The Poynter Institute once again brings you the year's best newswriting and community service photojournalism, showcasing the winners and finalists of the American Society of Newspaper Editors annual competition. The perfect reader for aspiring journalists, Best Newspaper Writing 2005 offers a wide array of exemplary writing and photojournalism, providing quality models students can analyze and emulate.

In addition to the interviews, essays and assignments you have come to expect from this trusted collection, Poynter faculty have added a new feature in this 27th annual edition—X-Ray Reading—throughout the book. These annotated and highlighted articles teach students how to look beneath the surface of a story to analyze the use of language and rhetoric, and build a toolbox of techniques for reporting and writing.

Foreword, by Karen Brown Dunlap
Preface
About The Poynter Institute For Media Studies
About the Editor
About the Contributors
Topical Guide
Introduction: The Power of Stories, by Aly Colon

Part 1. Writing on Deadline

South Asia Tsunami Coverage, The Washington Post
(Winner, Team Deadline)
1. "Sea Surges From Massive Quake Kill Over 13,000 Across South Asia"
2. "It Seemed Like a Scene from the Bible"
3. "In India, Death Roars in from the Ocean"
Conversations with Alan Sipress, Peter Goodman, Michael Dobbs, John Lancaster, Rama Lakshmi, and David Hoffman
Writers’ Workshop

The War in Iraq, Dexter Filkins, The New York Times
(Winner, Individual Deadline)
4. "Urban Warfare Deals Harsh Challenge to Troops"
5. "Hard Lesson: 150 Marines Face 1 Sniper"
6. "Black Flags Are Deadly Signals as Cornered Rebels Fight Back"
X-Ray Reading of "Black Flags Are Deadly Signals as Cornered Rebels Fight Back"
A Conversation with Dexter Filkins
Writers’ Workshop

Narrative on Deadline, Thomas French

Retail Rivalries, The Wall Street Journal
(Finalist, Team Deadline)
7. "Kmart to Buy Sears For $11.5 Billion," Amy Merrick and Dennis Berman
Lessons Learned

The Scott Peterson Verdict, San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News
(Finalist, Team deadline)
8. "Next For Killer: Life or Death?," Julia Prodis Sulek
Lessons Learned

Russian School Hostages, Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times
(Finalist, Individual Deadline)
9. "Killers Set Terms, A Mother Chooses"
Lessons Learned

Mars Rover Landing, David Perlman, San Francisco Chronicle
(Finalist, Individual Deadline)
10. "Spirit Begins Hunt For Water Signs"
Lessons Learned

Part 2: Narrative Writing

"A Husband for Vibha," Babita Persaud, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times
(Winner, Diversity)
11. "An American Girl"
12. "The Match Game"
13. "The Boy Next Door"
A Conversation with Babita Persaud
Writers’ Workshop

"Kidnapping Grandma Braun," Helen O'Neill, Associated Press
(Winner, Nondeadline)
14. "Kidnapping Grandma Braun Part I"
15. "Kidnapping Grandma Braun Part II"
16. "Kidnapping Grandma Braun Part III"
17. "Kidnapping Grandma Braun Part IV"
A Conversation with Helen O'Neill
Writers’ Workshop

Using Details, Dialogue and Scenes in Narrative Writing, Thomas French

Cambodians of Philadelphia, Adam Fifield, The Philadelphia Inquirer
(Finalist, Diversity)
18. "A Cruel Past Lingers"
Lessons Learned

School Segregation, Josh Peter, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune
(Finalist, Diversity)
19. "About Face, Part One"
Lessons Learned

Tornado Strikes Illinois, Julia Keller, Chicago Tribune
(Finalist, Nondeadline)
20. "A Wicked Wind Takes Aim"
21. "'Milestone's Gone!'"
22. "After the Storm's Fury"
Lessons Learned

Iraqi Boy Injured in War, Meredith May, San Francisco Chronicle
(Finalist, Nondeadline)
23. "Operation Lion Heart, Part One"
Lessons Learned

Part 3: Column Writing

M.J. Wilde, The Albuquerque (N.M.) Tribune
(Winner)
24. "Anti-Gay County Inherits the Windstorm"
25. "Life's Scary. Ask My Bosom Buddies"
26. "Bathing Suit (My! Oh!) Can't Skim Flaws"
27. "I'd Like to Teach Sodas to Live in Perfect Harmony"
28. "The Baseball-–It's Something to Spit About"
A Conversation with M.J. Wilde
Writers’ Workshop

Rich Brooks, Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune
(Finalist)
29. "Small Talk Becomes a Big Thing When You're No Longer Able to Do It"
Lessons Learned

Brian McGrory, The Boston Globe
(Finalist)
30. "Back Bay's Dog Man"
Lessons Learned

Howard Troxler, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times
(Finalist)
31. "Scapegoats Won't Make Bus Stops Any Safer"
Lessons Learned

Part 4: Obituary Writing

"A Life Story," Alana Baranick, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer
(Winner)
32. "Selling Shoes Fit This Man Well"
33. "The Egg Lady of Avon Lake"
35. "Housekeeper's Heavenly Touch"
36. "A Passion For Raising Rabbits"
X-Ray Reading of "Housekeeper's Heavenly Touch"
A Conversation with Alana Baranick
Writers’ Workshop

Adam Bernstein, The Washington Post
(Finalist)
37. "Eleanor Whalen, 91; Effervescent Olympian"
Lessons Learned

Margalit Fox, The New York Times
(Finalist)
38. "R.W. Burchfield, Editor of Oxford Dictionary"
Lessons Learned

Part 5: Editorial Writing

David Barham, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
(Winner)
39. "Three Daughters: Crosses At the Intersection"
40. "Letter to Europe: Special Delivery from Osama"
41. "'You Guys' Moves South? Y'all Will Stand Like a Stone Wall"
42. "Where Arkansas Leads: Schoolresults.org Is the Real Deal"
43. "Taking a Stand"
X-Ray Reading of "Three Daughters: Crosses At the Intersection"
A Conversation with David Barham
Writers’ Workshop

Mark Mahoney, The Post-Star (Glens Falls, N.Y.)
(Finalist)
44. "Baby Steps Needed to Fight Teen Drinking"
Lessons Learned

Part 6: Community Service Photojournalism

Carol Guzy, The Washington Post
(Winner)
45. About "A Year At Ballou"
A Conversation with Carol Guzy

Manny Crisostomo, The Sacramento (Calif.) Bee
(Finalist)
46. About "The Leftover People"
A Conversation with Manny Crisostomo

Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times
(Finalist)
47. About "The Troubles At King/Drew"
A Conversation with Rob Gauthier

Suggested Readings

“Equal parts journalism, education and inspiration. The collection of stories alone is worthy of a time capsule—a chronicle of war, money and power, of nature and human nature. But the real genius of this anthology can be found in the stories behinds the stories. Some of the best working journalists in the world deconstruct the craft, show us how it's done, and remind us why it matters more than ever.”

“Every year The Poynter Institute publishes its 'Best Newspaper Writing' collection, and every year it informs, entertains and inspires. In addition to containing some of the very finest newspaper writing from the previous year, it includes must-read interviews with reporters that answer burning questions for journalists hoping to refine their craft: How did she compose such a beautiful lead? What was his thought process in structuring the narrative that way? How do they do that? On deadline? 'Best Newspaper Writing 2005' offers another strong addition to this instructive series.”

"This book is a boon to students. Besides all the excellent examples of newswriting and photojournalism, the new X-Ray Reading feature helps students analyze specific techniques for writing and reporting. Highly recommended."

"'Best Newspaper Writing 2005' will be an invaluable asset to my journalism students. The book features examples of excellent writing, coupled with detailed descriptions from the reporters themselves about the evolution of these award-winning stories. Not only that, the book features a range of topics and diverse writing styles that I can use in teaching several different journalism classes this year. I recommend this book."

"I've used 'Best Newspaper Writing' repeatedly in teaching reporting and writing skills to journalism students. It provides realistic examples of stories and experiences of professionals—and it comes from the embodiment of journalism excellence, The Poynter Institute for Media Studies."

Best Newspaper Writing will prove to be a very valuable resource for teaching because it has a good variety of the kind of excellent daily print journalism now being published, and not just the inverted pyramid.

Aly Colón is The Poynter Institute's Reporting, Writing & Editing Group Leader and Director of Diversity Programs. He presents regularly at the National Writers Workshop and consults with news organizations on diversity, ethics, writing and leadership. Prior to Poynter, he worked at The Seattle Times as Diversity reporter and coach, and assistant metro editor for urban affairs, health care, ethics & values, religion, and social issues. Some of Aly's fellowships include: a Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in business at Columbia University, a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship in ethics, Knight Center for Specialized Journalism fellowships in health care and race, and a Robert Bosch Study Fellowship on European unity and German reunification. He has a B.A. in journalism from Loyola University in New Orleans and an M.A. in journalism from Stanford University.