Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Niles West High School Entry Title: The Niles West Sports Talk Podcast S1 Ep5, Featuring Superintendent Thomas Moore Entry Credit: Luka Cejovic, Ibrahim Quadri Judge Comment: As a sports talk show, this goes well. Solid production, engaging guest.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Niles West High School Entry Title: Niles West Arts Podcast S1 Ep1, Featuring Richard Sims and Alex Young Entry Credit: Fiona Rae Judge Comment: Slow, unpolished introduction to the show. Good conversation, but too long. Would have benefitted from editing—and more effort to bring listeners into the conversation (by asking more questions on their behalf).
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Palatine High School Entry Title: ABL club create art reflecting their legacy Entry Credit: Jalynn Martinez Judge Comment: Delivery is stilted. Sounds like a newspaper story being read, not a story crafted for the ear. Awkward audio editing—notably that fadeout on the last cut.
Competition Comment: Talk (or maybe at least Sports Talk) deserves its own category in this competition. It’s at a disadvantage in a category called “Best Audio Journalism.”
