The Society for Features Journalism has honored three Pulitzer Prize winners and a host of other journalists as part of its 2016 Excellence-in-Features Awards contest.
Three newspapers also were recognized with the inaugural Finest in Features Sweepstakes Awards, which goes to those publications that received the most honors in the annual contest. The first-ever Best College Features Journalist in the Country also was named. Winners in the 19 categories were announced today.
More than 700 entries were judged in the contest, which honors the craft of feature storytelling and the people who do it for a living at news organizations in the United States and Canada. Winners will be recognized at SFJ's national conference Aug. 10-13 in Austin, Texas.
SFJ President Lisa Glowinski said, "I am beyond impressed with the variety of winners this year. Excellent features journalism is truly alive and well – in print, online, on social media and in our readers' lives."
"Michael Cavna of the Washington Post, who received a first place and honorable mention in Digital Innovation and a second place in Feature Writing Specialty Portfolio."
Feature Speciality Writing Portfolio
Three stories by the same writer on one features specialty topic, such as arts and entertainment, fashion, food, health, religion, technology or travel.
First place: Ben Terris, The Washington Post
Judge's comments: Snazzy, free-flowing writing. Ben Terris proved that the 2016 campaign has been a gift not only to late-night comedians but also to political reporters. The Trump golf story was a hoot – maybe something that will prove to be much less funny down the road. In the meantime, we can take pleasure in sentences like this one, from his piece on tiny Dixville Notch, N.H.: "On a visit in late July, it was a humid and musty place, like walking through a recent sneeze." Bless you, Ben Terris.
Second place: Michael Cavna, The Washington Post
Judge's comments: The alternative storytelling was wonderful, but the conventional storytelling was spectacular. The "Peanuts" piece was brilliant, with life imitating art.
Digital Innovation
New or improved online ventures, including websites, apps, social-media experiments or other ways to share information in the digital world.
First place: Michael Cavna, "#Draw4Atena: The Social-Media Experiment That Went Global," The Washington Post
Judge's comments: Beautiful in its simplicity. The community impact couldn't be denied either. Loved this.
Second place: John Sutter, "You're Making This Island Disappear," CNN.com
Judge's comments: Particularly good use of video to discuss the problem, but the Snapchat video gave a more casual look at the people. Photos were gorgeous. (The editorial tone at the end of the main video could have been edited to let the research and body of work make that point rather than the reporter.)
Third place: Alex Baldinger, Kennedy Elliott, "Holiday Cookie Generator," The Washington Post
Judge's comments: Great idea and wonderful execution. I will be using this during the holidays.
Honorable mention: Michael Cavna, "Experiments in Instagram Short-Lived Art," The Washington Post
