The 2008 Best of GateHouse results are in. Champions and finalists for all categories are being released today.

The Newspaper of the Year champions, runners-up and finalists and the best sections of 2008 will be named next week. Those categories are being judged by the University of Missouri.

There were 618 total entries in this year’s contest.

The divisions were:

• Division A: Over 17,500 circulation

• Division B: Up to 17,500 circulation

• Division C: Non-daily

Congratulations to the winners.

Information about awards will be forthcoming.

NEWS WRITER OF THE YEAR

Judges: Elaine Kramer and Rosalie Stemer, national newsroom trainers and coaches

 DIVISION A

• Champion: Bruce Rushton, State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill.

• Finalist: Maureen Boyle, The Enterprise, Brockton, Mass.

• Finalist: Shane Hoover, The Repository, Canton, Ohio

• Finalist: Kelli Young, The Repository, Canton, Ohio

DIVISION B

• Champion: Matthew Rink, The Independent, Massillon, Ohio

• Finalist: Elizabeth Graham, Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, Mass.

DIVISION C

• Champion: Brian Hudson, Glen Ellyn News, Downers Grove, Ill.

• Finalist: Susan Parkou Weinstein, Raynham Call, Raynham Mass.

• Finalist: David Ertischek, Rosindale Transcript, Rosindale, Mass.

FEATURES WRITER OF THE YEAR

Judges: Elaine Kramer and Rosalie Stemer, national newsroom trainers and coaches

DIVISION A

• Champion: Tim Botos, The Repository, Canton, Ohio

• Finalist: Shane Hoover, The Repository, Canton, Ohio

• Finalist: Dean Olsen, State Journal Register, Springfield, Ill.

DIVISION B

• Champion: No champion named

• Finalist: Margaret Poe, Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, N.Y.

DIVISION C

• Champion: No champion named

• Finalist: Cathy Conley, Braintree Forum, Braintree, Mass.

• Finalist: Jessica Young, Suburban Life Publications, Downers Grove, Ill.

SPORTS WRITER OF THE YEAR

Judges: Newseum

DIVISION A                        

• Champion: No champion named

• Finalist: Eric McHugh, The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, Mass.

• Finalist: Emily Tropp, The Register Star, Rockford, Ill.

DIVISION B

• Champion: Zack Creglow, The Register-Mail, Galesburg, Ill.

• Finalist: Bill Althaus, The Examiner, Independence, Mo.

DIVISION C

• Champion: Mike Hardman, The Mansfield News, Mansfield, Mass.

• Finalist: No finalist named

EDITORIAL WRITER OF THE YEAR

Judges: Elaine Kramer and Rosalie Stemer, national newsroom trainers and coaches

DIVISION A

• Champion: No champion named

• Finalist:  John Murphy, The Enterprise, Brockton, Mass.

DIVISION B

• Champion: Kevin Frisch, The Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, N.Y.

 • Finalist: Jeff Fox, The Examiner, Independence, Mo.

DIVISION C

• Champion: Jane Fosberry Enos, Cape Ann Beacon, Gloucester, Mass.

• Finalist: Allison Cooper, Messenger Post-Post Weeklies, Webster, N.Y.

COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR

Judges: Elaine Kramer and Rosalie Stemer, national newsroom trainers and coaches

DIVISION A

• Champion: Dave Bakke, State Journal-Register, Springfield, Ill.

• Finalist:  Jon Chesto, Patriot Ledger, Quincy, Mass.

DIVISION B

• Champion: Mike Cutillo, The Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, N.Y.

• Finalist: Tom Loewy: The Register-Mail, Galesburg, Ill.

DIVISION C

• Champion: Gail Spector, Newton TAB, Newton, Mass.

• Finalist: Jerry Moore, Suburban Life Publications, Downers Grove, Ill.

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Judges: Ball State University

DIVISION A

• Champion: Bob Monahan, The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, Mass.

• Finalist: Bob Kast, The Repository, Canton, Ohio

• Finalist: Michael Weiss, The Repository, Canton, Ohio

• Finalist: Billy Kulpa, Register-Star, Rockford, Ill.

DIVISION B

• Champion: Robert McCune, The Independent, Massillon, Ohio

• Finalist: No finalist named

DIVISION C

• Champion: Steven Jack, Suburban Life Publications, Downers Grove, Ill.

 • Finalist: No finalist named

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Judges: Ball State University

DIVISION A

• Champion: Fred Zwicky, Journal-Star, Peoria, Ill.

• Finalist: No finalist named

DIVISION B

• Champion: Kevin Whitlock, The Independent, Massillon, Ohio

• Finalist: Glenn B. Dettmar, The Independent, Massillon, Ohio

• Finalist: Kent Kriegshauser, The Register-Mail, Galseburg, Ill.

DIVISION C

• Champion: Jacob Belcher, East Bridgewater Star, East Bridgewater, Mass.

• Finalist: Carrie Ann Grippo, Messenger Post/ Post Weeklies

PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Judges: Newseum

 DIVISION A

• Champion: Maureen Boyle & Craig Murray, The Enterprise, Brockton, Mass. (Deadly Silence project)

• Finalist:  Kelli Young (writer) and the staff of The Repository, Canton, Ohio (Color of Stark County)

• Finalist: Bryan Ackerman, Elizabeth Cooper and Jennifer Fusco, Observer-Dispatch, Utica, N.Y. (Behind the Water Crisis)

DIVISION B

• Champion: The Examiner, Independence, Mo. (Environmental movement project)
 
• Finalist: No finalist named

DIVISION C

• Champion: Carlene Peterson, Suburban Life Publications, Downers Grove, Ill. (Freedom of Information Act)

• Finalist: Staff, Gatehouse Media NE, Raynham (MA) (Environment special section)

• Finalist: Catherine Leyden and Annie Reed, Suburban Life Publications, Downers Grove, Ill. (Economy series)

MULTIMEDIA PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Judges: Northwestern University

DIVISION A

• Champion: Rockford Register Star, Rockford, Ill. (Remember When historical galleries)

• Finalist: The Enterprise, Brockton, Mass. (Deadly Silence)

• Finalist: The Repository, Canton, Ohio (Fridaynightohio.com)

Division B

• Champion: Julie Scheidegger, The Examiner, Independence, Mo. (Family Affair)

• Finalist: No finalist named

 Division C

• Champion: Rebecca Hayman, Bridgewater Independent, Bridgewater, Mass. (Videos)

• Finalist: No finalist named