Linda Campbell, Scott Morris and Robert Palmer Place First in Carmage Walls Commentary Awards

Linda Campbell, editorial writer/columnist of the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram, and Scott Morris, executive editor, and Robert Palmer, staff writer of the TimesDaily, Florence, Ala., were awarded top honors in this year's Carmage Walls Commentary Awards.

The prize is named for the late Benjamin Carmage Walls whose newspaper career spanned seven decades. Walls primarily owned community newspapers.

In presenting the awards, Lissa Walls Vahldiek, vice president and chief operating officer of Southern Newspapers, said her father believed that "courageous and thoughtful editorial leadership was one of a newspaper's primary responsibilities." This award recognizes outstanding commentary on local issues.

Over 50,000 circulation bracket:
Campbell wrote about the awarding of contracts for delinquent tax collection that demonstrated collusion between elected officials and contract winners.

Contest judges said that her entry excelled in all of the qualities that the Carmage Walls Commentary Prize seeks to recognize. They said: "It is well written, yes, but it stood above the other entries for its local focus and clear impact."

They said, "Campbell did considerable investigative work into the awarding of contracts for delinquent tax collection. She uncovered money trails and documentation that revealed collusion between elected officials and contract winners. Thanks to her revelations and persuasive presentation, the local board rescinded the contract and the local prosecutor investigated, leading to charges."

Under 50,000 circulation bracket:
Judges praised Scott Morris and Robert Palmer for superior opinion writing about a new immigration law in Alabama. They said their editorials and column shined – individually and as a package. The writing mixed careful analysis and colorful construction to great effect.
They said: "The reworking of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas' was some of the best writing among all entries."

Judges were also impressed with the fact that the team did more than simply rail repeatedly on an issue that many newspapers took up. "Each piece built incrementally on its predecessor," they noted. "Over time, Morris and Palmer built a damning indictment of the new law."

Judges also were struck by their ability to present the issue in thought-provoking ways. "Many readers no doubt had strong views on the issue from the start, but these pieces offered fresh perspectives that might not have been previously considered." One judge called it “change your mind writing.”

Second-place honors went to:

• Steve Stewart, publisher of The Tidewater News, Franklin, Va., who wrote about a new school grading policy.