Newspaper Websites Award Winners Announced

Posted on July 20, 2001

Newspaper Association of America's New Media Federation has announced the winners of the Digital Edge Awards, or Edgies. The awards honor the most innovative editorial and advertising programs from newspaper industry's digital-media businesses. Winners collected their Edgies during Connections, NAA's annual electronic media conference, being held July 19-22 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington. The sixth edition of the Edgie Awards recognizes winners in nine categories, such as classified sales, innovative use of digital media for news-event coverage, public service and email publishing.

Members of the New Media Federation and an industry consultant selected more than 25 online publishing experts, including digital media practitioners, analysts, educators and past Edgie winners, as judges. Judges considered the richness of editorial information, reader services, design presentation, multimedia storytelling and revenue models when reviewing entries.

The 2001 Digital Edge Award winners and select comments from Edgie judges appear below.

Best News Site, Circulation more than 250,000
washingtonpost.com
Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive

For the second year in a row, washingtonpost.com writes the definition for the online delivery of news, analysis and information services. The site must navigate the difficult task of serving a local and national audience, but it continually surpasses the expectations of both sets of visitors.

Best News Site, Circulation 75,000 to 250,000
The Christian Science Monitor's Electronic Edition
The Christian Science Monitor

Built on the strength of the Christian Science Monitor's print content, the site thrives in a digital environment by adding online-only articles and crafting original products in conjunction with the traditional media newsroom.

Best News Site, Circulation less than 75,000
SavannahNOW.com
Savannah Morning News

Judges admired the site's crisp design, well-written news and innovative multimedia features, such as an entertaining, year-round look at gardening. Local information guides and a very useful events calendar make SavannahNOW.com a standout effort in local online news.

Best Regional or City Guide, Circulation more than 250,000
Metromix
Tribune Interactive

This regional guide to Chicago-area arts and entertainment blazed past the competition. Metromix lives up to its reputation as "the essential guide for surviving and thriving" by helping residents and visitors decide where to dine, drink, dance and enjoy the arts. No preference is too obscure -- Metromix publishes capsule descriptions of 15,000 area destinations.

Best Regional or City Guide, Circulation 75,000 to 250,000
HamptonRoads.com
The Virginian-Pilot

Judges raved about the site's local flavor, winning navigation features, good use of multimedia and strong content offerings.

Best Regional or City Guide, Circulation less than 75,000
Outdoors and Travel in MaineToday.com
Blethen Maine Newspapers

Continuing its efforts to involve the community, MaineToday.com supplements print editorial features with the voices of local experts who know all about fishing, snowboarding, hiking and other popular topics.

Best Vertical Site, Circulation more than 250,000
SeattleTimes.com School Guide
The Seattle Times

A powerful database lets individuals create a personalized list of Seattle-area public and private schools by choosing the characteristics that matter most. The site also publishes school profiles based on test scores and surveys collected from school administrators.

Best Vertical Site, Circulation 75,000 to 250,000
Golfing News and Scores
The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle

Even the most demanding golf fanatic will be amazed by the array of statistics, player biographies and hole-by-hole scoring for each PGA Tour tournament. CNN/Sports Illustrated is one of many media outlets that has purchased the core scoring content.

Best Vertical Site, Circulation less than 75,000
Careers at MaineToday.com
Blethen Maine Newspapers

MaineToday.com wins because of its robust employment database, targeted banner program for advertisers and an e-mail notification system for job seekers. An online job fair connected recruiters with out-of-state Web viewers looking for employment in Maine.

Best Sales Campaign, Circulation more than 250,000
Dillard's ``Must Haves''
Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer

Cleveland.com excels as a marketing partner for retailer Dillard's by employing a mix of e-mail product alerts, database analysis, special online ad units and newspaper promotion with The Plain Dealer. One judge noted, "This campaign exemplifies how newspapers can facilitate and own the customer relationship between a retailer and consumer."

Best Sales Campaign, Circulation less than 75,000
CatZone - UMB Bank Sponsorship
CJ Online/The Topeka Capital-Journal

CatZone covers all facets of Kansas State University athletics and is syndicated to newspapers, and radio and television stations. It reached the bank's target audience of college-aged students and a broader, state-wide audience with an aggressive campaign that included rack cards, in-paper ads, hand-held devices and e-mail newsletters.

Best Classified Use of New Media, Circulation more than 250,000
WashingtonJobs.com
Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive

This deep recruitment resource for job seekers and recruiters serves more than 10 million page views per month, and it's easy to understand why. The site's powerful search functions, auxiliary career information, virtual career fairs and automated job matching agents amount to the D.C. metro area's top career marketplace.

Best Classified Use of New Media, Circulation 75,000 to 250,000
projo.com/wheels
projo.com/The Providence Journal

New and used car seekers in Providence don't need to look further than this turbo-charged site, which combines the automotive listings from The Providence Journal classifieds and a rich inventory of vehicles posted by members of the Rhode Island Auto Dealers Association.

Best Classified Use of New Media, Circulation less than 75,000
TopekaHomefinder.com
CJ Online/The Topeka Capital-Journal

Part visitors guide, part finely tuned homes search tool, the site has grabbed the attention of local real-estate companies and prospective buyers. Said one judge, "It's got to be more than just homes to work as a commercial product, and this one does work."

Most Innovative Use of Digital Media, News Event Coverage, Circ. more than 250,000
washingtonpost onpolitics
Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive

During a blockbuster year for political news, washingtonpost.com grabbed hold of every stump speech, voting scandal and inaugural ball with invigorating text, audio and video reporting.

Most Innovative Use of Digital Media, News Event Coverage, Circulation 75,000 to 250,000
Rescuing the Right
projo.com/The Providence Journal

Projo.com's environmental writer and a staff photographer followed attempts to rescue a right whale off the coast of Nova Scotia. Upon their return, they spent months working with the site's chief designer to create a fascinating multimedia document of their experience that raises the bar for all newspaper-affiliated sites.

Most Innovative Use of Digital Media, News Event Coverage, Circulation less than 75,000
Flood2001.com
Lee Enterprises

Four Lee newspaper sites located along the Mississippi River swiftly joined forces to publish a news and community service site when the mighty river flooded earlier this year. Judges applauded the collaboration between the print and online news teams and their ability to create a valuable national resource.

Most Innovative Use of Digital Media, Features/Enterprise, Circulation more than 250,000
Mystery at Little Elk
Startribune.com/The Star Tribune

This site, developed for children and their families, cleverly unearths the history of a plot of land on the Mississippi River where American Indians, French fur traders, explorers and lumbermen lived for hundreds of years. Judges saluted the fine teamwork between the print and online groups and praised their ability to weave text, audio, video and animations into a compelling package.

Most Innovative Use of Digital Media, Features/Enterprise, Circulation 75,000 to 250,000
USS Wisconsin
HamptonRoads.com/The Virginian-Pilot

The online presentation of the USS Wisconsin's new beginning as a museum tapped into the community's excitement. Viewers were treated to great multimedia coverage that included 360-degree photos, audio and video memories from Navy veterans, and a history of the battleship created with Flash.

Most Innovative Use of Digital Media, Features/Enterprise, Circulation less than 75,000
Touching Hearts
The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C.

This educational and very moving online presentation dramatically details the story of a Duke University medical project that sent top doctors to treat impoverished children in Nicaragua. Instead of being forced to follow a single narrative path, viewers can explore the site at their own pace and witness an amazing mission - and tremendous online storytelling - in the process.

Best E-Mail Publishing Product (one winner)
OnPolitics Daily Report
Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive

The OnPolitics Daily Report fulfills it promise of delivering a quick way to scan the top political headlines from The Post and link to washingtonpost.com. Subscribers can also select an alert service that zaps critical breaking news right to their in-box.

Public Service Award, Circulation more than 250,000
A Madness Called Meth
The Fresno Bee, The Modesto Bee, The Sacramento Bee

This exploration of the manufacturing and social impact of methamphetamine in California's Central Valley combined hard-hitting photos and investigative reports with interactive maps and excellent online navigation.

Public Service Award, Circulation 75,000 to 250,000
DataSearch: Carbon County Reassessment
mcall.com/The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.

The site delivers extremely useful information for the public. Says one judge, "Having assessment data at your fingertips is a dream come true for homeowners and real estate professionals, saving all a trip to the county offices."