Winner: Michael Roehrman, The Wichita Eagle

Judges: Amanda Hiatt (chairwoman), Winston-Salem Journal; Peter Donahue, Providence Journal; Courtney Semple, copy editor and ACES member; Steve Byers, Huntsville (Ala.) Times

Judges’ comments:

• Nice blend of poignancy (‘The Damage You Can’t See’) and clever puns (‘Time to use your morel compass’). Consistently strong entries; no clunkers or groaners in the mix.
• I liked Roehrman’s entries because they were excellent headlines for serious and at times tragic stories. Too often we applaud cute heads for cute stories. ‘The damage you can’t see,’ which worked well as a package with the photos and all, and ‘Pomp despite circumstances’ were poignant and true to the stories.

Award of Excellence: Ashley Winchester, Connecticut Post

Judges’ comments:

• A close second, and I wouldn’t be disappointed if she won or shared the top prize with Roehrman. Probably my two favorite headlines in the whole package: ‘Weight and Seed,’ and ‘Boring work, better commute,’ especially given the tight specs she had to work with on the latter.
• I loved Winchester’s ‘Bra thief raids Victoria’s drawers.’ It’s quirky, visual and deliciously straight to the point, one of those eye-candy headlines that draw a reader in. ‘Weight and seed’ also was a fine label head.
• ‘Boring work, better commute’ was another ringer. And while the headlines stand out, she ensures that the thrust of the story is told with the drop head.