Feature Writer of the Year

The way this writer uses words to paint a vivid picture peeking into lives of artists makes her well deserving of a first place award.”

NY Press Association judges

Attachments

20201025-171645-337 Feature writer of the year.pdf

Long-time staffer and Publishing Board President Sara Thompson took the Feature Writer of the Year trophy home from the competition this year. The judges were enthusiastic about her profiles of KP icons and artists. Their praise includes "Every piece in this collection is well thought out, easy to read and smoothly uses elegant language and style to tell the stories behind local artists whom we imagine most people never knew."

"In the slivers of life she features, not only does she comprehensively recount the interesting backgrounds of these subjects, but she sharply shares their unique perspective and aspirations behind art and what expression means."

"Half the battle writing a brilliant feature is finding fascinating people with stories worth telling, and this journalist clearly has strong enough roots in the community to do that. From a sculptor rooted in Hindu spiritualism, to a retired hippie devoted to sustainability and professional-level personal gardens, to an elderly Rock n Roller who spent his youth on the West Coast with the legends, this reporter clearly had deep, personal conversations with these subjects and delightfully shows the profound meaning behind their personalities and struggles."

"By the end of each piece, the reader feels they know these artists well and as a result understand the community better."

"Well done and congratulations, Sara Thomson. There’s no doubt your features accurately and vividly depict the humanity behind art of all form."