Winner: Jim Shaw
Jim Shaw has been named “Best Newspaper Columnist” before, but this year the award means a little more.
“This has been a crazy year,” Shaw says. “I’ve never had a year when I’ve had so many wonderful comments and so many nasty, horrible comments from readers.”
Shaw explains it’s been “a rocky transition” going from a TV news reporter and anchor who delivers the news, to being a columnist who shares his opinions on events.
“Once you give your opinion, it’s a whole different world,” he said. “It’s a real honor and privilege to have this platform and I try not to take advantage of that. It validates the work and effort I put in. It makes me want to write more.”
Second Place: Tammy Swift
Third Place: Don Kinzler
Fourth Place: Mike McFeely
Fifth Place: Tony Bender
