FIRST AMENDMENT: For devotion to overcoming obstacles in the path of a free flow of information and thus contributing through extraordinary effort to the public’s right to know.
Under 40,000 — Iowa City Press Citizen for the University of Iowa sexual assault investigation.
Persistence in seeking through court orders relevant documents on the University of Iowa’s response to a sexual assault on campus unraveled the university’s clamp on informaiton that revealed many problems in the university’s response to the assault. E-mails among university staffers revealed inconsistencies in how the assault victim was treated, and indirectly led to an examination of how the university handles issues such as vacant dorm rooms and assault on campus. The newspaper showed strong commitment to use access law, even at great expense, to pry records and information loose.
40,000-149,000 — Rochester Democrat and Chronicle for “Court Records Not Made Public”
This entry is what the First Amendment category is about, reporting that paves the way to future access to public information by reporters and the general public. The Democrat and Chronicle exposed and helped correct a system of “that’s t he way we’ve always done it,” whereby officials were failing to file court documents in their proper place, effectively keeping the public in the dark on many legal cases, civil and criminal.
Over 150,000 — The Louisville Courier Journal for an examination of the University of Louisville Foundation.
The Courier Journal was persistent over several years and eventually successful in getting the Kentucky Supreme Court to rule that foundation donors should be public. The newspaper displayed exactly the kind of effort to defend and expand the reach of open records laws that this category is designed to recognize.
In defense of a free press, the APME presents the First Amendment Sweepstakes award to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
In addition, the judges awarded these APME First Amendment citations:
• The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch for an examination of how major colleges use a vague federal law to shield information about their big-time athletic departments.
• The Memphis (Tenn.) Commercial Appeal for stories and a searchable database of state handgun carry permit holders.
• The Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, S.D., for stories showing the consolidation of casino licenses into the hands of a few main players.
• The Victoria (Texas) Advocate for shedding light on a dysfunctional local judicial system.
• The Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro, Tenn., for stories, columns and editorials about a botched police investigation into a fatal traffic accident in which an on-duty officer struck and killed an 11-year-old girl, then allegedly tried to dispose of two bottles of liquor in his patrol cruiser.
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: For outstanding achievement in presenting international news to local readers.
Under40,000 — No winner
40,000-149,000 — Des Moines Register for “Hope at Any Cost..”
This ambitious series launched after a massive raid at a meatpacking factory, shed light on the conditions that prompted an influx of illegal immigration in an Iowa town. The reporter and photographer traveled to Guatemala to tell the stories of deported former residents who suffered through horrific conditions to pursue opportunity in the U.S.
Above 150,000 — The Boston Globe for “Worldly Boston”
Through his stories and blog, former Globe foreign editor James F. Smith demonstrated that newspapers can bring readers an international perspective without leaving honme. Whether it was showing local historic ties to Cape Verde or Bostonians’ assistance in the hunt for an AIDS vaccine, Smith provided his readers with an insightful connection to world events.
Honorable mentions in this category include:
• The Washington Post for gripping accounts showing the enormous burdens borne by women in West Africa and South Asia.
• The Boston Globe for four stories of Bostonians who shaped world events.
ONLINE CONVERGENCE: For excellence and innovation in presenting quality journalism both in print and online.
Under 40,000 — Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World for “Underground Kansas.”
This was an in-depth multimedia look at off-limits sites, valuable resources and fascinating features that exist beneath the surface of the Sunflower State. The project also is the result of several months of reporting, producing and organizing the information intended to be regarded as unusual, both in content and through its presentation. This is the newspaper’s third straight Online Convergence Award.
40,000-149,000— The News-Press, Fort Myers, Fla., for “Amazing Grace: A Dream Comes True”
The web site, news-press.com, and newspaper used the best of each medium to tell the story of a boy’s dying dream to build an orphanage for the childeren of Africa. This is excellent convergence with top-notch photograph, Flash multimedia and video combined with narrative storytelling. A young man’s dying wish is not a trip to Disney World or a visit from a popular athletic. This remarkable youth wants something completely unselfish — that an orphanage be built in Africa.
Over 150,000 — The Las Vegas Sun for “Quenching Las Vegas’ Thirst”
Las Vegas is undergoing a serious water shortage, which is only going to get worse with population growth and changes in global climate. The special feature uses a cutting-edge multimedia player and a Flash-driven special feature uses a cutting-edge multimedia player and a Flash-driven interactive databaswe to explain one of the most complex and politically charged issues in Nevada today, and certainly one of the most important.
Honorable mentions in this category include:
• The Seattle Times and seattletimes.com for a two-year investigation into the murky world of congressional earmarks.
