Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Brookhaven College Entry Title: Brookhaven Courier Website Entry Credit: Brookhaven Courier Staff Judge Comment: The navigation is simple and straightforward, which is easy to use. The sections down the homepage are good. Consider removing the "Recent Stories" section as it seems to duplicate what's in the slider and the sidebar. Also consider alternatives to a slider - these are going out of date, but they can still be beneficial in some cases. The reporting is good. Be sure to always provide a balanced viewpoint. For example, in the Beto O'Rourke story, there is a quote from a supporter, but none from a dissenter. The photography is wonderful!
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Eastfield College Entry Title: Et Cetera website Entry Credit: Et Cetera staff Judge Comment: The navigation is simple and easy to use. The variety of content on the homepage is impressive. The illustrations are wonderful! Skills put on display. The writing is fair and balanced. Consider correcting the resolution for the logo on the homepage; it is slightly blurry. Also consider the use of the slider. Most people are not going to linger long enough on the homepage to scroll through the stories there. Your best element is halfway down the page with the five stories on display at once. The newsletter subscription is also hidden.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Amarillo College Entry Title: The Ranger Website Entry Credit: Jo Early Judge Comment: The menu navigation is simple and easy to use. One challenge is simply scrolling down the homepage without any section markers. It would be beneficial to see stories categorized. The variety of multimedia content is excellent - videos and radio/podcasts are great features. The quality is also good. Some feedback on the videos would be to ensure the camera shots are level and as smooth as possible.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: A&M-Kingsville Entry Title: Overall Excelence Web Entry Credit: The South Texan Staff Judge Comment: The menu provides good navigation and a variety of sections. The square teaser images with the story previews on the homepage area an awkward size - some images are cut off. The "subscribe" pop up is a smidge aggressive. Is there a way to give someone a chance to land on the homepage before it pops up? The stories are well written. The multimedia elements are excellent - the audio story and the video story with the written content are great additions. The "Behind the Scenes" is a fun way to let the campus know that students just like them are working at the publication. Consider putting more of the informational content that would interest the audience at the front of that video - what they can expect from the publication, its purpose, its missions, etc. Great ideas; keep up the good work.
