Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Smithsonian Magazine Entry Title: Greek Revival Entry Credit: Tony Perrottet, Debra Rosenberg Judge Comment: Tony Perrottet wonderfully captures the culture of both ancient and modern Greece. The piece weaves modern experiences with historical context, and it provides the reader an understanding of why things are happening the way they are in Athens. Through architecture, museums, art, food, music and more, Perrottet illuminates how Greeks hold onto the old ways or embrace the new and does not shy away from the friction caused by the differences in the two. It is neither a travelogue nor a stodgy history report, but neither does it completely avoid the most enjoyable conventions of each. It is, in short, a perfect topic and angle married with a perfect city for such treatment.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Caleb Gayle Entry Title: Can the Rodeo Save a Historic Black Town? Entry Credit: Caleb Gayle Judge Comment: A piece that simply addressed the history surrounding the oldest Black rodeo in America would be a strong contender for all the cultural revelations it would yield, but Caleb Gayle does more than simply retell an under-told history; he reveals that history through its ongoing legacy. The story has a strong narrative format, which provides a sense of urgency and immediacy to the writing. The reader isn’t quite sure about the fate of the rodeo, but as a result of learning more about it from Gayle’s reporting, we’re rooting for its success.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Condé Nast Traveler Entry Title: In Kosovo, Techno Is a Symbol of Resilience Entry Credit: Lale Arikoglu Judge Comment: One might not start a story about the techno-music club scene in Kosovo expecting it to be such a richly reported and deeply nuanced piece of travel writing, but Lale Arikoglu shows how wrong that assumption would be. It’s a reminder of the power of music, the power of people, the power of place. It is a superb piece that touches on the cultural aspects of travel.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: Range by Ensemble Entry Title: The Way of Craft Entry Credit: Karen Gardiner, Nik van der Giesen, Mitsuru Wakabayashi Judge Comment: The Japanese concept of shu-ha-ri describes the three stages required for mastery of skills: Learn the fundamentals, break with tradition and transcend. It’s a concept that allows Karen Gardiner to explore a historic city’s attempt to honor its past and bring its traditions to a modern audience.
