The Poynter Institute once again brings you the year's best newswriting and community service photojournalism, showcasing the winners and finalists of the American Society of Newspaper Editors annual competition. "Best Newspaper Writing 2005" offers a wide array of exemplary writing and photojournalism, providing quality models to analyze and emulate.

This is the 27th year Poynter has published the "Best Newspaper Writing" series, books that have inspired and influenced journalists, educators and the students who have welcomed this series as an important tool for learning and strengthening the crafts of reporting and writing.

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"Best Newspaper Writing 2005" includes much of the honored work as it appeared in print, interviews with the winners about their craft, X-Ray readings of selected pieces, lessons learned by finalists, discussion questions useful to working journalists, students, and teachers, and more.

The winners featured are: Alan Sipress, Peter Goodman, Michael Dobbs, John Lancaster, Rama Lakshmi (The Washington Post), Dexter Filkins (The New York Times), Babita Persaud, (St. Petersburg Times), Helen O'Neill (Associated Press), M.J. Wilde, (The Albuquerque Tribune), Alana Baranick (The Plain Dealer), David Barham (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) and Carol Guzy (The Washington Post).

Click here for a complete Table of Contents.

Unfortunately, the book could not contain all of the finalists' honored work, so we have produced this website to include articles that did not appear in "Best Newspaper Writing 2005." They are:

Individual Deadline

Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times

• Russian Hostage Crisis: Russian Standoff Explodes; Troops Storm School; Death Toll Tops 250
• During School Siege, Russia Took Captives in Chechnya

David Perlman, San Francisco Chronicle

• First Look at Martian Bedrock
• Cassini in Saturn Orbit After Seven Years in Space

San Jose Mercury News

• Dismissed Juror Agrees with Verdicts
• Hundreds Witness 'History'
• In Modesto, Heartbreak, Anger -- And Relief
• Do We Want Finality in this Case?

The Wall Street Journal

• Sears Suitor Faces a Tough Bet
• Latest Deal May Spark Retailers to Start Shopping for Partners

Adam Fifield, Philadelphia Inquirer

• Revisiting Horrors, Seeking a Lost Brother: Echoes of the Killing Fields (Part Two)
• In Cambodia, Clutching Hope: Echoes of the Killing Fields (Part Three)

Josh Peter, Times-Picayune

• About Face: Mom Knows Best
• About Face: A New Game Plan

Meredith May, San Francisco Chronicle

• Operation Lion Heart: Part 2
• Operation Lion Heart: Part 3
• Operation Lion Heart: Part 4

Rich Brooks, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

• Buttering Corn on the Cob and Living Life Can Both Offer Challenges
• Graduates Are Testament to Success of Public School System
• Father's Day Gift This Year Truns Out to Be a Hit-or-Miss Proposition
• Giving Thanks: Mending Fences, Good Neighbors and Harley-Davidson

Brian McGrory, Boston Globe

• Wedding Distractions
• Not Your Father's Boston
• A Monstrous Petty Theft
• Nagging Doubts

Howard Troxler, St. Petersburg Times

• Amendments Panel Seems to Be Soaked in Contempt
• Being on PSC Means Never Having to Say You're Sordid
• Curbing Our Right to Sue Is Worse Than Any Lawyer
• The Excuses Are Scattered Amid Ruins of Voter List Plan
• Rancorous Quip Echoes Across Serene Landscape

Adam Bernstein, The Washington Post

• The Horizons Were Endless for Navy Man Turned Teacher
• Charismatic Rebel Transformed Movies; Winner of Two Oscars Rejected One
• A Singular Blend of Styles; Keyboardist, Composer, Singer Won 12 Grammys
• Francoise Sagan, Eccentric Writer of 'Bonjour Tristesse,' Dies at 69

Margalit Fox, The New York Times

• Margaret Kelly, 94, Founder of the Bluebell Girls, Is Dead
• Phyllis Williams Lehmann, 91, Arcaheologist of Samothrace
• Jackson Mac Low, 82, Poet and Composer
• Larry Buchanan Dies at 81, B-Movie 'Schlockmeister'

Mark Mahoney, Post-Star

• Northway Checkpoint Dangerous
• Jets Stadium Not a Wise Investment
• Change the Legislature, or Just Be Stuck with the Goo
• Yoo-Whoo to the Council