After discussion, upon discussion, upon discussion, the judges could not single out a winner. So they settled on a tie for two very worthy stories. The stories, although spot news, were very different in their approaches. "You Can Lose Everything" was a reaction to an event after most of it had occurred. "Bolts on the Beach" was unfolding before out eyes as the crew was there before the spot news even began. Both stories were shot impeccably.
"You Can Lose Everything" was textbook in its approach. As viewers, we felt as if we were at the scene. We felt the pain and a connection to the residents affected by the flooding. The photographer and reporter were perfectly in synch. They found and presented the emotion perfectly. There were great tight shots and very well composed shots including a tell-all closing shot. Judge Christine Haas described the story "as a short period of time perfectly humanized by a hardworking team".
"Bolts on the Beach" could not be ignored for its rare perspective on a spot news event as it happened. It was a combination of luck and skill. Capturing the lightning bolt and the ensuing scene made for a great spot news story. The photographer showed great decision making in a chaotic atmosphere. All of the photographer's were so perfect, they could have told the story without a reporter's track. Judge Kevin Peter's commented "the fact the photographer thought out his shots so thoroughly in a very stressful and crazy situation made this story stand-out from the rest."
