The Society for News Design is proud to announce the Best in Show winners for its Best of News Design Creative Competitions. This year, judges evaluated about 4,400 entries across both competitions and awarded five stories Best in Show honors across the Print and Digital Competitions.
The winner for print is The Washington Post for its American Icon series.
The winners for digital are:
- Micro Newsroom: The Pudding for its Combination Portfolio
- Small Newsroom: The Marshall Project for “D&D on Death Row”
- Medium Newsroom: POLITIKEN for “This is how the phone is designed to steal your time.”
- Large Newsroom: The Washington Post for “The Blast Effect”
Best of Print News Design
For the print competition, a group of 26 judges from around the world awarded The Washington Post Best in Show honors in the Society for News Design’s 45th edition creative competition.
This piece tackles an incredibly important subject matter with precision and impact, offering a profound exploration of the devastating effects of assault weapons on the human body.
The powerful photography captures scenes that are often unseen in traditional American media, shedding light on the horrors that unfold in the aftermath of their deployment. It’s eye-opening and toes the line between horror and anger, compelling viewers to confront the stark realities of violence and conflict. In navigating such sensitive terrain, the storytelling is masterfully done, weaving together dry technical information with visceral evidence in a manner that resonates with readers. The resulting narrative is akin to a gripping horror movie, showcasing the depths of human suffering while maintaining a sense of technical beauty and sophistication.
Despite its graphic nature, the journalism possesses a profound impact, bringing up emotions like shock, grief and shame among its audience. The courage to publish such content demonstrates extreme craftsmanship and sensitivity, with impressive restraint shown throughout. This restraint allows the work to convey the horror without veering into sensationalism, a testament to the skill and professionalism of the team behind it.
From a technical perspective, the graphics are brilliant, providing an intricate and detailed representation of the weapons’ power and their devastating consequences. Moreover, the sheer volume of stories and content included in the piece underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency of addressing it. It speaks to the dedication and resources invested by the staff to bring these stories to light, serving as a testament to their commitment to journalistic excellence. It’s evident that considerable time and care were put into crafting this work, eliciting a strong initial emotional reaction and leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
Best of Digital News Design
For the digital competition, a group of 17 judges from around the world awarded four stories from micro, small, medium and large newsrooms for Best in Show honors in the Society for News Design’s 45th Creative Competition.
Micro organization
The Pudding
They won’t play Lady A on country radio | The Songwriters for Every Top 5 Hit, by Year | 24 hours in an invisible epidemic | What does a happily ever after look like? | WONKY: An exploration of rhythm and grooves that break the rules
The project excels in its attention to detail, particularly evident in the smart use of animation to illustrate sound, providing an engaging and educational experience about music through design. The color palette fits well with the context of the piece. Each one of these pieces is a landmark piece that will be referred to as an enjoyable experience.
Small organization
The Marshall Project
Texas’ Death Row | D&D sheets | Playing behind bars | A lifeline for prisoners
The judges found the project’s pacing and storytelling to be excellent, conveying the story’s message in just a few slides. They appreciated the seamless integration of various visual techniques and the continuation of photos between the slides. They commended the entry for being well-edited and cohesive.
Medium organization
POLITIKEN
This is how the phone is designed to steal your time
This piece shines with its meticulous attention to detail and vibrant animations, which captivate and engage the reader from start to finish. Each moment offers a new delight, seamlessly tied together in a coherent and elevated presentation of information. The animations not only enhance understanding, but effectively convey the essence of the article, making its message clear — even without translation.
Large Newsroom
The Washington Post
The Blast Effect
This entry impressed judges with its purposeful and informative use of 3D graphics, along with the extensive research evident in the storytelling. The graphics were seen as innovative, and the project was commended for its sensitive handling of a heavy topic, as well as its restrained execution and well-paced narrative.