Winner – The Marshall Project: Petty charges, princely profit
- Contributor – Joseph Neff
- Judges’ Comments – The entry offered a deep analysis of the inner workings of the bail bond industry, about which little is known publicly. It made good use of data and provided a clear, interesting explanation of what might have been a complicated, dull topic. Memorable and impactful, The Marshall Project stood out also for its timeliness as the industry experiences a seismic shift.
Honorable Mention – McClatchy DC Bureau: Non-bank lending targets weakest borrowers
- Contributors – Kevin G. Hall, Mike Woodel, Laura Corley, Ben Wieder, Paul Hampton
- Judges’ Comments – The entry clearly illustrated how non-bank lenders can create debt traps for people with few resources and no recourse. It was well-reported with data and voices of real people, and the graphics complemented the work. The pieces stood out for their detailed anecdotes. The two stories on car title pawn shops were especially well-told.
