2005 Castleberry Winners
Vivian Castleberry Awards honor excellence in
reporting
2005 Winners
NEWS REPORTING, OVER 100,000 CIRCULATION:
Lisa Falkenberg, The Associated Press,
``Severed Arms''
The judge said a mother severing her 11-month-old daughter's arm from
her body was sure to make national headlines for its shocking nature alone.
Lisa Falkenberg instead dug deeper into the case and sought reasons for
why a mother would commit such a heinous act, and found a connection between
this case and similar crimes.
NEWS REPORTING, UNDER 100,000 CIRCULATION:
John Council, Texas Lawyer,
``Motherhood at the Firm''
The judge said Council took the extra step, making an issue story out
of what could have been a simple news story about a woman's allegations
of discrimination in the workplace because of her pregnancy. The story
detailed the legal battle that was the focus and broadened the issue
with statistics on similar cases and complaints. It's a good example on
how to add punch to a news story.
NEWSPAPER FEATURE, OVER 100,000 CIRCULATION
Deb Kollars, The Sacramento Bee,
``A Season of Sorrow''
The judge said Ms. Kollars is masterful in telling a story that captures
the essence of a cheerleading season fraught with tragedy, courage, compassion
and perseverance. Her writing and reporting capture an extraordinary drama
in a clear, coherent manner while tiny grains of detail create a vivid,
compelling and moving account.
NEWSPAPER FEATURE, UNDER 100,000 CIRCULATION
Nicole Brambila, San Angelo Standard-Times,
``Of Choice & Life''
The judge said the stories put faces to the issues of abortion. The package
is filled with deeply personal images: a man who dons a bulletproof vest
every day before going to work at a Planned Parenthood clinic, and a haunted
woman fearful God will weigh her three abortions and keep her from parenthood.
The stories represent the power of journalism to show the complexities
of a topic too often relegated to catch phrases.
COMMENTARY, OVER 100,000 CIRCULATION
June Naylor, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The judges said June Naylor's tribute to Gertie Prater is written from
her heart and that's why it grabs you, rivets your attention and eventually
pulls you in. A writer can't fake the emotion found in these simple, heartfelt
words. And that's why the column works so well. Tribute delivered.
COMMENTARY, UNDER 100,000 CIRCULATION
Kim Pleticha, Parent:Wise Austin
The judge said Kim Pleticha's "From the Editor" columns achieve
her goal of informing and educating readers. Her writing is conversational
and to the point. She illuminates topics of concern to all of her readers
and makes her points with intelligence and passion.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Donna McWilliam, The Associated Press;
Sharon Steinmann, Al Dia (tie)
The judge said her eyes welled with tears when she saw Donna McWilliam's
tender photo of an elderly woman clutching a folded flag at her son's
funeral. He had been missing in action from Vietnam, and his remains had
recently been identified. The judge said Sharon Steinmann poignantly documents
a 16-year-old girl and her 18-year-old boyfriend as they journey into
parenthood -- not
only their struggles but their families' and community's support. Some
of the photos show the expectant couple at the prom, in the delivery room
and caring for the baby while hanging out with friends.
TELEVISION NEWS
Dawn Tongish, WB-33, ``I'm a Survivor''
The judge praised this two-part series about a woman's powerful and courageous
account of being raped by a man who forced his way into her home. The
judge said the statistics and other information from law enforcement and
those who work with rape victims added context to the story.
TELEVISION FEATURE
Karen Borta, KTVT, ``Noreen's Nourishment"
The judge said Karen Borta presented a touching story about a woman who
wanted to make a difference after her daughter died of liver cancer before
she was a year old. The home videos of baby Noreen added an emotional
element to the story about the woman's program of providing weekly home-cooked
meals to families of children's hospital cancer patients.
RADIO FEATURE
Barbara Schwarz, Texas State Network,
``Survivors Speak''
The judge said the story was moving because it was told through the eyes
of breast cancer survivors of all ages, including Ms. Schwarz's own mother
and sister. The judge also noted the good use of sound as the women --
and one man -- who overcame breast cancer talked at the Race for the Cure
in Dallas last fall.
ONLINE INTERACTIVITY, SITES OVER 1 MILLION VISITORS
Karen Dee Davis, John Banks and Smiley Pool, DallasNews.com
The judge said the package on Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast and Texan
Carly Patterson was interesting and easy to navigate, and the information
behind the making of the special photograph was interesting.
WOMAN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Kim Pleticha, Parent:Wise Austin
The judge said this former television news anchor with minimal print journalism
experience took on an ambitious task when she founded Parent:Wise Austin
magazine early last year. She has succeeded in creating a magazine for
thinking parents, with well-written and researched stories about everything
from midwives to preteen puberty to
mommy wars. The magazine has a 91 percent pickup rate and also has sponsored
some nonprofit and women's events in the community.
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