Best Writing of 2009

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
(All circulations)

1. Rachel George, Wilmington (N.C.) StarNews
2. Bob Hohler, Boston Globe
3. Dan Wetzel, Adrian Wojnarowski, Josh Peter and Jason King, YahooSports
4. Steve Berkowitz, Steve Wieberg, A.J. Perez, Jodi Upton, Michael McCarthy and Tom O’Toole, USA Today
5. Michael S. Schmidt, New York Times

• Robert Anglen and Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic
• Michael Rosenberg, Jim Schaefer, Mark Snyder, Shawn Windsor, Drew Sharp, Paul Anger, Shannon Shelton, Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press
• Michael O’Keeffe, Christian Red, Teri Thompson, Nathaniel Vinton, New York Daily News
• Gary Klein and Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
• Ron Judd and Christine Willmsen, Seattle Times

OVER 250,000 CIRCULATION

BREAKING NEWS

1. Christopher Clarey and Gina Kolata, New York Times
2. Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
3. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times
4. Dan Wetzel, YahooSports
5. Dennis Knight and Tracey Kaplan, San Jose Mercury News
   

• Michael Rosenberg, M.L. Elrick and Mark Snyder, Detroit Free Press
• Shawn Windsor, Eric Sharp, Jo-Ann Barnas, Carlos Monarrez and Nicholas J. Cotsonika, Detroit Free Press
• Joseph Duarte and David Barron, Houston Chronicle
• Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News
• Charles Robinson and Jason Cole, YahooSports

COLUMN WRITING

1. Gary Shelton, St. Petersburg Times
2. Dave Hyde, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
3. Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
4. (tie) Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News
   (tie) Tim Sullivan, San Diego Union-Tribun

• Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times
• Gwen Knapp, San Francisco Chronicle
• Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune
• Bernie Miklasz, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
• Sally Jenkins, Washington Post

1. Mark Kram, Philadelphia Daily News
2. Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
3. Shira Springer, Boston Globe
4. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times
5. Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune
   

1. Mike Wise, Washington Post
2. Charles Robinson and Dan Wetzel, YahooSports
3. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune
4. Jackie Friedman, Newark Star-Ledger
5. Sally Jenkins, Washington Post
   

GAME STORIES

1. Chico Harlan, Washington Post
2. Dan Wetzel, YahooSports
3. Steve DiMeglio, USA Today
4. Liz Clarke, Washington Post
5. Jeff Passan, YahooSports
   

• Benjamin Hochman, Denver Post
• J. Brady McCollough, Kansas City Star
• Brendan Prunty, Newark Star-Ledger
• Joe Drape, New York Times
• Nate Ryan, USA Today
  

PROJECT REPORTING

1. Alan Schwarz, New York Times
2. Steve Yanda and Eric Prisbell, Washington Post
3. Bill Lubinger and Jodie Valade, Cleveland Plain Dealer
4. Rick Morrissey, Dan McGrath, David Haugh, K.C. Johnson, Shannon Ryan and Brian Hamilton, Chicago Tribune
5. Dan Wetzel and Josh Peter, YahooSports
   

• Shira Springer, Boston Globe
• Candace Buckner, Randy Covitz, Joe Posnanski, Matt Schofield, Adam Teicher, Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star
• Wayne Coffey, Filip Bondy, Mark Feinsand, John Harper, Roger Rubin, New York Daily News
• Andrea Adelson, Andrew Carter, Jeremy Fowler, Iliana Limon, Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel
• Marcus Hayes, Mark Kram, Sam Donnellon, Rich Hofmann, Chuck Bausman, Philadelphia Daily News

100,000-250,000 CIRCULATION

BREAKING NEWS

1. Andrew Marra, Michael LaForgia, Jason Lieser, Palm Beach Post
2. Reid Forgrave, Tony Leys, Grant Schulte, Erin Jordan, Mark Emmert, Sean Keeler, John Naughton, Randy Peterson, Andrew Logue, Dan McCool, Bryce Miller, Des Moines Register
3. Dirk Chatelain and Lee Barfknecht, Omaha World-Herald
4. (tie) Geoff Mosher, Wilmington (Del.) News Journal
   (tie) John Niyo, Detroit News

• Mike Martindale and Mike Wilkinson, Detroit News
• Desmond Conner, Hartford Courant
• Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post
• Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
• Steve Dilbeck, Salt Lake Tribune

1. Ian O’Connor, The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.)
2. Bob Klapisch, The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.)
3. Gordon Monson, Salt Lake Tribune
4. Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News
5. Martin Fennelly, Tampa Tribune

• Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman
• Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman
• Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
• Tom Powers, St. Paul Pioneer Press
• Martin Frank, Wilmington (Del.) News Journal

1. Tom Witosky, Des Moines Register
2. John Maher and Eric Dexheimer, Austin American-Statesman
3. (tie) Jeff Roberts, The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.)
   (tie) Nakia Hogan, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
4. Carl Prine, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

• Mike Wagner and Tom Reed, Columbus Dispatch
• Joanne C. Gerstner and Tim Twenytman, Detroit News
• Lori Nickel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Jay Drew, Salt Lake Tribune
• Geoff Baker, Seattle Times

1. Tom Reed, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
2. Jerry Brewer, Seattle Times
3. Gene Collier, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
4. Mark Story, Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader
5. Mike Leggett, Austin American-Statsman

• Bruce Miles, Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald
• Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post
• Jeff Roberts, The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.)
• Michael Becker, Riverside Press-Enterprise
• Mason Kelly, Seattle Times

1. Larry LaRue, Tacoma News Tribune
2. Chris McCosky, Detroit News
3. Ron Green Jr., Charlotte Observer
4. Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post
5. Ross Siler, Salt Lake Tribune

• Alan Trubow, Austin American-Statesman
• Mike Harrington, Buffalo News
• David Poole, Charlotte Observer
• Dave Kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Matt Calkins, Riverside Press-Enterprise

1. Tony Jones, Kurt Kragthorpe, Michael C. Lewis, Steve Luhm, Gordon Monson, Martin Renzhofer, Ross Siler and Lya Wodraska, Salt Lake Tribune
2. Mike Dyer and Ryan Ernst, Cincinnati Enquirer
3. Dan Johnson, Tom Witosky and Bill Petroski, Des Moines Register
4. Scott Cacciola, Memphis Commercial Appeal
5. Steve Esack, Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call

• Peter St. Onge, Charlotte Observer
• Adam Hill, Matt Youmans, Ed Graney, Doug Elfman, Las Vegas Review-Journal
• Bob McGinn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
• Jerry Brewer, Seattle Times

40,000-100,000 CIRCULATION

BREAKING NEWS

1. Scott Dochterman, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
2. David Filkins, Paul Grondahl, Christen Gowan, The Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)
3. John Maffei, North County Times (Escondido, Calif.)
4. Bruce Pascoe, Arizona Daily Star
5. Jeffrey Martin, The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle

• Todd M. Adams, The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
• Taft Coghill Jr., The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.)
• Ryly Jane Hambleton, Lincoln Journal Star
• Eric Hansen, South Bend (Ind.) Tribune
• Sal Interdonato, Times Herald-Record (Middletown, N.Y.)

1. John Blanchette, Spokane (Wash.) Spokesman-Review
2. Sam Borden, Journal News (White Plains, N.Y.)
3. Donnie Collins, Scranton (Pa.) Times-Tribune
4. George Schroeder, The Register-Guard (Eugene, Ore.)
5. Bob Lutz, Wichita (Kan.) Eagle

• Scott Michaux, Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle
• Brad Rock, Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
• David Jones, Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News
• Lowell Cohn, Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat
• Kevin Thomas, Portland (Maine) Press Herald

1. Brian Hiro, North County Times (Escondido, Calif.)
2. Bob Gillespie, The State (Columbia, S.C.)
3. George Schroeder, The Register-Guard (Eugene, Ore.)
4. Nate Ulrich, Times of Northwest Indiana
5. Kevin Brockway, Gainesville (Fla.) Sun

• Drew Bruno, Evansville (Ind.) Courier Press
• Josh Bean, Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register
• Joe Morelli, New Haven (Conn.) Register
• Seth Emerson, The State (Columbia, S.C.)
• Alan Blondin, The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)

1. Dan Wiederer, Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
2. Scott Michaux, Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle
3. Brian Christopherson and Brian Rosenthal, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star
4. Adam Himmelsbach, Fredericksburg (Va.) Free Lance-Star
5. Todd M. Adams, Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer

• Patrick Finley, Arizona Daily Star
• Michael Lewis, Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal
• Peter Kerasotis, Florida Today (Melbourne, Fla.)
• Mark Lazerus, Post Tribune (Merriville, Ind.)
• Erin Bolen, Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader

1. Brian Hiro, North County Times (Escondido, Calif.)
2. Rich Campbell, The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.)
3. Matt Erickson, The Times (Munster, Ind.)
4. Coley Harvey, The Telegraph (Macon, Ga.)
5. Alan Blondin, The Sun Times (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)

• Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star
• Jeff Nahill, North County Times (Escondido, Calif.)
• Gentry Estes, Press-Register (Mobile, Ala.)
• Curtis Anderson, Register-Guard (Eugene, Ore.)
• Katrina Waugh, Roanoke (Va.) Times

1. Gentry Estes and Mike Herndon, Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register
2. Gene Sapakoff, Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier
3. Stu Whitney, Mick Garry, Terry Vandrovec, Matt Zimmer, Maggie Stehr and Mike Klinski, Sioux Falls (S.D.) Argus Leader
4. Todd M. Adams and Dan Wiederer, The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
5. Brandt Merritt, The Lakeland (Fla.) Ledger

• Scott M. Johnson, The Everett (Wash.) Daily Herald
• David Teel and Dave Fairbank, Newport News (Va.) Daily Press
• Annabelle Tometich, The News-Press (Fort Myers, Fla.)
• Bob Flounders, Roxanne Moses, David Bohr, Rod Frisco, James Phillips, Andrew Shay, John Tuscano, Jeremy Elliott, David Rung, Michael Bullock and David Jones, Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News
• Chris Beaven, Joe Frollo, Todd Porter, Josh Weir, The Repository (Canton, Ohio)

UNDER 40,000 CIRCULATION

BREAKING NEWS STORY

1. Dugan Arnett, (Lawrence, Kan.) Journal-World
2. Patrick Ridgell, (Longmont, Colo.) Daily Times-Call
3. Marc Weiszer, Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald
4. (tie) Brad Engel and Jason Ivanitz, Naperville (Ill.) Sun
5. (tie) Kevin Melton, (Spartanburg, S.C.) Herald-Journal

• Chris Koman and Hugh Kellenberger, (Bloomington, Ind.) Herald-Times
• Dave O’Onofrio, Concord (N.H.) Monitor
• Alicia Johnson, (Glens Falls, N.Y.) Post-Star
• Stacy Long, Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser
• Jim Seimas and Jennifer Squires, Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel

1. 1. (tie) Rick S. Alvord, The Longview (Wash.) Daily News
   (tie) Chuck Pollock, Olean (N.Y.) Times Herald
2. Brian T. Smith, The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.)
3. John Sahly, DeKalb (Ill.) Daily Chronicle
4. Josh Moon, Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser

• Jon Styf, DeKalb (Ill.) Daily Chronicle
• John Turner, Kerrville (Texas) Daily Times
• Ryan Moses, Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel
• Jon Couture, The New Bedford (Ma.) Standard-Times
• Greg Fallon, The Star Press (Muncie, Ind.)

1. Chris Carlson, Berkshire (Mass.) Eagle
2. Buck Frank, Altoona (Pa.) Mirror
3. Aaron Suttles, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News
4. Dan Goldberg, Antelope Valley Press (Palmdale, Calif.)
5. Patrick Schmiedt, Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune

• Alex Ruppenthal and Matt Schiffman, Columbia Missourian
• Tim McManus, Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
• Justin Jarrett, Hilton Head (S.C.) Island Packet
• Randy Whitehouse, Lewiston (Maine) Sun Journal
• Todd Shanesy, Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald-Journal

1. Tony Baranek, Southtown Star (Tinley Park, Ill.)
2. (tie) Corey Mitchell, Saginaw (Mich.) News
   (tie) Dave Zeitlin, West Chester (Pa.) Daily Local News
3. Rob Schultz, Capital Times (Madison, Wis.)
4. Jim Seimas, Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.)

• Jim Owczarski, Aurora (Ill.) Beacon News
• Alex Matthews, Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
• Tony Blasi, Lewiston (Maine) Sun Journal
• Rick S. Alvord, Longview (Wash.) Daily News
• Jeff Breer, Southeast Missourian (Cape Girardeau, Mo.)

1. Chris Carlson, Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Mass.)
2. (tie) Will Springstead, Post Star (Glens Falls, N.Y.)
   (tie) Greg Fallon, The Star Press (Muncie, Ind.)
3. Andrew Hamilton, Iowa City Press-Citizen
4. Tim McManus, Post Star (Glens Falls, N.Y.)

• Patrick Ridgell, Daily Times-Call (Longmont, Colo.)
• H. Williams Kellenberger, Herald-Times (Bloomington, Ind.)
• Joe Stevenson, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, Ill.)
• Julie Jag, Santa Cruz (Calif.) Sentinel
• Christopher Smith, Southeast Missourian (Cape Girardeau, Mo.)

1. Tim McManus and Jackie Friedman, Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star
2. Dave D’Onofrio, Concord (N.H.) Monitor
3. Brett Vito, Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle
4. Eric Baca, Merisa Jensen, Alan Hendry, Eric Harding, Toby Carrig and Brian Golden, Antelope Valley Press (Palmdale, Calif.)
5. Cory Giger, Altoona (Pa.) Mirror

• Jeff Cochran, Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald
• Patrick Schmiedt, Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune
• Jason Wolf, Danville (Va.) Register & Bee
• Andrew Carroll, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News
• Robert Gagliardi, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne)