Syracuse University / Society for News Design

MONDAY, FEB. 12, 2007:

The third day of judging started at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time and all is well.

Judges are really scrutinizing the newspapers that are left after Sunday's second round of cuts. They are reading, taking notes and once in a while making comments as they spend hours reviewing the remaining newspapers so they can decide the papers that are "in" and those that "almost made it."

As one judge said, "this is hard work. Papers must be truly outstanding in many areas to make the final cut." Folks who have been following the streaming video will notice the camera angle has been changed. This is so viewers cannot see the newspapers that are left on the tables. The World's Best-Designed™ winners will not be announced until late afternoon, Monday, Feb. 19.

Readers have asked why we wait so long to announce the winners, so we went to the competition director to find out.

Here is what Director Marshall Matlock said: "We don't want the name(s) of the World's Best-Designed™ Newspapers announced before the end of the general judging, Feb. 19. Our concern is that the WB judging results could impact the general judging. We don't think that would happen, but if there is that chance, it's worth waiting a few days to make the announcement."

"We do not want to call attention to any individual or group of publications," Matlock said. "We'd rather be on the side of caution when it comes to releasing all winners' names, including names from the general judging." Twenty-seven judges arrive on the Syracuse University campus Friday to judge the remaining 13,511 entries. With the help of more than 50 facilitators, that group of judges completes its massive task by the end of the day Feb. 19. It's at that point SND announces the winners of the World's Best competition. We have two days, counting Monday, until the World's Best judging is done. It's been refreshing listening to the judges discuss what has come and gone from the original 351 entries, Matlock said.

Stay tuned for our afternoon announcements, pictures and perhaps a few surprises.

After a full day of reviewing the 54 newspapers that were still in the competition at the beginning of the day, the judges made their final decisions. It became more difficult to select the final winners as each hour came and went.

The only known fact as the clock ticked away is th

After a full day of reviewing the 54 newspapers that were still in the competition at the beginning of the day, the judges made their final decisions. At each passing hour it became more difficult to select the final winners.

The only known fact on everyone’s mind this day was that at its end, a decision had to be made. As the morning turned to afternoon and the afternoon turned to evening progress was being but it became harder at each passing hour.

Judges labored as they tried to convince each other was good and what was really good. They knew by day’s end they had to unanimously agree what would receive SND’s highest recognition in the 28th Edition competition.

The day ended as quickly as the competition began. Once the reviews were done, the discussions stopped and paper after paper was slowly eliminated the winners remained on one table where hundreds of papers began.

Judges were finally pleased with the way all the discussions, all the concerns and all of the uncertainty seemed to make sense once the winning papers were lined up next to one another on one of several judging tables.

After everything was said and done, the lights in the judging room dimmed and the door was locked in preparation for the final day of writing why the winners were better than the rest of the 351 entries. That work would have to wait until Tuesday, the judges last day before they headed back into their own environments feeling satisfied that they had done the job they were asked to do.

One thing is clear: This World’s Best-Designed™ Newspapers judging will remain a fond memory in the minds of at least 10 people. at judges has to have their decisions made before the day ended.

As judges labored trying to convince one another what was good and what was really good they came to a unanimouse decision and the winners were named.