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Local General or Spot News Reporting

For a distinguished example of general or spot news reporting within a newspaper's local area of circulation, preferably by an individual, giving consideration to alertness, resourcefulness and high quality of writing, One thousand dollars ($1,000).
Year
Winners
Finalists
1984

A team of reporters of Newsday, Long Island, NY

For their enterprising and comprehensive coverage of the Baby Jane Doe case and its far-reaching social and political implications.
Finalists:
Leslie A. Scism of Bucks County (PA) Courier Times
Editorial Staff of The Fresno (CA) Bee
Leslie A. Scism of Bucks County (PA) Courier Times

Editorial Staff of The Fresno (CA) Bee

1983

Editorial Staff of Fort Wayne (IN) News-Sentinel

For its courageous and resourceful coverage of a devastating flood in March 1982.
Finalists:
Dallas Morning News Team of The Dallas Morning News
Staff of Rochester (NY) Democrat & Chronicle
Dallas Morning News Team of The Dallas Morning News

Staff of Rochester (NY) Democrat & Chronicle

1982

Staff of Kansas City Star and Kansas City Times

For coverage of the Hyatt Regency Hotel disaster and identification of its causes.
Finalists:
Lucy Morgan of St. Petersburg Times
Ken Wells of The Miami Herald
Staff of Louisville Courier-Journal
Lucy Morgan of St. Petersburg Times

Ken Wells of The Miami Herald

Staff of Louisville Courier-Journal

1981

Staff of Longview (WA) Daily News

For its coverage of the Mt. St. Helens story, including the photographs by Roger A. Werth.
Finalists:
Staff of Baltimore News American
Newsroom Staff of The Miami Herald
Staff of Baltimore News American

Newsroom Staff of The Miami Herald

1980

Staff of The Philadelphia Inquirer

For coverage of the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island.
Finalists:
Staff of Chicago Tribune
Staff of Greensboro (NC) Daily News
Staff of Chicago Tribune

Staff of Greensboro (NC) Daily News

1979

Staff of San Diego (CA) Evening Tribune

For its coverage of the collision of a Pacific Southwest air liner with a small plane over its city.
Finalists:
1978

Richard Whitt of Louisville Courier-Journal

For his coverage of a fire that took 164 lives at the Beverly Hills Supper Club at Southgate, Ky., and subsequent investigation of the lack of enforcement of state fire codes.
Finalists:
1977

Margo Huston of The Milwaukee Journal

For her reports on the elderly and the process of aging.
Finalists:
1976

Gene Miller of Miami Herald

For his persistent and courageous reporting over eight and one-half years that led to the exoneration and release of two men who had twice been tried for murder and wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in Florida.
Finalists:
1975

Staff of Xenia (OH) Daily Gazette

For its coverage, under enormous difficulties, of the tornado that wrecked the city on April 3, 1974.
Finalists:
1974

Arthur M. Petacque and Hugh F. Hough of Chicago Sun-Times

For uncovering new evidence that led to the reopening of efforts to solve the 1966 murder of Valerie Percy.
Finalists:
1973

Staff of Chicago Tribune

For uncovering flagrant violations of voting procedures in the primary election of March 21, 1972.
Finalists:
1972

Richard Cooper and John Machacek of Rochester (NY) Times-Union

For their coverage of the Attica, New York prison riot.
Finalists:
1971

Staff of Akron (OH) Beacon Journal

For its coverage of the Kent State University tragedy on May 4, 1970.
Finalists:
1970

Thomas Fitzpatrick of Chicago Sun-Times

For his article about the violence of youthful radicals in Chicago, "A Wild Night's Ride With SDS."
Finalists:
1969

John Fetterman of Louisville Times and Courier-Journal

For his article, "Pfc. Gibson Comes Home," the story of an American soldier whose body was returned to his native town from Vietnam for burial.
Finalists:
1968

Staff of Detroit Free Press

For its coverage of the Detroit riots of 1967, recognizing both the brilliance of its detailed spot news staff work and its swift and accurate investigation into the underlying causes of the tragedy.
Finalists:
1967

Robert V. Cox of Chambersburg (Pennsylvania) Public Opinion

For his vivid deadline reporting of a mountain manhunt that ended with the killing of a deranged sniper who had terrorized the community.
Finalists:
1966

Staff of Los Angeles Times

For its coverage of the Watts riots.
Finalists:
1965

Melvin H. Ruder of Hungry Horse News, a weekly in Columbia Falls, MT

For his daring and resourceful coverage of a disastrous flood that threatened his community, an individual effort in the finest tradition of spot news reporting.
Finalists:
1964

Norman C. Miller of The Wall Street Journal

For his comprehensive account of a multi-million dollar vegetable oil swindle in New Jersey.
Finalists:
General News Reporting
Local Investigative Specialized Reporting