Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Condé Nast Traveler Entry Title: The Women Who Travel Power List 2025 Entry Credit: Lale Arikoglu, Megan Spurrell Judge Comment: Regal photographs and looping video portraits introduce each fascinating travel woman of power, from hoteliers and chefs to blind travel activists and solo travelers. Short, compelling stories about each individual include links for additional research and deeper dives. If you’re on the go or have finished reading, podcasts provide new and interesting material. Finally, Instagram connects viewers more intimately with these women and the reporters.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Mariel Wamsley Entry Title: Trekking Across Switzerland, Guided by Locals’ Hand-Drawn Maps Entry Credit: Ben Buckland Judge Comment: Through engaging writing, beautiful photographs, graphics and impeccable online design, readers find out what it’s like to trek through Switzerland relying on only hand-drawn maps by local strangers. This concept and collection of visuals makes the article a must-read. The delightful maps and interactions with strangers teach as much about the locals as they do about the route itself. Stark, well-composed photographs with beautiful light are well-edited and displayed, often paired as diptychs.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Wall Street Journal Entry Title: What’s the Fastest Way to the Airport? We Raced in New York, L.A. and Chicago Entry Credit: Dawn Gilbertson, Daisy Korpics, Peter Champelli, Carl Churchill Judge Comment: A fast, looping video of each race to the airport opens the online article and sets a tone of hustle and speed. This fun concept of sending reporters on a race to the airport in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles results in an immensely entertaining piece. A highlight is the use of interactive graphics to show each reporter and their mode of transportation as they race through the city. Photographs and videos scroll alongside to provide detail of their experiences and difficulties.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: Star Tribune Entry Title: Minnesota Waterfall Awards Entry Credit: Aaron Lavinsky, Simon Peter Groebner Judge Comment: The online edition opens with a lovely drone video taking viewers on a glide above rivers to a waterfall. Readers then scroll through a listing of Minnesota waterfalls, including a dramatic photo of each. Accompanying information shows the height, description, directions and a map. Fun labels identify the award, such as “Most Unexpected,” “Most Underground” and “Weirdest Falls.” The print edition condenses the information into a readable package, with the article, photographs, maps and extensive listing of waterfalls.
