TimesUnion.com: The Diallo Case
October 28, 2001
Winner, Creative Use of the Medium, Online Journalism Awards 2000. Comprehensive and creative coverage of the trial of four New York City police officers charged with murdering an unarmed man named Amadou Diallo — a case tried in Albany. “The Times Union took a news event common throughout the ages - a highly polarized, politicized court case - and covered it with the best of both traditional journalistic standards and the tools of a new medium. Along with regular trial updates, the site provided outstanding photos in a scroll-along format, as well as 360-degree photos of the courtroom and protests. Readers also enjoyed audio and video from the courtroom. It was a presentation as comprehensive and compelling as its subject matter,” the judges said.
Case: Kautonen, Helsingin Sanomat Online
October 28, 2001
Winner, Best Feature Story, 2000 European Journalism Awards. One league hockey game, one televised fight on the ice, and overnight HIFK defenseman Veli-Pekka Kautonen became the nation’s designated bad bad boy. After the incident the subject of violence in ice hockey surfaced at coffee tables and in workplaces around Finland, and the topic was even raised in Parliament. Helsingin Sanomat Online Edition asked Kautonen himself for the thoughts of a 30-year-old hockey professional, husband, and father. Case: Kautonen tells Veli-Pekka Kautonen’s story, on the ice and off it, using images, music and sound effects using Flash. Also worth checking out are the two other award entries from this publication listed on this page.
Rescuing the Right, projo.com
October 28, 2001
Most Innovative Use of Digital Media, News Event Coverage, Circulation 75,000 to 250,000, Digital Edge Awards 2001. Judges wrote, “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.”
The Gujarat Earthquake, Rediff.com
October 28, 2001
Winner, Breaking News: Independent, Online Journalism Awards 2001. Coverage of Jan. 2001 earthquake in India, which killed 30,000 people. The judges called the coverage incredibly comprehensive, with 12 to 15 stories a day on every angle of this major natural disaster, from the stories of the victims to the physics of the earthquake. It’s clear and complete, they said, with interviews, discussions and extensive information on how people in India and abroad could help. And all this on a true breaking news story, with no warning and no opportunity to prepare or plan coverage in advance.
Concorde Crash, BBC News Online
October 28, 2001
Winner, Breaking News: Affiliated, Online Journalism Awards 2001. Coverage of Air France Concorde crash in Paris that killed 113 people on July 25, 2001. The judges said that the BBC’s coverage reflected a swift marshaling of resources, extensive and clever graphics, and strong video, audio and photos. The site managed to take a sudden, tragic event and turn out an insightful, well-presented news and analysis package.
Touching Hearts, HeraldSun.com
October 25, 2001
Touching Hearts: A Story of Hope & Help in Nicaragua, HeraldSun.com. Winner, Creative Use of the Medium: Affiliated, Online Journalism Awards 2001. A story about a Duke University medical mission to Nicaragua from the site of a small newspaper, The Herald-Sun in Durham, N.C. The judges called this site a daring design that made good use of the “Ken Burns-style” technique of moving a camera over still photos. The Durham paper covered the story of local Duke University doctors donating their services in Nicaragua as only a local newspaper could and then told that story as only a Web site could, the judges said. It uses an innovative combination of interactivity, letting the reader click through it, and TV-style presentation where a reader can simply sit back and absorb.
Dahlia Lithwick, Slate
October 23, 2001
Winner, Online Commentary, Online Journalism Awards 2001. The judges said Lithwick really brings Supreme Court reporting alive, making coverage of a usually staid and serious beat vivid and enlightening, giving the reader a sense of the scene and tone inside the courthouse. Every column makes use of Slate’s reader response board, The Fray, to launch a debate about the column topic.
washingtonpost.com onpolitics
October 23, 2001
washingtonpost.com/onpolitics, Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive
Most Innovative Use of Digital Media, News Event Coverage, Circ. more than 250,000, Digital Edge Awards 2001. Judges wrote, “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.”
Accident Watch, ThemeParkInsider.com
October 23, 2001
Winner, Service Journalism: Independent, Online Journalism Awards 2001. A guide to safety at amusment parks across the U.S. The judges said: Relying on a community of users and the drive of a single journalist working in his spare time, this site offers theme park enthusiasts hard information about safety - information that the government probably should provide, but doesn’t. Accidents are reported simply and factually, and the site makes a clear distinction between rumor and confirmed reports - especially important when users are the reporters. The judges called it “morbidly fascinating? and really useful.”
Keeping Track of Rumors & Hoaxes
October 14, 2001