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The East Valley Tribune was named Arizona's Newspaper of the Year among large  publications in the 2009 Better Newspapers contest sponsored jointly by the Arizona Newspapers Association and the Arizona Associated Press Managing Editors.

The awards were announced Saturday at the groups' annual convention held at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

The Payson Roundup won Newspaper of the Year in the small newspaper division. Newspaper of the Year awards are calculated from honors won in the Excellence in Advertising Contest added with winning entries from the Better Newspapers Contest for editorial excellence.

“We’re very honored to be given this award once again,” said Tribune Editor Chris Coppola. “It’s really a testament to the hard work of all the people here at the Tribune and their commitment to putting out such a great product that serves the readers of the East Valley.”

The Tribune and its staff also garnered numerous  editorial awards, including story of the year for a series titled Blood and Money by former Tribune reporter Mark Flatten. The story also won first place for investigative reporting in the large newspaper category.  It documented the rising and dangerous trend of kidnappings in the Valley involving illegals who are smuggled across the border.

Former Tribune reporter John Leptich took first place for best news story for his report on a mother who rescued her six children from t heir burning home.

The Tribune also took first place for community service/journalistic achievement among large papers, and first place for a special section in the same category for a section that previewed the Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl appearance.

The paper also swept all three awards for multimedia storytelling, winning first place for the online presentation that accompanied the paper's Pulitzer Prize winning series called, "Reasonable Doubt,'' which took an in-depth look at Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crime suppression sweeps targeting illegal immigrants.

Second and third place  awards were won by sports writer Mark Heller and Kyle Odegard for best sports story. Photographer Ralph Freso won second-place honors for sports and feature photography, and a third-place in news photography. Reporters Ari Cohn, Mike Sakal and Hayley Ringle  took third place awards for best news feature,  best sustained coverage and best news story respectively. Cohn won for his story about the impact on groundwater from a tainted well, and Sakal won for his coverage of a Paradise Valley Community College professor's indescretion. Ringle won for her coverage of teacher layoffs in Gilbert.

Among other papers, Dean Knuth of the Arizona Daily Star was named Photographer of the Year for daily newspapers and photographer Dave Brown of the San Pedro Valley News-Sun and Arizona Range News won in the non-daily division.

Journalist of the Year awards went to Rob O'Dell of the Arizona Daily Star in the daily division, and Peter Aleshire of the Payson Roundup won in the non-daily division.

 Operation Firewater by Cindy Yurth and Duane Beyal of the Navajo Times was the non-daily winner for story of the year.

The Associated Press Member of the Year Award went to The Daily Courier of Prescott. The award is presented each year to the AP member newspaper that best exhibits the news-sharing spirit of the AP cooperative.

This year, 54 newspapers and 16 high schools entered in the Better Newspapers Contest with a total of 1,155 entries. The Mississippi Press Association judged this year's entries.

WINNERS BY CATEGORY AND DIVISION

Division 1: Non-Daily Circulation under 3,500

Division 2: Non-Daily Circulation 3,501 to 10,000

Division 3: Non-Daily Circulation 10,001 and up

Division 4: Daily Circulation Under 25,000

Division 5: Daily Circulation Greater than 25,000

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

Division 1:

1st place (tie): Arizona Capitol Times

San Pedro Valley News-Sun

2nd place: Verde Independent/The Bugle

3rd place: Coolidge Examiner

Division 2:

1st place: Payson Roundup

2nd place: Fountain Hills Times

3rd place: Sedona Red Rock News

Division 3:

1st place: Prescott Valley Tribune

2nd place: Tucson Weekly

3rd place: Explorer

Division 4:

1st place: Sierra Vista Herald

2nd place: The Daily Courier

3rd place: The Sun

Division 5:

1st place: The Arizona Republic

2nd place: East Valley Tribune

3rd place: Arizona Daily Star

REPORTING & NEWSWRITING EXCELLENCE

Division 1:

1st place: Arizona Capitol Times

2nd place: Maricopa Monitor

3rd place: San Pedro Valley News-Sun

Division 2:

1st place: Eastern Arizona Courier

2nd place: Payson Roundup

3rd place: Sedona Red Rock News

Division 3:

1st place: West Valley View

2nd place: Prescott Valley Tribune

3rd place: Navajo Times

Division 4:

1st place: The Daily Courier

2nd place: Kingman Daily Miner

3rd place: Sierra Vista Herald

Division 5:

1st place: The Arizona Republic

2nd place: Arizona Daily Star

3rd place: East Valley Tribune

DEPARTMENTAL NEWS & COPYWRITING EXCELLENCE

Division 1:

1st place: San Pedro Valley News-Sun

2nd place: Arizona Capitol Times

3rd place: Arizona Range News

Division 2:

1st place: Payson Roundup

2nd place: Fountain Hills Times

3rd place: Eastern Arizona Courier

Division 3:

1st place: Tucson Weekly

2nd place: Green Valley News and Sun

3rd place: Explorer

Division 4:

1st place: Sierra Vista Herald

2nd place: The Daily Sun

3rd place: Eastern Arizona Courier

Division 5:

1st place: The Arizona Republic

2nd place: Arizona Daily Star

3rd place: East Valley Tribune

PAGE DESIGN EXCELLENCE

Division 1:

1st place: San Pedro Valley News-Sun

2nd place: Coolidge Examiner

3rd place: Camp Verde Journal

Division 2:

1st place: Payson Roundup

2nd place: Jewish News of Greater Phoenix

3rd place: Sedona Red Rock News

Division 3:

1st place: Scottsdale Times

2nd place: Phoenix Business Journal

3rd place: Tucson Weekly

Division 4:

1st place: Today's News-Herald

2nd place: The Sun, Yuma

3rd place: Mohave Valley Daily News

Division 5:

1st place: The Arizona Republic

2nd place: Arizona Daily Star

3rd place: East Valley Tribune

EDITORIAL PAGE EXCELLENCE

Division 1:

1st place: Camp Verde Journal

2nd place: Verde Independent/The Bugle

3rd place: Arizona Capitol Times

Division 2:

1st place: Payson Roundup

2nd place: Eastern Arizona Courier

3rd place: Fountain Hills Times

Division 3:

1st place: Explorer

2nd place: West Valley View

3rd place: Tucson Weekly

Division 4:

1st place: Daily News-Sun

2nd place: The Sun, Yuma

3rd place: The Daily Courier

Division 5:

1st place: The Arizona Republic

2nd place: East Valley Tribune

3rd place: Arizona Daily Star

BEST USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Division 1:

1st place: Coolidge Examiner

2nd place: The Eloy Enterprise

3rd place: San Pedro Valley News-Sun

Division 2:

1st place: Sedona Red Rock News

2nd place: Fountain Hills Times

3rd place: White Mountain Independent

Division 3:

1st place: Navajo Times

2nd place: Prescott Valley Tribune

3rd place: West Valley View

Division 4:

1st place: The Sun, Yuma

2nd place: Today's News-Herald

3rd place: Daily News-Sun

Division 5:

1st place: Arizona Daily Star

2nd place: The Arizona Republic

3rd place: East Valley Tribune

COMMUNITY SERVICE/JOURNALISTIC ACHIEVEMENT

Division 1:

1st place: Arizona Capitol Times

2nd place: San Pedro Valley News-Sun

3rd place: Arizona Range News

Division 2:

1st place: White Mountain Independent

2nd place: Fountain Hills Times

3rd place: Sedona Red Rock News

Division 3:

1st place: The Catholic Sun

2nd place: West Valley View

3rd place: The Communicator

Division 4:

1st place: The Daily Courier

2nd place: Daily News-Sun

3rd place: Arizona Daily Sun

Division 5:

1st place: East Valley Tribune

2nd and 3rd place: None awarded

SPECIAL SECTION, NEWSPAPER SUPPLEMENT OR MAGAZINE

Division 1:

1st place: Verde Independent/The Bugle - Kudos

2nd place: Arizona Capitol Times - Focus

3rd place: None awarded

Division 2:

1st place: Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - Chosen

2nd place: Sedona Red Rock News - Artscene

3rd place: Payson Roundup - A Community of Learners

Division 3:

1st place: Explorer - Healthcare Directory

2nd place: The Business Journal - Healthcare Heroes

3rd place: None awarded

Division 4:

1st place: Sierra Vista Herald - Our Community

2nd place: Mohave Valley Daily News - Desert Currents

3rd place: The Daily Courier - Go Green

Division 5:

1st place: East Valley Tribune - Within Reach

2nd and 3rd place: None awarded

NEWSPAPER WEB SITE

Division 1:

1st place: Verde Independent/The Bugle

2nd place: San Pedro Valley News-Sun

3rd place: Arizona Capitol Times

Division 2:

1st place: Fountain Hills Times

2nd place: Payson Roundup

3rd place: White Mountain Independent

Division 3:

1st place: Prescott Valley Tribune

2nd place: Tucson Weekly

3rd place: The State Press

Division 4:

1st place: Sierra Vista Herald

2nd place: Arizona Daily Sun

3rd place: The Sun, Yuma

Division 5:

1st place: The Arizona Republic

2nd place: Arizona Daily Star

3rd place: None awarded

BEST HIGH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

Scholastic Division: Large Schools (4A & 5A)

1st place: The Crusader, Salpointe Catholic High School

2nd place: The Cactus Chronicle, Tucson High Magnet School

3rd place: The Cornerstone, Carl Hayden

High School Scholastic Division: Small Schools (3A & smaller)

1st place: The Gregorian Chant, St. Gregory College Prep

2nd place: Lobo Nation, Many Farms High School

3rd place: The Eagle's Eyrie, Bourgade High School

BEST HEADLINE

Division 1:

1st place: Don Harris, Arizona Capitol Times - Land-Locked Out: Dispute with State Strands Homeowners

2nd place: Matt Bunk, Arizona Capitol Times - Dirty Bond Money: AZ Judge Cleared to Probe Suspicious Payments"

3rd place: Don Harris, Arizona Capitol Times - The Biggest Elections Nobody Watches

Division 2:

1st place: Salvatore Caputo, Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - Mr. Gordon Goes to Israel

2nd Place: Trista Steers, Cottonwood Journal Extra - Food, Fox-Trot Finance Future

3rd Place: Andy Staten, White Mountain Independent - Hurricane Blows Away Show Low 36-6

Division 3: No entries submitted

Division 4:

1st place: Matt Hickman, Sierra Vista Herald - From Atrophy to a Trophy

2nd Place: Amy Crawford, the Sun - Holey Ground

3rd Place: Rich Thurlow, Kingman Daily Miner - Loose Lips Sinks Fripps Rezone Effort

Division 5:

1st Place: Joe McDermott, Arizona Daily Star - Did Foot in Face Kick-Start the Cats?

2nd Place: Ron Solomon, Arizona Daily Star - Laundry Basket As a Nest: Will That Wash?

3rd Place: None Awarded

BEST NEWS STORY

Division 1:

1st Place: Luige Del Puerto, Arizona Capitol Times - Amid Fiscal Crisis, Lawmakers Buy New Computers

2nd Place: Adam Gaub, Maricopa Monitor - Grandmother Fights

3rd Place: Jeremy Duda, Arizona Capitol Times - Arizona 0-for-4: Echoes of Goldwater As Moccasin Falls to Obama

Division 2:

1st Place: Peter Aleshire, Payson Roundup - Tribute Wall Roars Into Town

2nd Place: Maria Knaub, White Mountain Independent - Garbage Attracting Bears to Residential Areas

3rd Place: Alexis Bechman, Payson Roundup - Firefighter Shocked Pinching Gas Line

Division 3:

1st Place: Cindy Yurth and Duane Beyal, Navajo Times - Operation Firewater

2nd Place: Cindy Yurth and Duane Beyal, Navajo Times - Ranchers Denied Relief

3rd Place: Jim Nintzel, Tucson Weekly - Bloodbath at City Hall

Division 4:

1st Place: Neil Young, Mohave Valley Daily News - Extinguished

2nd Place: Dana Cole, Sierra Vista Herald - Building Matter Sparks Heated Moments in

Tombstone Streets

3rd Place: Joyce Lobeck, the Sun - Yuma Wheat Goes Kosher

Division 5:

1st Place: John Leptich, East Valley Tribune - Heroic Mom Saves 6 Kids From Blaze

2nd Place: Brady McComb's and Alex Huicochea, Arizona Daily Star - Officer on Life Support After Crosstown Pursuit

3rd Place: Hayley Ringle, East Valley Tribune - Gilbert District Votes to Cut 400 Teachers

BEST SUSTAINED COVERAGE OR SERIES

Division 1:

1st Place: Luige Del Puerto, Arizona Capitol Times - Religion and Politics

2nd Place: Lee Pulaski, Lake Powell Chronicle - the Local Economy

3rd Place: Daniel Dullum, Florence Reminder and Blade-Tribune - School Technology

Division 2:

1st Place: Peter Aleshire, Payson Roundup - Vietnam

2nd Place: Sean Dieterich, White Mountain Independent - St. Johns Double Homicide

3rd Place: Alison Ecklund, Sedona Red Rock News - Sedona Fire District

Division 3:

1st Place: Shanna Hogan, Scottsdale Time - Funeral Homes

2nd Place: Staff, Phoenix Business Journal - Cardinals

3rd Place: Jason Begay, Navajo Times - Boondoggle

Division 4:

1st place: T.M. Shultz, The Daily Courier - Healthcare

2nd Place: Shar Porier, Bisbee Daily Review - 4-Day School Plan

3rd Place: Suzanne Adams, Kingman Daily Miner - Meth Bust

Division 5:

1st place: Rob O'Dell, Arizona Daily Star - Rio Nuevo

2nd place: Stephanie Innes and Aaron Mackey, Arizona Daily Star - Phoenix Mars Lander

3rd place: Mike Sakal, East Valley Tribune - PVCC Professor

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

Division 1:

1st place: Jim Small, Arizona Capitol Times - SCA Contributions

2nd Place: Thelma Grimes, San Pedro Valley News-Sun - Hospital Deficiencies

3rd Place: Thelma Grimes, San Pedro Valley News-Sun - Power Rate Hike

Division 2:

1st place: Peter Aleshire, Payson Roundup - Endangered Species

2nd Place: Alexis Bechman, Payson Roundup - Star Valley Town Manager Investigation

3rd place: John Johnson, Eastern Arizona Courier - Coach Parmeter

Division 3:

1st place: Shanna Hogan, Scottsdale Times - Baseline Killer

2nd place: J.D. Long-Garcia, Catholic Sun - Iraqi Refugees

3rd place: Marley Shebala, Navajo Times - Top Officials Avoid Charges

Division 4:

1st place: T.M. Shultz, The Daily Courier - VA Medical Center

2nd place: Joanna Dodder Nellas, the Daily Courier - Yavapai County Assessor

3rd place: Larry Hendricks, Arizona daily Sun - Kidnapped, Robbed, Killed for Drugs

Division 5:

1st place: Mark Flatten, East Valley Tribune - Blood and Money

2nd Place: Carol Ann Alaimo and Shelly Shelton, Arizona Daily Star - Wildcat Mitsubishi

3rd Place: Jack Gillum, Andrea Rivera, George Sanchez, Jamar Younger, Sarah Garrecht Gassen and Rhonda Bodfield, Arizona Daily Star - High School Students

BEST SPORTS STORY

Division 1:

1st place: Daniel Dullum, Florence Reminder and Blade-Tribune - 1947 Gophers

2nd Place: Daniel Dullum, Florence Reminder and Blade-Tribune - a Swing and a Prayer

3rd Place: Daniel Dullum, Florence Reminder and Blade-Tribune - Board Fires

Division 2:

1st place: Keith Morris, White Mountain Independent - Snowflake's Terel Nichols Joins Late Brother As State Champion

2nd Place: Nick Prevenas, Green Valley News and Sun - Cats Find Redemption in Wild Comeback

3rd Place: Keith Morris, White Mountain Independent - Moro Still Going Strong After Reaching Another Milestone

Division 3:

1st place: Dave Devine, Tucson Weekly - Less Than Accommodating

2nd Place: Candace Begody and Duane Beyal, Navajo Times - I Ride to Win

3rd Place: Jimmy Magahern, Scottsdale Times - Eating Arizona

Division 4:

1st place: Rich Bolas, Daily News-Sun - No. 1 Tailgaters

2nd place: Heather Smathers, Mohave Valley Daily News - This Girl Has Guts

3rd Place: Rob Weiler, the Sun - Glory Days: Matadors' 1996 World Series Team Reunites, Reminisces About Historic Run

Division 5:

1st place: Patrick Finley, Arizona Daily Star - Deaf, Hearing Teammates in Same Wavelength Now

2nd Place: Mark Heller, East Valley Tribune - ASU Sacks Tradition

3rd Place: Mark Heller and Kyle Odegard, East Valley Tribune - Examining the Progress and Problems of Title Ix

BEST TEAM, SPORT OR SPORTS BEAT COVERAGE

Division 1:

1st place: Adam Gaub, Maricopa Monitor - MHS football

2nd place: Thelma Grimes, San Pedro Valley News-Sun - Benson football

3rd place: Adam Gaub, Maricopa Monitor - MHS soccer

Division 2:

1st place: Andy Staten, White Mountain Independent - Alechesay girls high school basketball

2nd place: Sean Dieterich, White Mountain Independent - Mogollon football

3rd place: Nick Prevenas, Green Valley News and Sun - UA Wildcats

Division 3:

1st place: Gina Mizell, The State Press - ASU women's basketball

2nd place: Jason Begay and Duane Beyal, Navajo Times - Begay skins game

3rd place: Richard Smith, Peoria Today - Centennial football 2008

Division 4:

1st place: Rob Weiler, The Sun - Arizona Western College

2nd place: David Hirigoyen, The Daily Courier - Yavapai College soccer

3rd place: Ed Petruska, Casa Grande Dispatch - Vaqueras basketball

Division 5:

1st place: Bruce Pascoe, Arizona Daily Star - Arizona Wildcats

2nd place: Patrick Finley, Arizona Star - Arizona Wildcats basketball

3rd place: Norm Frauenheim, The Arizona Republic - Olympics

BEST SPORTS COLUMN

Division 1:

1st place: Thelma Grimes, San Pedro Valley News-Sun - Bobcats Have Good Mental Game in Win

2nd and 3rd place: None awarded

Division 2:

1st place: Max Foster, Payson Roundup - Remembering Jim McBurney

2nd place: Max Foster, Payson Roundup - YMCA

3rd place: Keith Morris, White Mountain Independent - AIA Individual and Team Wrestling Tourney Dates Need to Be Switched

Division 3:

1st place: Tom Danehy, Tucson Weekly - Soccer Sends Kids Like Brianna Caceres to College, So It Can't Be All Bad

2nd Place: Tom Danehy, Tucson Weekly - Even on Their Way to the Super Bowl, the Cardinals Don't Deserve Tom's Love

3rd place: None entered

Division 4:

1st place: Edward Carifio, The Sun - Let's Go to Prison - the Obvious Solution

2nd Place: David Hirigoyen, the Daily Courier - Cards Change Their Stripes

3rd Place: Matt Hickman, Sierra Vista Herald - Dialogues

Division 5:

No entries

BEST NEWS FEATURE

Division 1:

1st place: Thelma Grimes, San Pedro Valley News-Sun - Book Was Promise to Late Sheriff Jimmy Judd

2nd Place: Adam Gaub, Maricopa Monitor - Healing in Focus

3rd Place: Carol Broeder, Arizona Range News - Real Life Hero Honored

Division 2:

1st place: Suzanne Jacobson, Payson Roundup - Adventure Bound

2nd Place: Josh Sayles, Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - the Lone Soldier Experience

3rd Place: Sean Dieterich, White Mountain Independent - Ride-Along Puts People in Police Cruisers Without Being on Wrong Side of Law

Division 3:

1st place: Shanna Hogan, Scottsdale Times - Justice Delayed

2nd Place: Jon Shumaker, Tucson Weekly - State of the Desert

3rd Place: Patrick O'Grady, Phoenix Business Journal - Nanotechnology Could Offer Jolt to Memory Chips

Division 4:

1st place: Bill Hess, Sierra Vista Herald - Lady Leatherneck

2nd place: Jonothan Shacat - Providing Foundation

3rd Place: Pam Ashley, Today's News-Herald - Love at First Sight

Division 5:

1st place: George Sanchez, Arizona Daily Star - Testicular Cancer

2nd Place: James Gregg, Arizona Daily Star - the Professor

3rd Place: Ari Cohn, East Valley Tribune - Tainted Well Cuts Area Groundwater

ENTERPRISE REPORTING

Division 1:

1st place: Jeremy Duda, Arizona Capitol Times - Jan Brewer Transitions to Governor

2nd Place: Christian Palmer, Arizona Capitol Times - Locking 'Em Up, but at What Cost?

3rd Place: Jim Small, Arizona Capitol Times - Big-Money Donors Sidestepped State Gop in 2008

Division 2:

1st place: Peter Aleshire, Payson Roundup - Russian Roulette in Rim Country

2nd Place: Alexis Bechman, Payson Roundup - Getting Arrested for DUI Is Costly

3rd Place: Susan Johnson, Sedona Red Rock News - 100 Bottles of Beer

Division 3:

1st place: Shanna Hogan, Scottsdale Times - Cyber Bully

2nd place: Shanna Hogan, Scottsdale Times - Lottery's Lucky Losers

3rd Place: J.D. Long-Garcia, Catholic Sun - Plight of the Iraqi Christians

Division 4:

1st place: Shar Porier, Sierra Vista Herald - County Not Responsible for Many Washed Out Roads

2nd Place: Joe Meahl, Casa Grande Dispatch - One Step Ahead

3rd Place: Bill Hess, Sierra Vista Herald - Linguist Uses Diverse Background

Division 5:

1st place: Carla McClain, Arizona Daily Star - Our Deadly Deficiency

2nd Place: Alexis Huicochea and Tim Steller, Arizona Daily Star - Home Invasions

3rd Place: Josh Brodesky, Arizona Daily Star - Picture-Perfect to Dust Bowl

BEST COLUMN: ANALYSIS OR COMMENTARY

Division 1:

1st place: Lee Pulaski, Lake Powell Chronicle - Pledge Resolution Taking Away Culture in Name of 'Unity'

2nd Place: Adam Gaub, Maricopa Monitor - Maricopa's No-Man's Land

3rd place: None awarded

Division 2:

1st place: Michael Scharnow, Fountain Hills Times - Handing Out Drugs Like Sweet Candy

2nd Place: Greg Ruland, Sedona Red Rock News - When the Angles Speak

3rd Place (Tie): Vicki Cabot, Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - Day of Hope

3rd Place (Tie): Amy Hirshberg Lederman, Arizona Jewish Post - Asking for Forgiveness

Division 3:

1st place: Don Sorchych, Sonoran News - Hernandez's Fools Errand

2nd Place: Jim Nintzel, Tucson Weekly - the Skinny

3rd Place: Becky Fenger, Sonoran News - Fenger Pointing - One Ring-a-ding-y

Division 4:

1st place: Tim Wiederaenders, The Daily Courier - Bad Economy Extends Beyond the Border

2nd Place: Alan Levine, Casa Grande Dispatch - Bad Timing for Fair Director

3rd Place: Alan Levine, Casa Grande Dispatch - Fascism Targets People With a Habit

Division 5:

1st place: Ann Brown, Arizona Daily Star - We Can Learn From Denver

2nd Place: Sarah Garrecht Gassen, Arizona Daily Star - Journalistic Objectivity

3rd place: None awarded

BEST COLUMN: FEATURE OR CRITICISM

Division 1:

No entries

Division 2:

1st place: Dan Shearer, Green Valley and Sun - Metric History Worth Saving?

2nd Place: Michael Scharnow, Fountain Hills Times - Sweet Dreams for 'Sleepy', My Father

3rd Place: Andy Staten, White Mountain Independent - Staten the Facts: Waitin' for the Bus

Division 3:

1st place: Margaret Regan, Tucson Weekly - Urban Tales

2nd Place: Andrew Junker, Catholic Sun - Marriage Matters

3rd Place: Slim Smith, Scottsdale Times - Famous Last Words

Division 4:

1st place: Tim Wiederaenders, The Daily Courier - Children Have the Answers to Tough Problems

2nd Place: Alan Levine, Casa Grande Dispatch - Origin

3rd Place: Matt Hickman, Sierra Vista Herald - Three Reasons Victorious Athletes Thank God

Division 5:

1st place: Sarah Garecht Gassen, Arizona Daily Star - Spirit Driving Mars Mission

2nd Place: Martin Rosales, Arizona Daily Star - Protection From Unscrupulous Car Sales Needed

3rd Place: Ann Brown, Arizona Daily Star - Immigration Required at Federal Level

BEST MULTIMEDIA STORYTELLING

Division 1:

1st place: Steve Ayers, Verde Independent/The Bugle - The Curious Bottom of Montezuma Well

2nd and 3rd Place: None awarded

Division 2:

1st place: Michele Bradley Pacheco, Sedona Red Rock News - Belly Dancing

2nd and 3rd place: None awarded

Division 3:

1st place: Staff, The State press - Fighting For Funding

2nd Place: Jim Nintzel, Tucson Weekly - Scramblewatch08

3rd Place: Adam Kress, Phoenix Business Journal - Local CEOs Coping With Tough Times

Division 4:

1st place: Josh Biggs, Arizona Daily Sun - 20 Years with HIV

2nd place: Ashley Lowery, Daily News-Sun - Makayla Miller

3rd place: Jared Dort, Janet Chasse, The Sun - Deployed

Division 5:

1st place: Ljilijana Ciric-Hoffman, Paul Giblin and Ryan Gabrielson, East Valley Tribune - Reasonable Doubt

2nd place: Ljilijana Ciric-Hoffman and Mark Flatten, East Valley Tribune - Immigration

3rd place: Ljilijana Ciric-Hoffman and Michelle Reese - Election Roadtrip

BEST NEWS PHOTOGRAPH

Division 1:

1st place: Bill Coates, Arizona Capitol Times - State Prison Hotshot Crew Fights Fires in Arizona

2nd Place: Bill Coates, Arizona Capitol Times - Education Advocates and a State Senator Protest

3rd Place: Maxine Heimerl, Mogollon Connection - Holding the Last Dance

Division 2:

1st place: Scott Taras, Green Valley News and Sun - Funeral

2nd place: Mike James, White Mountain Independent - Fire Chars Five Acres

3rd Place: Ryan Winslett, Fountain Hills Times - Balloon in Lake

Division 3:

1st place: Donovan Quintero, Navajo Times - Operation Firewater

2nd place: Leigh T. Jimmie, Navajo Times - Treaty

3rd place: Paul Natonabah, Navajo Times - House Blessing

Division 4:

1st place: Oscar Perez, Casa Grande Dispatch - Fire

2nd place: JC Amberlyn, Kingman Daily Miner - Owls, With Help, Get a New Home

3rd Place: Les Stukenberg, the Daily Courier - Slurry Drop

Division 5:

1st place: James S. Wood, Arizona Daily Star - Officer Down

2nd Place: Jill Torrance, Arizona Daily Star - Trailer Fire

3rd Place: Ralph Freso, East Valley Tribune, Vietnam Memorial

BEST SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH

Division 1:

1st place: Sean Higgins, Coolidge Examiner - CHS swimmer

2nd place: Dave Brown, San Pedro valley News-Sun - Baseball pitcher

3rd place: Dave Brown, Arizona Range News - Cameron Bonner

Division 2:

1st place: Andy Staten, White Mountain Independent - Bovine Air

2nd Place: Andy State, White Mountain Independent - Only the Strong Survive

3rd Place: Michele Bradley Pacheco, Sedona Red Rock News - Pole Vault

Division 3:

1st place: Donovan Quintero, Navajo Times - MV wins

2nd place: Donovan Quintero, Navajo Times - Junior roper

3rd place: Donovan Quintero, Navajo Times - Bareback

Division 4:

1st place: Josh Biggs, Arizona Daily Sun - Brother-sister Swim Team

2nd Place: Les Stukenberg, the Daily Courier - Going for the Ball

3rd Place: JC Amberlyn, Kingman Daily Miner - a Rodeo to Remember

Division 5:

1st place: Dean Knuth, Arizona Daily Star - Super Catch

2nd Place: Ralph Freso, East Valley Tribune - Football Catch

3rd Place: Greg Bryan, Arizona Daily Star - Champs

BEST FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH

Division 1:

1st place: Dave Brown, Arizona Range News - Heat of Competition

2nd Place: Sean Higgins, Coolidge Examiner - Tim McGraw

3rd Place: Lindsey Gemme, Eloy Enterprise - Role Model Day

Division 2:

1st place: Tom Brossart, Payson Roundup - Flyin' High

2nd Place: Andy Towle, Payson Roundup - Motocross

3rd Place: Andy Towle, Payson Roundup - Santa Sighting

Division 3:

1st place: Jim Poulin, Phoenix business Journal - Cora

2nd place: Kevin Kelsch and Eric Hendrix, Scottsdale Times - Cheapskate

3rd place: Donovan Quintero, Navajo Times - Fancy Dancer

Division 4:

1st place: Oscar Perez, Casa Grande Dispatch - Lightning

2nd place: Oscar Perez, Casa Grande Dispatch - Shooter

3rd place: Matt Hinshaw, The Daily Courier - Restin' up

Division 5:

1st place: James S. Wood, Arizona Daily Star - Dancers

2nd place: Ralph Freso, East Valley Tribune - Arc of Light

3rd place: David Sanders, Arizona Daily Star - Mudslide

BEST FEATURE PHOTO LAYOUT OR PHOTO STORY

Division 1:

1st place: Bill Coates, Arizona Capitol Times - State Prison Hotshot Crew Fights Fires in Arizona

2nd Place: Dave Brown, Ainslee Wittig, Carol Broeder and Steve Reno, Arizona Range News - Year in Review

3rd Place: Thelma Grimes, San Pedro Valley News-Sun - Graduation

Division 2:

1st place: Tom Brossart, Payson Roundup - Wildflowers

2nd place: Andy Towle, Max Foster and Tom Brossart, Payson Roundup - Wall photos

3rd place: Tom Brossart, Payson Roundup - A Second Chance

Division 3:

1st place: Jill Adair, Scott Adair and Kristin Doetsch, Mesa Independent - Mesa Old West Days

2nd place: J.D. Long-Garcia, Catholic Sun - The Church in the Middle East

3rd Place: Terrance Thornton and Kristin Doetsch - the First 100 Days: Chief Monahan

Division 4:

No entries

Division 5:

1st place: David Sanders, Arizona Daily Star - Parkinson's Lock on Life

2nd Place: Jill Torrance, Arizona Daily Star - Senior Class Achievers

3rd place: None awarded

STORY OF THE YEAR

Division: Non-Daily

Cindy Yurth and Duane Beyal, Navajo Times - Operation Firewater

Division: Daily

Mark Flatten, East Valley Tribune - Blood and Money

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Division: Non-Daily

Dave Brown, San Pedro Valley News-Sun and Arizona Range News

Division: Daily

Dean Knuth, Arizona Daily Star

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Division: Non-Daily

Pete Aleshire, Payson Roundup

Division: Daily

Rob O'Dell, Arizona Daily Star

AP MEMBER OF THE YEAR

The Daily Courier