News journalism presented in gallery or slide show format. The content of the images should be presented in the most direct and easily accessible way possible in an online environment.
(Image from first place entry: Fear and Fury in Western Sudan)
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Judges' Comments
The panel of judges saw a variety of different and exceptional photo stories in this category. We were engaged with memorials on Reagan and Arafat from the Post, "beautiful and clean design but not photo friendly" presentations from Reuters and under fire storytelling from the Los Angeles Times. But the top three positions for News Picture Stories are recognized because of their commitment to excellent photography and compelling stories.
'Fear & Fury in Sudan' (nytimes.com) led the pack not only with its strong visuals but also with its well-integrated audio narrative. The judges, as well as the stories viewers/listeners, undoubtedly appreciated the attention to detail in the producer’s ability to marry the two media together seamlessly. The packages tight edit and narrative not only helped to further the story but also allowed the viewer to stay with the package.
'The Tragedy of Sudan' (time.com) took 2nd place simply because of its remarkable photos and presentation. James Nachtwey’s powerful photographs purely take the viewer on location without the need of audio. This new and beautiful template developed by Time.com is a perfect example of respecting the photographer’s work and allowing the story to speak for itself. Even the simple white border around the photo is an example of the attention to detail that pushed this entry as very close running to 1st place.
'Jessica's Head' (startribune.com) rounds out this group with its compelling visual storytelling and its supportive audio narration. Her gripping story and her outgoing personality was successfully captured by the story and kept the viewer on wanting to hear her whole story.
Honorable Mentions
Two of the three honorable mentions, 'Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat dies at 75' and 'Remembering a President', caught the eyes and ears of the panel with their strong photographic memorials and to these historical figures. The third Honorable Mention, At Life’s End, has a tremendously powerful ending highlighting an important issue but, I for one, had a difficult time getting through the rather extended modules on the front end.
Andrew