AnnArbor.com wins 13 awards in Associated Press news-writing contest
AnnArbor.com was honored with 13 awards in the annual Michigan Associated Press Newswriting and Website Contest, more than any other media company in its circulation category.
The AP judges gave AnnArbor.com at least one award in eight of the 12 reporting categories for print newspapers, and AnnArbor.com also received three of the six awards that the AP gave for online journalism.
"We're honored to have the work of our journalists recognized by the AP judges across so many areas,'' said Tony Dearing, chief content officer for AnnArbor.com. "It's a tribute to the professionalism and hard work of our reporters and photographers, and a gratifying recognition of the quality of their efforts.''
The AP honors include:
First-place awards:
Sustained coverage of a single sports event, “Big Ten Expansion and Realignment,” Dave Birkett, Pete Bigelow, Michael Rothstein.
Sports reporting, “Illinois at Michigan,” Pete Bigelow, Michael Rothstein, Jeff Arnold.
News columns, “A plant full of memories,” Nathan Bomey.
Coverage of the Big Chill hockey game at Michigan Stadium earned a second-place award from AP.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Second-place awards:
Sustained coverage of a single news event, “Medical Marijuana,” Juliana Keeping, Ryan Stanton, Tina Reed, Tom Perkins.
Breaking news, “Fire kills 1, injures 2,” Stefanie Murray.
Features, “'Nerd' faces one tough sell,” Nathan Bomey.
Sports reporting, “Michigan at Notre Dame,” Pete Bigelow, Michael Rothstein.
News columns, “Saying bye to Bear,” Jen Eyer.
Sports columns, “Forcier receives his wake-up call,” Pete Bigelow.
Best online coverage of a single news story, “Big Chill at the Big House,” Jim Knight, Pete Bigelow, Rich Rezler, Jeff Arnold.
Best community engagement by a news web site, “VIDEO: Watch Ann Arbor City Council 5th ward candidates Newcombe Clark, John Floyd debate,” AnnArbor.com staff.
Third-place awards:
Editorial writing, “County needs to abolish per diems,” AnnArborcom staff.
Best online coverage of a single news story, “Presidential Visit,” AnnArbor.com staff.
AnnArbor.com competed in Division II, the category for newspapers with a circulation between 15,001 and 50,000. The awards will be presented at the annual AP banquet in Lansing on May 7.
Comments
abc
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.
At least one of these 'awards' neatly begs the question, "What is the criteria these articles are judge on." Below is one article that won an award reproduced in its entirety. ___________________ An Eastern Michigan University student died Saturday of injuries suffered in an early morning fire that gutted a rental home on South State Street in Ann Arbor. The student has been identified as 22-year-old Renden LeMasters of Dexter, according to a statement from EMU. LeMasters was a senior in the College of Technology. LeMasters was one of three people treated for injuries in the fire. Another man was released from the University of Michigan Hospital today and the third person, a woman, was in critical condition. "This is a tragic loss," EMU President Susan Martin said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Renden's family and friends at this difficult time." This story will be updated.
David Cahill
Sun, Apr 10, 2011 : 6:37 p.m.
These awards neatly dispose of the idea that AnnArbor.com is not engaged in real journalism.
Independent_Thinker
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 3:39 p.m.
@superhappyfunbrett, Of course we come back. AA.com is basically just another blog or bulletin board with heavy moderation leaning far to the left. Since we live in AA we come back to "blog" or "comment" on the big bulletin board that has a mixture of far left "blog posts" and local goings on. A blog/bulletin board containing such items is simply that, a local blog/bulletin board. I'm not complaining, I am stating reality, and I like this blog/bulletin board at times.. The so-called "news" we're getting here is censored in many ways. Furthermore, this is just one of many places to obtain information (which you are calling "news"). Interpreting it is another thing altogether.
superhappyfunbrett
Sun, Apr 10, 2011 : 11:58 p.m.
Annarbor.com is not journalism by any stretch of the imagination... and yet everyone who complains here keeps coming back and reading articles and posting comments on practically a daily basis. Apparently, local information just materializes via mystical visions for these people. Meanwhile in reality... Annarbor.com may still need to improve, but they ARE getting better. Little extreme to say they aren't doing their jobs at all. Give 'em a break, people. Start chasing down your own news if you think you could do THAT much better. Nobody is making you read the paper or this website. Get over yourselves.
Independent_Thinker
Sun, Apr 10, 2011 : 9:23 p.m.
+1 Rice Annarbor.com is not journalism by any stretch of the imagination, but neither is cable news. So, whatever ... The days of reporting facts went the way of the dodo years ago. Journalism is reporting facts as facts - not being extremely far left liberals (MSNBC, AA.com, etc) and moderating and censoring as such or being extremely far right (a la Fox News).
Ricebrnr
Sun, Apr 10, 2011 : 7:13 p.m.
Or they call into question the judgement and credentials of the awarding organization...
kilalqaeda
Sun, Apr 10, 2011 : 4:26 p.m.
I hope you guys become more liberal with these blog conversations, I see a lot of people's comments going bye bye that most any other Online News places allow including the "Free" Press. So congrats on your division 2 award but try to allow more free speech in the future and not be so closed minded and intolerant of peoples views who take the time to read your articles and support your corporate advertisements you post all over your sites.
Ypsi-Booster
Sun, Apr 10, 2011 : 3:34 p.m.
After glancing at this headline, I noticed that the very first article I read contained a glaring misspelling. annarbor.com has come a long way since the sad demise of the Ann Arbor News, but until somebody starts proofreading and improving the style (clean up the convoluted sytax, confusing headlines, generally poor copy) it will not be taken seriously as a news medium While you're at it, you might try to post newsworthy items in a more timely fashion. For instance, WEMU reported an important update on the Thompson Block situation long before it showed up on this website.
xmo
Sun, Apr 10, 2011 : 3:02 p.m.
Congrats to AA.com reporters! Hopefully, you will continue to improve as journalists.
Dog Guy
Sun, Apr 10, 2011 : 2:15 p.m.
What about the "Stock Smirk" award for the most frequent use of a single portrait of a politician?