AASFE is delighted to announce the Top 15 Winners of its 2010 Best Sections Contest.

The winners will honored on Friday, October 8, 2010 during AASFE’s national conference at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg Florida (Oct. 6-9).  We invite representatives from winning news organizations to attend the conference, Oct. 6-9. Register by July 20 and take advantage of the early bird deadline !

Division 1 (Up to 90,000 circulation)

The Maine Sunday Telegram

Judges Comments:

This paper is impressively local – a strong sense of place throughout. Lots of stories off the weather news. They’re great at finding stories that are uniquely Portland. They wisely use reader interaction to their advantage. The apple and public art packages were especially eye-catching and informative.

The (Springdale, Arkansas) Morning News

Judges Comments:

The first thing you notice is the clean, clever design. The sections are packed with local content and faces – this is a paper that really embraces all kinds of community coverage. The paper’s arts coverage is particularly fresh and vibrant. ‘Morning News’ readers should have an easy time deciding how to use their free time.

The (Appleton, Wisconsin) Post-Crescent

Judges Comments:

The Post-Crescent scored high in all three major areas: Content, Service and Presentation. Each lead package had inviting elements that added to the wow factor as well as the serviceability of the piece. The design is crisp, inviting. The mix is also impressive, from off-the-news reported pieces to a full-page pop culture charticle that looks as if it were as fun to put together as it was to read.

The (Wilmington, North Carolina) Star News

Judges Comments:

The Star News is adept at local angles and coverage. It’s easy to navigate and easy to follow. There’s some great writing in their pages, which is especially impressive considering the number of repeat bylines. You get a real feel for what life is like in Wilmington – it’s just very reflective of its readers and has a strong sense of place.

Albany Times Union

Judges Comments:

Each section is packed with surprises, wit and humor, from the story on the aging porn star (complete with quotes and school photos of former classmates) to a well-reported story on male birth control. The writing is sharp, informative, authoritative, and the sections are full of local content. Good mix of quick hits and more informed pieces.

Division 2 (90,001-199,999 circulation)

Austin American Statesman

Judges Comments:

The Austin American Statesman is easy to navigate, uses lots of local writers and has interesting and unexpected story choices. The headlines are grabby, too, with the judging panel’s favorite being “Larry Hagman is a God.” (Who wouldn’t want to read that story?) The writing is above-average, the stories are timely and the sections are full of reader service. Another plus: The section consistently and clearly uses the 360 label to point people to its website.

Baltimore Sun

Judges Comments:

The Baltimore Sun’s sections were very local, well designed and filled with stories driven by solid reporting and reader service. The writing was above-average – we especially loved the 100 Things Every Foodie Should Do in Baltimore piece – and the sections were easy to navigate. The Sun effectively uses other Tribune critics to fill out its coverage. The sections also smartly pointed readers to more coverage on the Web.

Charlotte Observer

Judges Comments:

This is a section that knows how to have fun. The judges were almost (almost!) duped into believing the Observer’s very fun but fake April Fool’s Day front. The “Spabecue” photos were fantastic! The section consistently offers reader service and it’s obvious the writers really know the area. The Who in the World is Delmar article was surprisingly fun and very well done, and the judges also appreciated the timely and different take on 5 New Things on Your Plate.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Judges Comments:

The Star-Telegram offers readers a good mix of stories that are timely and local. We loved the reader engagement with the Winter Blunderland piece; the reader contributions were thoughtfully chosen and the illustrations and headline really furthered the concept. We also like the scavenger hunt put together in the West Meets East package. Overall, the section had great design, lots of staff bylines and really captured the flavor of the area.

Raleigh News & Observer

Judges Comments

This is an easy-to-read section with strong content. The design is simple and clean, making for a section that readers can navigate easily. The one-word section toppers such as “Go” and “Fun” provide good reader service. The “Triangle Top 50” piece was fun and informative and showed real insider knowledge of the area. Little details – such as the color swatches on “Wearing of the Green” — provided a great way for readers to connect with stories.

Division 3 (more than 200,000 circulation)

Chicago Tribune

Judges Comments

The Tribune’s staff has defined its mission – to guide readers on everything to do in Chicagoland – clearly and distinctly. Its design facilitates utility with great labeling, placement and tone. The Sunday magazine is no longer printed on slick paper, but the tabloid still held its own with a good mix of big and small stories – a long piece on chef Rick Bayless didn’t overwhelm the 32-page section. We liked the Play charticle offering new options for classic liquors and the On the Town package debating whether concert-goers should stand up or sit down during shows is a classic Tribune talker. While the section titles were a bit confusing and the design a tad frenetic, we thought the labeling played a big role in showing online offerings and giving importance to inside features.

The Dallas Morning News

Judges Comments

It is obvious that The Dallas Morning News features sections hold some sway in the town. The stories on the front and inside come from a place of authority—a breadth of commentary, criticism and analysis devoted to arts, books and entertainment. The Oct.11 package on the opening of the AT&T Performing Arts Center offered readers many layers—literally if you count the double truck graphic showing the center’s unique architecture. The staff’s heavy commitment to other parts of the Dallas cultural scene is also apparent. The outstanding piece in this entry is F/D Luxe, the monthly niche publication. It knows its audience well, incorporating good shopping tips with features on grand homes and people. This is definitely aspirational. The design is clean but still contains many elements that help with reader navigation.

The Los Angeles Times

Judges Comments

The L.A. Times features staff shows us how to go big or go home. These sections are all about making bold statements. The decade in review section was exhaustively good, with layers of voices both big and small. Its post-Oscar section felt like it took three days to build – but we knew it was done in a matter of hours. Another special look at the future of fashion reaffirmed the Times authority on lifestyle subjects. We especially liked the food piece guiding readers on a tasty treat along a new public transit line.

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer

Judges Comments

The Plain Dealer has the right blend of local and national stories smartly packaged without making the reader feel too light-headed. It sweats the details – the Aug. 7 Friday is a keeper for the staff’s ratings on tacos in the city. The staff gets the sense of place right – with local content scattered throughout, it feels like you know Cleveland. Its fashion coverage is upscale, but not exceedingly so. The Download page has the right mix of online promos, tips and profiles. Readers get a lot for their money from these sections.

The Washington Post

Judges Comments

The Washington Post’s best asset is its ability to key most of the stories and presentation into the news of the day. These sections are an invaluable part of any Post reader’s daily life. Some examples: A look into the White House “crashers” financial woes, the ever Reliable Source and off-lead stories on the demise of Gourmet magazine and David Letterman’s pain after an extortion attempt. It’s deep with utility, too. A great package on Filipino cooking offers extensive instructions on where to buy special wrappers for lumpia. The museum special section (Oct. 4) employs striking design to accompany a strong profile on the architect of the African American museum.

Kalyani.Chadha Contests