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Friday, November 2, 2001 Media Cynic | Forum | Advertising | Classifieds | Jobs Online Journalism Award Winners Announced Rich Jaroslovsky, president of ONA and a senior editor at The Wall Street Journal, said: ``The roster of winners is impressive indeed, reflecting tremendous work done in a very difficult environment. The number of winners and finalists from outside the United States is particularly worth noting. It shows the global reach and power of the online medium -- and reminds us all that journalistic excellence can transcend national boundaries.'' Online Journalism Award Winners 1A. General Excellence in Online Journalism: Independent WINNER: Slate An online magazine about news, politics, and culture. The judges called Slate a Web site that's not afraid to take a stand on, and comment on, everything going on in the news. The site has "franchises that people get addicted to, and conceptual scoops every day," said one judge. "It's lively, it's smart, it's provocative, it gets you thinking." Judges also praised the site's color-coded navigation and generally called the site an outstanding example for online news publications. Finalists, in alphabetical order (only three finalists)
WINNER: BBC News Online A general news site, produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The judges said BBC's editors do an extraordinary job of re-imagining the news product for this medium, merging their broadcast and online efforts for effective news coverage in both media. Journalists work in multiple media, the stories are written in very readable form with helpful clickable guides, and the offerings are in many languages, the judges said. They break a lot of news and bring a perspective that's unmatched and invaluable. Finalists, in alphabetical order (five finalists in this category)
A general news site, produced by Cable News Network. 2. MSNBC.com A general news site which is a joint venture between NBC News and Microsoft. 3. The New York Times on the Web The Web version of The New York Times. 4. The Wall Street Journal Online The Web version of The Wall Street Journal. 5. WashingtonPost.com The Web version of The Washington Post. WINNER: Rediff.com: The Gujarat Earthquake Coverage of Jan. 2001 earthquake in India, which killed 30,000 people. The judges called the coverage incredibly comprehensive, with 12 to 15 stories a day on every angle of this major natural disaster, from the stories of the victims to the physics of the earthquake. It's clear and complete, they said, with interviews, discussions and extensive information on how people in India and abroad could help. And all this on a true breaking news story, with no warning and no opportunity to prepare or plan coverage in advance. Finalists, in alphabetical order (only three finalists)
WINNER: BBC News Online: Concorde Crash Coverage of Air France Concorde crash in Paris that killed 113 people on July 25, 2001. The judges said that the BBC's coverage reflected a swift marshaling of resources, extensive and clever graphics, and strong video, audio and photos. The site managed to take a sudden, tragic event and turn out an insightful, well-presented news and analysis package. Finalists, in alphabetical order
WINNER: Salon: Radio's Big Bully A series of reports on Clear Channel Communications, the most powerful force in the radio industry. The judges noted the amount of reporting that went into this package and what it revealed about how, years after the radio payola scandals, labels are still finding ways to buy their way onto the air. They described it as a classic piece of enterprise reporting, digging deep into a complex story, uncovering the layers of facts and the relationships that are so important in the radio industry and ultimately uncovering the sometimes questionable practices of a company that determines what many Americans hear. Finalists, in alphabetical order
WINNER: CNN.com: Colombia -- War Without End A report in English and Spanish about the strife in Colombia. The judges remarked on the scale of this package, done in both English and Spanish and including a large volume of original writing and photography by CNN reporter Steve Nettleton, work beyond what was done for the TV version. It's a mix of reporting, analysis, reference material, maps, chats and original source material from the various groups fighting in Colombia. Finalists, in alphabetical order
WINNER: ThemeParkInsider: Accident Watch A guide to safety at amusement parks across the U.S. The judges said: Relying on a community of users and the drive of a single journalist working in his spare time, this site offers theme park enthusiasts hard information about safety -- information that the government probably should provide, but doesn't. Accidents are reported simply and factually, and the site makes a clear distinction between rumor and confirmed reports -- especially important when users are the reporters. The judges called it "morbidly fascinating ... and really useful." Finalists, in alphabetical order
WINNER: PBS: On Our Own Terms -- Moyers on Dying ``End-of-life'' tools and more, based on a PBS program with Bill Moyers. The judges said: This package, based on a Bill Moyers special TV report, did more than just repurpose a TV show. It became the center of a strong community project tied to the show that could only be done with effective use of the Web. The judges said they found the guide for doctors on how to understand and handle diversity especially compelling. Said one judge: "They pulled it off like nobody else could." Finalists, in alphabetical order (only three finalists)
WINNER: DigitalJournalist.org: 20 Years -- AIDS & Photography A look at how AIDS has been documented by photographs. Judges called this an outstanding creative use of the medium, a great piece of journalism that could only exist online. The cliche about a picture being worth 1,000 words was never more meaningful, said one judge. Another said, simply, "I was very, very moved by it." Finalists, in alphabetical order
WINNER: Sun-Sentinel.com: Witness to an Epidemic -- AIDS in the Caribbean A multimedia, multilingual report on the effect of AIDS in some Caribbean countries. The judges said: This entry really struck a chord, both for its content and for the way it was presented. The writing is brief, intelligent and clear, making great use of photography and providing good access to powerful information. Calling the package "beautiful," the judges noted that it was delivered in two formats, one for low-bandwidth users that's more interactive and one that's narrated, in more of a television documentary style, for those with faster connections. Plus, it was done in three languages: English, Spanish and Creole. Finalists, in alphabetical order (only three finalists)
WINNER: 360Degrees.org: The U.S. Criminal Justice System Perspectives on U.S. justice system. The judges said this site ``humanizes the prison experience'' and provides a "nuanced and moving picture of the lives of people in prison." The creative use starts with the simple navigation, a series of concentric circles that makes it easy to get around. It continues with the extensive audio content that includes transcripts, an "are-you-a-criminal" quiz, timelines, and the offering of Flash and non-Flash sites for users with varied bandwidths. And, true to its name, there's good use of 360-degree photography to tell compelling stories about prisoners and their families. Finalists, in alphabetical order (only two finalists)
WINNER: HeraldSun.com: Touching Hearts -- A Story of Hope & Help in Nicaragua A story about a Duke University medical mission to Nicaragua; from The Herald-Sun, Durham, North Carolina. The judges called this site a daring design, making good use of the ``Ken Burns-style" technique of moving a camera over still photos. The Durham paper covered the story of local Duke University doctors donating their services in Nicaragua as only a local newspaper could, said the judges, and then told that story as only a Web site could. It uses an innovative combination of interactivity, letting the reader click through it, and TV-style presentation where a reader can simply sit back and absorb. Finalists, in alphabetical order
WINNER: Yahoo! Finance Vision Video-centric financial information and news. The judges said: While others talk about convergence, Yahoo has achieved it with this new delivery platform. It combines traditional television with interactive elements keyed directly to what's being said on the screen and does it all in nearly real time. The judges called it a "neat application of the technology" and one that "raises the bar" for future multiple-media applications. No finalists were named in this category. 7B. Innovative Presentation of Information: Affiliated WINNER: SmartMoney.com: Mutual Fund Map Tool to track mutual fund portfolios. The judges said: This tool provides a new way of conceiving, managing, displaying and understanding complex information. Millions of people have investments in mutual funds, but few have the understanding that this tool provides ... especially when you consider that the data needed to construct the map changes constantly. Finalists, in alphabetical order
WINNER: Dahlia Lithwick, Slate The judges said Lithwick really brings Supreme Court reporting alive, making coverage of a usually staid and serious beat vivid and enlightening, giving the reader a sense of the scene and tone inside the courthouse. Every column makes use of Slate's reader response board, The Fray, to launch a debate about the column topic. Finalists, in alphabetical order
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