Place: “White House in Carolina” Ken Whitehouse, SouthComm Inc.
89. Videography
1st Place: “I don’t want to be homeless” John Pendygraft, St. Petersburg Times
2nd Place: “The White House Boys” Emily Michot, Candace Barbot and Chuck
Fadely, The Miami Herald
3rd Place: “Mr. Postman” Brandon Ross, Times Daily
Online Specialized Reporting
1st Place: “Tornado Coverage” Staff, The Tennessean
2nd Place: “Top 25 Super Bowl Moments” Dave Scheiber, Frank Pastor,
Stephanie Boyar and Lee Glynn, St. Petersburg Times
3rd Place: “The changing face of the music industry” Staff, The Tennessean