Jeff Sigmund
NAA Senior Communications Manager, (571) 366-1088
Jeff.sigmund@naa.org
www.naa.org

May 15, 2009

NAA FOUNDATION HONORS OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER YOUTH CONTENT PROGRAMS

Arlington , Va. – The Newspaper Association of America Foundation today recognized outstanding newspaper youth content programs with its 2009 Youth Content Awards. The awards recognized achievement in categories that include feature stories, personal opinion, photographs, personality profiles and many more.

“The winners of this year’s Youth Content Awards exemplify the commitment to excellence necessary to reach a demanding younger audience,” explained Margaret Vassilikos, senior vice president and treasurer of the NAA Foundation. “The latest NAA Foundation research indicates that young people have a strong interest in news, and content aimed at this group can lead to a positive, lifelong newspaper habit.”

More details on the Foundation’s research, “Teens Know What They Want From Online News: Do You?” is available at www.naafoundation.org.

Winners of the 2009 Youth Content Awards are as follows:

Cartoon/Comic
First : “Bailout,”Matt Corrigan, NeXT, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News, Jean Westmoore, youth editor
Second : “Trendsetters of the 21st Century,”Emily Macon, 757: Teens Cover the Code, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Toni Guagenti, youth editor
Third : “Rock'in Comics,”Dudley Pittman, 757: Teens Cover the Code, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Toni Guagenti, youth editor

Feature
First : “Teens Move up to Chanel,”Fei Chen, UNlisted, The Republican, Springfield, Mass., Anne-Gerard Flynn, youth editor
Second : “Slammin’! Fourth Battle Is Best One Yet,”Bailey James, Satellite, Tulsa World, Barbara Allen, youth editor
Third : “Teen Is Between Two Worlds,”Amy Friedman, The Edge, The Roanoke (Va.) Times, Cynthia Wendt, youth editor
Honorable Mention : “Facing the Music,”Wyatt Kanyer, Unleashed, Yakima (Wash.) Herald-Republic, Adriana Janovich, youth editor

First-Person Feature
First : “My Date With Harry,”Claire Diamonstein, 757: Teens Cover the Code, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Toni Guagenti, youth editor
Second : “How I Keep the Sabbath,”Tova Sarah Simenowitz, UNlisted, The Republican, Springfield, Mass., Anne-Gerard Flynn, youth editor
Third : “A Front-row Seat to the Election Process,”Curtis Penfold, The Voice, The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill., Kelsea Gurski, youth editor
Honorable Mention : “Believe, Be Strong and Never Give Up,”Naomi Mae Glenister, Voices, The Post-Standard, Syracuse, N.Y., Chris Iven, youth editor

Illustration/Graphic
First : “Preventing Teen Violence,”Emily Macon, 757: Teens Cover the Code, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Toni Guagenti, youth editor
Second : “How Young Is Too Young?”,Zia Bowles, Satellite, Tulsa World, Jenny Redden, youth editor
Third : “Harry Potter vs. Shakespeare,”Caroline O'Grady, The Vox, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash., Erin Daniels, youth editor
Honorable Mention : “Stress,”Jessi Wilson, Satellite, Tulsa World, Jenny Redden, youth editor

News Feature
First : “Youths Protecting Youths,”Alexi Horowitz, Generation Next, The Santa Fe New Mexican, Bernadette Garcia, youth editor
Second : “Wanted: Safe Crossings,”Lety Clark-Olivero, Unleashed, Yakima(Wash.) Herald-Republic, Adriana Janovich, youth editor
Third : “Are You a Snack Head?”,Estelle Lozano, The Mash, Chicago Tribune, Phillip Thompson and Erinn Hutkin, youth editors

News
First : “Alleged Victim Speaks Out,”Molly Page, FlipSide, The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette, Amy Robinson, youth editor
Second : “EastValleySchool District Sued,”Sarah Radmer, The Vox, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash., Erin Daniels, youth editor
Third : “Campaign in the Membrane,”Zahra Lalani, The Mash, Chicago Tribune, Phillip Thompson and Erinn Hutkin, youth editors
Honorable Mention : “Don't Count Teens out of Election,”Naomi Sharp, The Mash, Chicago Tribune, Phillip Thompson and Erinn Hutkin, youth editors

Personal Opinion
First : “Ways to Beat Ivy League Competition,” Catherine Roberts, Satellite, Tulsa World, Barbara Allen, youth editor
Second : “Pope's Visit,”Gabriella Moses, 757: Teens Cover the Code, The Virginian- Pilot, Norfolk, Toni Guagenti, youth editor
Third : “College Choices,”Keith W. Zirkle, 757: Teens Cover the Code, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk,Toni Guagenti, youth editor
Honorable Mention : “What Education Means to Me,”Chelsey Wintringer, NeXt, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News, Jean Westmoore, youth editor

Personality Profile
First : “Project Runway,”Emily Barksdale, FlipSide, The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette,Amy Robinson, youth editor
Second : “The Work Is Paying Off,”Sharon Reyna, Unleashed, Yakima(Wash.) Herald-Republic, Adriana Janovich, youth editor
Third : “Big in Spirit,”Dhara Sheth, Satellite, Tulsa World, Barbara Allen, youth editor
Honorable Mention : “Douglas Grad Goes to Hollywood,”Valerie Moses, Teenlink South Florida, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Jennifer Jhon, youth editor

Photograph
First : “Summer Rock Festivals,”Cecilia Lopez, Teenlink South Florida, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Jennifer Jhon, youth editor
Second : “Fourth Battle Is Best One Yet,”Caitlin Ward, Satellite, Tulsa World, Barbara Allen, youth editor
Third : “Life Sport: Fishing,”Kennedy Krossen, The Vox, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash., Erin Daniels, youth editor
Honorable Mention : “What a Pity,”Kayli Heywood, TX., Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, Becky Cairns, youth editor

Review
First : “Evoking Laughter and Tears,”Olivia Hernandez, Unleashed, Yakima(Wash.) Herald-Republic, Adriana Janovich, youth editor
Second : “Panic at the Disco Grows Up,”Cara Rob, Satellite, Tulsa World, Barbara Allen, youth editor
Third : “Pencils Are Key,”Michael Nave, The Vox, Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash., Erin Daniels, youth editor
Honorable Mention : “Metal That Opens Your Eyes,”Vaughn Fortier-Shultz, Generation Next, The Santa Fe New Mexican, Bernadette Garcia, youth editor

Sports Story
First : “Knee Troubles,”Lety Clark-Olivero, Unleashed, Yakima(Wash.) Herald-Republic, Adriana Janovich, youth editor
Second : “Soccer Sisters Leave Legacy,”Keith W. Zirkle, 757: Teens Cover the Code, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Toni Guagenti, youth editor
Third : “You Play How You Eat,”Leo Gilbert, The Mash, Chicago Tribune, Phillip Thompson and Erinn Hutkin, youth editors
Honorable Mention : “Transfers Change Sports Dynamics,”Michael Morse, Teenlink South Florida, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Jennifer Jhon, youth editor

Best Children’s Writing
First: “Making a Difference,” Susan Hepburn, Xpressions, The Almanac, McMurray, Pa., Patricia Van Horn, youth editor
Second: Night at the DNC,” Bailey Cross, Colorado Kids/YourHub.com/Next Gen, Denver Newspaper Agency, Jill Armstrong, youth editor

The NAA Foundation strives to develop engaged and literate citizens in our diverse society through investment in and support of programs designed to enhance student achievement through newspaper readership and appreciation of the First Amendment . Information about the Foundation and its programs may be found at www.naafoundation.org.