Members of the Missouri School of Journalism faculty, coordinated by Professor Katherine Reed, judged the contest. There were 1,356 entries. For questions, contact: Mary Lu Abbott, SATW Foundation administrator, 713-973-9985, or awards@satwf.com. The results and comments also may be viewed online at the Foundation Web site, www.satwfoundation.org.

Category 1: Grand Award — Lowell Thomas Travel Journalist of the Year
Gold: Christopher P. Baker, freelance writer-photographer
   Christopher P. Baker specializes in the Caribbean, and from Cuba to Costa Rica, he knows his territory. In an impressive array of articles and guidebooks, he’ll help you get to know it, too — with insights into the people, surveys of the landscape and all the how-to hints a traveler could want. If you’ve visited the places he has, he’ll make you marvel at the good stuff you missed. If you haven’t, you'll be moved to start packing.

Silver: Jane Wooldridge, Travel Editor, The Miami Herald
   Even if you’ve never met Jane Wooldridge, you just know she’d be a great traveling companion. Her writing voice reveals warmth, curiosity and enthusiasm. Her reporting provides the essential details. Her blog, “Travels with Jane,” adds timely tidbits and updates. Read one of her pieces and you’ll want to read them all.

Bronze: Sarah Wildman, freelance journalist
   From the vino blanco of Spain’s Galicia to the jewellike chocolates of Brussels, travel with Sarah Wildman is a rare taste treat. She obviously loves her work, and who wouldn’t? More important, she shares her dining, drinking and exploring experiences clearly and compellingly.

Category 2: Newspaper Travel Sections
2A — Newspapers with 500,000 or more circulation
Gold: Los Angeles Times, Catharine Hamm, Travel Editor
   Travel sections should take the reader away, and the Times’ sections accomplish that and more. The originality and beauty of the presentation transform the pages, and the writing is of such a high caliber that it is difficult to put the section down. This is a travel section at the height of its powers.
 
Silver: The Houston Chronicle, Harry Shattuck, Travel Editor
   Fresh, informative and well-designed. A great mix of the local with a touch of the exotic, all written with the adventurous as well as the non-adventurous traveler in mind. Lots of actionable information here.

Bronze: The Boston Globe, Anne Fitzgerald, Travel Editor
   The art here mixes with the copy to produce page after page of riveting work, stories that inform while also making the reader dream a bit about that next trip.

Honorable Mention: Chicago Tribune, Randy Curwen, Travel Editor
   Fine editing is on display here, as the writing focuses keenly on what the traveler needs to know before heading out. Strong description, coupled with arresting photography.

2B — Newspapers with 350,000-499,999 circulation
Gold: The Globe and Mail, Toronto, Karan Smith and Julie Traves, Travel Editors
   Creative and descriptive writing that all travel writers should emulate. Smart, well-designed and brimming with ideas for travelers to all points on the globe, as well as a lot of local day trips and tips. Hard to put down, from front to back.

Silver: St. Petersburg Times, Janet K. Keeler, Travel Editor
   Absolutely gorgeous, dripping with color and life. A pleasure to read, with originality in every feature, including the briefs. A treat for readers in the form of a comprehensive treatment of a destination weekly, this serves its audience well.

Bronze: The Miami Herald, Jane Wooldridge, Travel Editor
   The dominant newspaper in Florida sets the tone with a broad and deep travel section that manages to inspire, entertain and inform. Wonderful use of space, with a rich mix of features and news. Design holds up throughout, and the writing is first-rate.

Honorable Mention: The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Betsy O’Connell, Travel Editor
   This strong travel section does a wonderful job of identifying out-of-the-way places that locals should explore, in addition to the faraway destinations all travelers dream of. Its excellent design and use of wonderful art bring the section to life.

2C — Newspapers with up to 350,000 circulation
Gold: The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Millie Ball, Travel Editor
   Here’s proof that you don’t need to have the biggest travel section to have the best. In just four to six pages, readers are treated to clever design — including a spectacular celebrity tabloid spoof — and fresh takes on popular travel destinations. Good coverage of local and regional travel and reader photo contributions round out this lively section.

Silver: The Orange County Register, Santa Ana, CA, Gary Warner, Travel Editor
   From “Terrier at 30,000 Feet” to “The Ghosts of Dodgertown,” this section offers variety and top-notch writing. Reader contributions go beyond the typical vacation snapshot to feature full-length stories about readers’ experiences in exotic locales. The weekly clip-out section on local and regional events shows you don’t have to go far to get away.
 
Bronze: Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Judy Wiley, Travel Editor
   The “Weekly Guide for Road Warriors and Day-Trippers” is an excellent example of service journalism, with ideas and tips for travel near and far. The Texas focus of the section suggests the editors really know their readers. But these aren’t formulaic stories about the same old places. Rather, the section is “newsier” than many others, with interesting angles on familiar destinations.

Honorable Mention: The Ottawa Citizen, Laura Robin, Travel Editor
   A well-rounded section, with information on travel gear and gadgets as well as destinations. Lots of locally written content and judicious use of wire copy give this section great local flavor — one doesn’t feel like the section could have been pulled from any newspaper.

Category 3: Magazines
3A — Travel Magazines
Gold: National Geographic Adventure, John Rasmus, Editor-in-Chief
   This travel magazine makes the most of its parent brand (National Geographic) and comes through with stunning photography and gripping storytelling. The overall presentation is fun and challenging. Writers such as Sebastian Junger provide personal, well-researched and reported articles that fill out the feature well. Front-of-book and back-of-book departments provide lots of service. Content varies from must-have gear and best trip packages to an account of an expedition to the Congo.

Silver: Budget Travel, Erik Torkells, Editor-in-Chief
   The accessible tone and style of Budget Travel makes it stand out from its competitors. The content is reader-driven and reader-centric with candid recommendations on where to go and what to do. It lives up to its tagline of “Vacations for Real People.” The numerous bullets and buttons help point out crucial information. Readers can always count on numerous deals, varied locales and helpful hints to make the trip easier.

Bronze: Travel + Leisure, Nancy Novogrod, Editor-in-Chief
   Comprehensive. That word sums up Travel + Leisure, a magazine that really knows its audience and works to serve it. Inside content covers the usual travel basics but then delves into fashion, beauty, shopping, even a regular section on driving. The features are spectacular and provide visual delights page after page. Maps, sidebars and boxes all complement the main fare. 
 
3B — Travel Coverage in Other Magazines
Gold: Brides Magazine, Sherri Eisenberg, Senior Travel Editor
   The strength of these “Honeymoons” travel sections is in the packaging. As service stories, they go beyond the conventional lists and recommendations. Each issue has a theme and multiple articles and sidebars to explore the subject fully. The display type writing is brilliant with a mindful approach to grab readers’ attention and draw them into the pages. Destination blurbs include unusual categories and useful information.

Silver: Departures, Richard David Story, Editor-in-Chief
   This magazine presents travel journalism steeped in exquisite writing with bold design and layout. The result is coverage that is authoritative and trustworthy while challenging readers. Features provide a fascinating array resulting in an editorial mix that has something for everyone: photography-driven stories, first-person articles, service journalism and more.            

Bronze: Coastal Living, Kay A. Fuston, Editor-in-Chief
   Each issue of Coastal Living contains a minimum of two travel department stories. These shorter articles give readers a glimpse of coastal towns, quick getaways and must-see locales with a writing style that is friendly yet filled with information. More than just the basics get covered, and beautiful photography shows highlights of the destinations with a similar accessible feel to match the writing style. Service boxes provide more specifics on where to stay, sights to see and what to eat.

Category 4: Newspaper article on U.S./Canada Travel
Gold: Jane Roy Brown, “After Alice’s Restaurants,” The Boston Globe
   Details, details, details abound in this engaging article about Alice Brock, the woman who inspired the song and the movie “Alice’s Restaurant.” The writer stays out of the way of the facts, leading readers through the streets of Provincetown on Cape Cod in Massachusetts — all through the eyes of Brock. Along the way, the biography of this iconic woman unfolds, including the tantalizing fact that she never actually made that chili recipe included in “Alice’s Restaurant Cookbook.” Stop by stop, the reader learns the top spots for yearlong residents of the Cape and peeks into off-the-beaten path delights that they, too, can find on their visits to this idyllic setting.

Silver: Janet Forman, “Oh, men and their spas,” The Globe and Mail, Toronto
   The secret is out on male vanity, thanks to this writer’s delightful reporting on the growing trend in male spas. No manicures, pedicures or facials allowed — rather it’s foot repair, hand details and skin fitness treatments. In a variety of anecdotes, the writer lets readers in on the gritty little secrets of just what happens behind those “men-only spas” — and it’s a pretty picture from Washington, DC, New York and Austin, TX, to Chicago and Las Vegas.

Bronze: Diane Daniel, “Home Exchanges, A bit at a Time,” The New York Times
   With the cost of travel going up, up, up, vacationers are finding clever ways to get away without boarding a plane or spending an exorbitant amount of money on gas. They are simply driving to a nearby town to stay in a stranger’s home while the stranger travels to their home. An inside look at home exchange and its growing popularity elevates this article. The writer highlights the advantages, disadvantages and surprises (one exchanger reconnected with a college classmate after seeing his look-alike son’s photo on a refrigerator, and another found romance).

Category 5: Magazine Article on U.S./Canada Travel
Gold: James Vlahos, “The Arch Hunters,” National Geographic Adventure
   Although a personal experience travel story, “The Arch Hunters” expands far beyond the journey of one journalist to showcase first-rate reporting. Because so few travelers actually make it to the rock arches of the Colorado Plateau, James Vlahos performs a service by venturing out with the hardy bunch who qualify as the exception. Throughout the narrative, Vlahos shows rather than merely tells.

Silver: Dana Cowin, “What Defines a Great Food City?” Food & Wine
   Dana Cowin makes this feature story succeed on two levels — the intellectual and the descriptive. The seven points used to evaluate the quality of dining in a metropolitan area constitute a well-thought-out list. The testing of those seven points of, in all places, Philadelphia, puts meat on the theoretical bones. The ironic element makes the feature memorable, too, because Cowin, Food & Wine’s editor in chief, had previously labeled Philadelphia a boring food city.

Bronze: Stephanie Mansfield, “How the Sunset Tower Got Its Cool,” Departures
   Not all readers will find a chic Los Angeles hotel affordable. But even for those who will never sleep at the Sunset Tower Hotel, its transformation from dowdy to trendy yields a remarkable saga, which stars a New Yorker named Jeff Klein after he works his way west. Strong reporting and first-rate writing.

Category 6: Newspaper Article on Foreign Travel
Gold: William Ecenbarger, “A Small Ship in a Big Jungle,” Chicago Tribune
   William Ecenbarger describes the experience of traveling by riverboat into the overgrown, animal-rich, insect-populated jungle of the Amazon in language so colorful and intense that the setting comes alive with his visual imagery. He does not sacrifice information to the writing, however, but skillfully layers the basics onto the stunning narrative. By story’s end, he has built a landscape of creatures strutting and slithering, vegetation sprouting and creeping and pockets of villagers living in an exotic, tropical wilderness. A deeply satisfying read.
 
Silver: Yvonne Horn, “Spanish Wineries’ Star Power,” San Francisco Chronicle
   In this entry, Yvonne Horn writes with as much authority about architecture and wine as she does about travel. Picking up on Spain’s groundbreaking plan to embellish its wine region with buildings by the world’s celebrated designers, Horn engages us immediately in a fascinating tour of the dazzling steel, sandstone, wood, glass and titanium additions to the Rioja district. To her great credit, she provides ample detail about the art, the wine and the countryside, as well as smart logistics about transportation, lodging and dining.
 
Bronze: Richard Read, “Amsterdam, Dual and Cool,” The Oregonian
   Richard Read capably juggles the dueling personalities of Amsterdam — the traditional Dutch culture of Rembrandt, bicycles and canals against the city’s reputation for social, sexual and narcotic tolerance. Read’s deft narrative style enlightens and amuses, as readers follow his journey along the Prinsengracht canal where historic hotels and sailing vessels give way to a red-light district, a sex museum and hashish shops. He captures the complexity of Amsterdam with skill.

Category 7: Magazine Article on Foreign Travel
Gold: Scott Anderson, “Fast Track to Tibet,” National Geographic Adventure
   This article stood out among many excellent entries with its compelling narrative of a visit to north-central China and Tibet. The reader is drawn immediately into the fascinating world of Tibet — dangerous yet exciting — with the description of a troubling scene in a Tibetan nightclub. Using the great storytelling methods of rich descriptions, interviews and narrative, the author gives us a wonderful view of the complexity of Tibet and its people that you can’t understand from front-page news stories.

Silver: Laurie Werner, “Asian Beauty,” ForbesLife
   For those still stuck in thinking of Laos in terms of the Vietnam War, the author gives readers an update that doesn’t sugarcoat the negatives (avoid laap – “guaranteed holocaust for a Western GI tract”). Laurie Werner does an excellent job of describing the conflict between Buddhist culture and foreigners. The author combines history, interviews and personal experiences to give a multifaceted picture of Laos.

Bronze: P.F. Kluge, “America’s Best Kept Secret,” National Geographic Traveler
   The author lets us taste, smell, feel, see and hear the Pacific islands from Samoa to the Marshall Islands, the Marianas and the federated state of Micronesia. We learn to respect and admire the people through artful descriptions of the landscapes and perceptive descriptions of how human behavior changes with the landscape. 

Category 8: Newspaper Photo Illustration of Travel Article
Gold: Richard Sennott, “Room for the Soul,” Star Tribune, Minneapolis
   Richard Sennott’s photographs capture not just image but experience, transporting readers and viewers into the reverent and serene environment of San Lodovico, Italy. His lens seems to peek around corners to discover intimate and public scenes alike that invite readers and viewers to look further and find something for themselves. The images are true experience.

Silver: Torsten Kjellstrand, “Amsterdam, Dual and Cool,” The Oregonian
   Torsten Kjellstrand manages to illustrate Amsterdam as both a place to visit and a place called home through a variety of images that capture both the city's personality and people. Without relying on obvious locations, Kjellstrand provides a social landscape through portraits and environmental photos that reveals lesser-known aspects of Amsterdam through fresh angles and real faces.

Bronze: Michele McDonald, “A Gloriously Gritty Groove,” The Boston Globe
   Michele McDonald focuses on what makes any place unique: its people. The portraits work together to tell a story about the community-oriented creative spirits shaping Pittsburgh today.

Category 9: Magazine Photo Illustration of Travel Article
Gold: Gordon Wiltsie, “The Vanishing Breed,” National Geographic Adventure
   This vision of a dying culture is full of sadness. The photographer creates intimate images that teach about this vanishing breed of reindeer herders in Russia. There are tight photographs of the people in the homes as well as expansive shots that show the beauty of the land. The degree of difficulty is noted.

Silver: Tierney Gearon, “Malibu A-Go-Go,” Departures
   This photo portfolio is quirky, witty, sweet and hip. The California Pizza Kitchen is so well-composed that the people appear to be cardboard cutouts, perfectly placed. Tony Koursaris and Linda Thompson are serious and intense, in contrast to the friendly Gigi Levangi Grazer portrait. Together, this Malibu portfolio creates a poem about the many sides of the town.

Bronze: Catherine Karnow, “Authentic Paris,” National Geographic Traveler
   “Authentic Paris” takes readers behind the scenes of this popular destination, with photographs that show a mix of scenic landscapes, portraits and situations unfolding in front of the camera. The photographer uses soft, natural light to turn ordinary images into extraordinary images. Subjects are captured going about everyday life, showing us real moments in Paris.

Category 10: Special Packages/Projects
Gold:  Tom Haines, project director, and Globe staff, “At the Edge of Europe,”
The Boston Globe/boston.com
   This is outstanding photojournalism and writing without the typical travel cliches. It’s the perfect blend of educational, entertaining and engaging journalism, the kind we wish to share with our friends. Tom Haines takes a fresh look at emerging travel destinations. But what puts this entry at the top of the heap is the extraordinary effort taken to combine traditional journalism with the new form of multimedia emerging online. This package has a wealth of rich visual content, along with high-quality video, sound and photojournalism.
 
Silver: Terry Tazioli, Travel Editor, and Seattle Times staff,
   “Pike Place Market at 100,” The Seattle Times/seattletimes.com
Deep, detailed and multimedia in every sense of the word. Well-written articles are brightened by beautiful photography, in turn leading readers to an interactive map. Audio tours give voice to the people of Pike Place Market. Natural sound abounds, adding a deep sensory experience for readers. Full of architectural detail, historical depth and the vibrancy of the century-old marketplace, this tour de force leaps off the page, off the computer screen and makes you want to go experience this place for yourself.

Bronze: Toni Salama and Randy Curwen, “The Next Big Thing,”
  Chicago Tribune/chicagotribune.com
   This package on the Big Island of Hawaii was entertaining, well-written and beautifully photographed. The online videos took readers up close and gave a very homey, human feel to the information. The viewer is right there with the writer, experiencing the Big Island and its attractions. The online quizzes were an interesting touch, adding fun and competition to the articles.

Category 11: Article on Marine Travel
Gold: Carl Hoffman, “Take Me to the River,” National Geographic Traveler
   There are words that can exquisitely describe the wonder and beauty of the Amazon River and the adventure that awaits any traveler willing to experience its unique grandeur. This author’s vivid descriptions, flowing narrative and engaging storytelling prove it.

Silver: Gayle Keck, “Pirates of the Mediterranean,” The Washington Post
   A sense of place that transcends the mere “where” and “what” makes this article unique. Yes, readers will learn about sailing along the coast of Turkey, but they’ll also know what it feels like because of the visceral imagery this writing conjures.
 
Bronze: Alan Solomon, “How Do We Love Baja? Let Us Count the Whales…,”
   Chicago Tribune
   The challenge in writing a story about whale-watching off the coast of Baja is finding a way to make a slightly stale topic special. In this case, the author uses words like a painter with a full palette, describing an adventure along the Mexican coast as if he were the first to experience it.

Category 12: Article on Adventure Travel
Gold: Aaron Teasdale, “Across Maasai Land,” Adventure Cyclist
   Aaron Teasdale offers an elegant account of a bicycle trek across Tanzania, where giraffes, lions and zebras roam the Serengeti Plain and blue monkeys skip across the tops of lush forests. His fascination with the native Maasai matches his appreciation for the flora and fauna, and the practical information he provides proves that this fantasy trip is possible.

Silver: Gary McKechnie, “Prairie Hog,” Hog Tales
   Mountain climbing or white-water paddling it’s not. But Gary McKechnie illustrates through wonderful prose, conversational interviews and powerful observation how riding a Street Bob through rural Nebraska and Kansas — a landscape the past 50 years has forgotten — can become a life-changing adventure for the soul.

Bronze: Matthew Power, “Escape to Mount Kenya,” National Geographic Adventure
   Matthew Power retraces the steps of three Italians who, inspired by the specter of Mount Kenya, escaped a World War II prison camp just long enough to climb it. Power weaves the details of their epic journey into a riveting account of his own adventure on the mountain, then goes the extra mile to provide useful information to help others get there.

Category 13: Travel News/Investigative reporting
Gold: Steve Friedman, “The Long Trail to Jail,” Backpacker
   This article provides an intimate look at a con artist who trekked south on the Appalachian Trail and left crime in his wake. The writer’s scene re-creations and narrative help make this a compelling article.
 
Silver: Christopher Ketcham, “A Death at Outward Bound,”
 National Geographic Adventure
   The author examines the death of a 16-year-old girl during an Outward Bound journey in Utah. He traces the girl’s last days on the hike and uses interviews with former employees to raise questions about Outward Bound’s willingness to push risks.
 
Bronze: William J. McGee, “Air Security: Why You’re Not as Safe as You Think,”
     Consumer Reports
   Federal air security rules make flying safer, right? This article says otherwise and gives the reader a succinct overview of gaps in the air safety net. The writer mines government documents and databases for information that illustrates the shortfalls.

Category 14: Service-Oriented Consumer Article
Gold:  Jill Schensul, “Ever Ready for Mishap: How a travel writer keeps going
 when plans fall apart,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ)
   We all know what it’s like when plans go awry. This author puts it all in perspective and tosses in a laugh or two with really solid advice on fixing travel gaffes. Bright writing and solid consumer information make this a breeze to read, even if we do wince occasionally with “I’ve done that!” recognition.

Silver: William J. McGee, “The Ultimate Guide to Travel Web Sites,”
Condé Nast Traveler
   For those travelers who book online — and most do — this is a godsend. It’s more than a “top picks” — it’s an evaluation of travel Web sites combined with strategies to save you money. Any reader, even the most seasoned frequent flier, will save money after reading this comprehensive guide.

Bronze: Carol Pucci, “The Exchange Game: Pay Attention When It’s Time to Pay,”
     The Seattle Times
   With the dollar shrinking in the pockets of American travelers, this article is solid-gold consumer information. The author tells us when and how to use exchange rates to our advantage — and busts many myths in the process. This tale is vividly told through the eyes of those who’ve been burned on European shopping expeditions.

Category 15: Environmental Tourism Article
Gold:  John Falk, “Why the Bonobos Need a Radio…and Other (Unlikely) Lessons
 From the Deepest Congo,” National Geographic Adventure
   A lush, well-written story on a lowland rain forest on the Congo, alive with images of its people, plants, rare apes and other wildlife. It provides a realistic and eye-opening look at an ecosystem’s past, present and future.
 
Silver: Ellen Creager, “This Little Traveler Saved the Planet,” Detroit Free Press
   Informative, well-sourced, well-researched look at how environmentally minded flyers can atone for their carbon footprint sins. Great lead with helpful resources.
 
Bronze: Susan Pigg, “The Plane Truth About Flying,” Toronto Star
   A good example of localizing a global story about how despite the call for using less oil and saving the environment,  more people are traveling via airplanes. The story looks at how airlines are trying to take steps to improve their impact through better engines and design. Well-sourced and informative.

Category 16: Cultural Tourism Article
Gold: Matthew Polly, “Bangkok Vice: Buddhas, Boxers, and Bar Girls,” Slate
   The writer crafts a sensational and exhilarating tale of gonzo journalism as he spends several alcohol-soaked days flirting with danger among the bar girls, con artists and live tigers in Bangkok. Thoughtful analysis and short history lessons are driven home with biting wit and sarcasm as the writer explores why the local culture has embraced its hedonistic mentality so well.

Silver: Gretel Ehrlich, “The Vanishing Breed,” National Geographic Adventure
   The essay is a fabulously told tale of the last generation of the Komi, a tribe of reindeer herders in a remote portion of Russia. Never heard of the Komi? Neither had the author until stumbling into them while trying to meet up with a different indigenous tribe. The result of this well-called audible is a heartbreaking tale of a people who so love their way of life but are soon to die out. The writer captures their love of this hard, nomadic life brilliantly from all angles, including talking to tribe members who left only to return.

Bronze: Jerry Shriver, “Finns Call the Shots,” USA Today
   What makes the nightlife in Helsinki so odd? The writer explores the myriad ways: There’s the bar that allows patrons to hire a Personal Jesus to serve drinks. Or there’s the bar made of ice, kept at a cool 23 degrees. Or there’s the chance to flub some karaoke lines you’ve likely never heard before after consuming too many lagers. The article crafts these tales together while delving into why the Finns embrace their counterculture nightlife.

Category 17:  Personal Comment
Gold: Steve Friedman, “It’s Not About the Hole,” Bicycling
   A hilarious event (a doughnut-eating bicycling race) understandably attracts the writer, and he pulls it off with the right touch. In a strong category, this one stood out: a personal quest to eat doughnuts and ride fast. A great, funny read.

Silver: Silvano Marchetto and Marisa Acocella Marchetto, “Italian Road Trip:
So, What Should We Eat?” Bon Appétit
   What set this piece apart was the non-traditional storytelling. A restaurateur and his cartoonist wife travel through Italy, and the story is revealed in cartoon panels. Informative and entertaining.

Bronze: Sebastian Junger, “Running Away” National Geographic Adventure
   A powerfully written personal essay about the human desire to “get away” from the rest of society that convincingly argues that athletic pursuits, at least in modern life, may have the same effect as “disappearing into the wilderness.” A well-written piece.

Category 18: Special-Purpose Travel
Gold: John Falk, “Downward Facing Boyfriend,” National Geographic Adventure
   The author’s relationship with his girlfriend is what propels this story to the end, but along the way the reader is given an up-close look at an ashram in India. In spare prose, the story moves quickly and has an unforgettable ending. It’s particularly refreshing to read the perspective of a reluctant visitor to this unusual pocket of the world.
 
Silver: Paula Bock, “Burma: Healing and Hand Puppets,” The Seattle Times
   Articles about vacations that involve volunteer work have become ubiquitous, but rarely do stories capture in such vivid detail what it means to journey to a place like Burma and leave behind the comforts of home to work with a struggling people. Over a dozen years, the writer’s trips to work with refugees on the Thai-Burma border have connected her with what it means to be human.
 
Bronze: Leigh Ann Henion, “The Longest Yard,” The Washington Post
   Excellent reporting and well-crafted narrative bring this slice of Americana to life. The story is about more that the nation’s largest yard sale — it’s about what it means to be American and the central role that our stuff plays in our identity.

Category 19: Short Travel Article
Gold: Christopher P. Baker, “ Baracoa,” Cuba Absolutely
   The language and description in this story weave a tale that places the reader squarely in Baracoa. It isn’t hard to vision oneself standing amid the tropical beauty with help from the writer’s descriptions of the village at dawn. And, yet, among the beauty of this Cuban resort lies history that isn’t forgotten by the writer. All this helps give the piece context and texture.

Silver: Arthur Golden, “ Stolen Kisses,” National Geographic Traveler
   A wonderful tale about the opportunities that travel provides and its ability to change a person’s life so quickly, and yet, so easily. The writer’s style and voice make this article seem like a conversation between friends recalling “the good old days.” A pleasurable read and a gentle reminder to readers that adventure can be just around the corner.

Bronze: Tom Downey, “A Manhattan in Tokyo,” Outside’s Go
   A mixture of sense and style put this story above others in this category. Downey uses the same sort of chemistry with his words that the Japanese bartenders used in their drinks. A delightful read which shows how a single glimpse at beauty and pleasure can be worth the trip.

Category 20: Travel Books
Gold:  Nesreen Khashan and Jim Bowman, editors, “Encounters with the Middle East:
True Stories of People and Culture That Help You Understand the Region,”
Travelers’ Tales/Solas House
   There is no better way to “encounter the Middle East” than to join a group of talented, sincere writers on their journeys. They will break stereotypes and open readers’ minds with their compassionate, respectful stories of ordinary people. These stories will make you cry as you enter the Church of the Nativity, laugh as you join a woman searching for a toilet on a long bus ride in Turkey and smile as you break Ramadan fast on a ferry crossing the Red Sea.

Silver: Susan Fox Rogers, editor, “Antarctica: Life on the Ice,”
Travelers’ Tales/Solas House
   Each story is a unique adventure in this well-edited collection of Antarctica tales. There is the tale of a harrowing search for a friend in a whiteout and hurricane-force snowstorm as well as a goofy story of the day it rained chickens at McMurdo. The best part is that these are not written by travelers looking for adventure but by the people who live in this most remote spot.

Bronze: Anita Alan, author, “Big Sur Inn: The Deetjen Legacy,” Gibbs Smith, Publisher
   Whether or not you’ve visited the historic Big Sur Inn, the romantic photographs, poems and recollections of the place will enchant you. Intensely detailed, this book explores the California inn as well as the rich lives of the owners and founders.

Category 21: Guidebooks
Gold:  Erik Torkells and the editors of Budget Travel, “Secret Hotels,”
Stewart, Tabori & Chang
   In a very competitive category, this guidebook inspires two reactions: gratitude and the immediate impulse to book a room at one of these affordable, beautiful hotels and then a plane ticket (in that order). The gratitude goes to author Erik Torkells and the editors of Budget Travel for doing the legwork to find inexpensive places to stay that don’t compromise on aesthetics. The inspiration comes from the rich, color photographs of the lodgings — and sometimes their proprietors — and the descriptions of the hotels. “Secret Hotels” is worth its weight in gold to the budget traveler looking for a spectacular setting.

Silver: Andrew Evans, author, “Iceland,” Bradt Travel Guides
    Full of fascinating details in writing, graphics and photos, “Iceland” delves deeply into the country in a format that often resists depth. Evans knows the country, and it shows. But he also organizes the essential information in an easy-to-use way. It’s the combination of depth and breadth that sets this guidebook apart from many others. Evans takes his subject seriously and invites the reader in to the experience of Iceland with wit and authority.

Bronze: Debbie Harmsen and Michael Nalepa, editors, “Fodor’s Complete Guide
  to the National Parks of the West,” Fodor’s Travel Publications
   Stuff it in the glove box and hit the road: This exhaustively researched guide has everything the traveler needs to tap into the riches of America’s national parks. Q & As from park rangers, nifty little maps and lists of things to do in each park (besides places to eat and places to stay) make this the essential guide for the outdoors enthusiast. The design makes it easy to use and nice to look at.

Category 22: Online Travel Journalism Sites
Gold: Boston.com/travel, The Boston Globe, Christine Makris, Senior Producer
   The depth of information and the unexpected features found on The Boston Globe’s travel Web site are amazing. The site successfully serves two different constituencies: travelers visiting Boston and Bostonians who travel. The site uses excellent geocoding and Web 2.0 capabilities to give visitors tours of Boston landmarks such as Harvard Square and Fenway Park and also publishes timely articles about places in the news and of interest to Bostonians. Excellent layered information.

Silver: BudgetTravel.com, Budget Travel, Steve Merrill, Online General Manager
   This comprehensive Web site is a must-see for anyone seeking to save money while traveling. The magazine does a great job of leveraging likeable personalities in short Web videos that add depth to the travel experience and offers a deep, comprehensive look at travel destinations around the world. Stories and data are easy to find and fun to use, and the accuracy of the information is top-notch.

Bronze: Southernliving.com/southernbyways, Southern Living,
  compiled by Annette Thompson, Associate Travel Editor 
   “Byways of the South” is a small component of Southern Progress’ overall travel Web database, but it’s amazingly fun and easy to use. The minisite focuses on drives to popular Southern travel destinations, making excellent use of interactive maps and other multimedia. Particularly notable is a playlist of music for each drive, downloadable through the iTunes store. It’s a great way to have fun while learning about new places.

Category 23: Travel Broadcast — Audio
Gold: Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman, “On Travel — Kansas City,”
          XM Satellite Radio
   On Travel Radio’s Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman do a tremendous job in their series on Kansas City. Informative and entertaining, each of the one-minute reports is a fact-packed marvel of not just information but the flavor and color of Kansas City as well. They paint an enticing portrait of the city, its attractions and history and provide listeners with tons of tips and practical advice. Most of all, they make the listener want to hit the road and really see Kansas City.

Silver: Joseph Rosendo, “Ontario, Canada’s Far North,” Travelscope Radio Network
   “Ontario, Canada’s Far North” is an in-depth, fascinating portrait of the Moose Cree tribe and land. The detailed word pictures bring Moose Factory to life and paint a vivid picture in the mind’s eye. Joseph Rosendo introduces listeners to the people, their lives and the history of this raw and robust area. There is a wealth in interviews, historical detail and fun facts that make you want to visit the natives of north Ontario, learn about their culture and experience their way of life.

Bronze: Ron Bernthal, “Lost and Saved,” WJFF Public Radio
   Ron Bernthal’s “Lost and Saved” highlights a great idea — historic architectural tourism. He educates listeners about unique locations that are being preserved or are in need of preservation. Through colorful writing and revealing interviews, Bernthal takes his listeners to places from the famed New Yorker Hotel to cultural icons like Santa Monica’s Zephyr Surf Shop that spawned the modern-day skateboard or the last remaining Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel, the Park Inn in Mason City, Iowa. Those interested in preservation, restoration, architecture or history will find these reports fascinating.

Category 24: Travel Broadcast — Video 
Gold: Joseph Rosendo, “Colors of Malaysia,” PBS TV stations
   Joseph Rosendo’s portrait of Malaysia provides a perfect blend of information and entertainment. In the role of congenial tour guide, Rosendo takes his audience to Kuala Lumpur, and the program skillfully walks viewers through a vast array of places, introducing us to the food, culture and beauty of Malaysia.
 
Silver: Joseph Rosendo, “Churchill, Manitoba’s Beluga Whales and Polar Bears,”
 PBS TV stations
   The stunning beauty of Churchill, Manitoba, is shown through its wildlife. Joseph Rosendo engages his audience with descriptive writing and close-up camera angles of fascinating and compelling subjects — the bears!
 
Bronze: Toni Salama, chicagotribune.com, Hawaii’s Big Island, Galveston, Kemah,
  Greek cruise and Dubai shorts 
   Toni Salama treats the members of her audience like trusted friends, giving them just enough highlights of her travels to help them understand the significance of the individual places without overwhelming them with too much information. Each segment provides concise and valuable nuggets.  

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