A series of pictures that depicts a feature story line or single feature theme. 12 photos maximum per story. (A picture story taken outside the U.S.A., depicting the President of the United States, other U.S. politicians, or U.S. politics is NOT eligible in this category.)
First Place
Jahi Chikwendiu, The Washington Post
Coming of Age in a City Falling Apart: Khalil Bridges is an 18-year-old senior at one of Baltimore’s poorest and most violent high schools, Renaissance Academy. The school is located in West Baltimore not far from where riots exploded a year ago after the death of Freddie Gray by Baltimore police officers. Three Renaissance students were killed during a three month span this school year, including a 17-year-old named Ananias Jolley who was stabbed inside the school. Amid the violence, the school has endured. There are adults at Renaissance Academy trying to save teens, and they consider Khalil Bridges one of their most promising proteges. Two years ago Bridges was dealing drugs and wouldn’t let adults touch him let alone guide him. Now, with his father mostly out of the picture and his mother seriously ill, he is hoping to graduation high school and go to community college and make something of his life. But it won’t be easy, even with the help he’s being given. The teenager is representative of the forces arrayed against young black men in Baltimore, which one study describes as the worst place in the country for African American boys to grow up in terms of social mobility.
Second Place
Pete Marovich, Freelance
Rust Forms on an American Dream: In the 1980’s, the steel industry that built Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and still dominated its economy entered a death spiral. Now, thirty years later, the city has survived its deindustrialization, but the small towns, where the majority of the region’s steel mills were located, are still struggling with unemployment, a decimated tax base and a crumbling infrastructure.
Third Place
Jacquelyn Martin, The Associated Press
Hannah At Prom: An American Muslim’s Story: Hannah Shraim, 17, is Senior class president and an observant Muslim who prays five times a day, wears the Islamic headscarf (hijab), and hopes to become an advocate for Muslims in the United States. After convincing her parents she was ready for the responsibility she began wearing the hijab in the 10th grade. Despite anti-Muslim rhetoric this election year she decided she wanted to attend her school’s prom. “It was a pretty big deal for my parents to let me attend prom since it’s kind of unorthodox to do so in the Muslim community,' says Shraim, whose parents were initially concerned about how strangers might react to her hijab. 'However my parents understood that I would be hanging with my girls without a date and that as an active member of my class, it was important for me to go personally.” Although she was not the only Muslim student attending her diverse high school’s prom, she was the only student wearing a hijab among the hundreds of sequined dancers that evening. 'I’m also glad that I went as a representative of my faith to show that hey, Muslims can intertwine in the American fabric,” says Hannah after attending the event, 'Ya girl is at prom!'
Award of Excellence
Brendan Smialowski, Agence France-Presse
Untitled: Muhammad Ali is a boxing legend, controversial figure and local hero. After his death in June Ali’s body was returned to his hometown in Louisville, Kentucky. Ali’s constance presence in Louisville is everywhere. His impact can be seen in the monuments to Ali and people reaction to his death.
Award of Excellence
Win McNamee, Getty Images
Sea Trials: At the end of their freshman year, the Naval Academy freshman class endures 14 hours of rigorous physical and mental challenges during the annual Sea Trials training exercise.