Staff members of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette won top prizes in the 2014 Great Plains Journalism Awards, an regional contest covering eight states.

The Democrat-Gazette first-place winners were:

• Philip Martin in the Review category for "Story of a Dying," a review of the film Amour, about a couple who face old age, in the Feb. 15, 2013, editions. The contest's judges said of Martin's review that the "writer places movies in a greater cultural/societal context and shows his depth of knowledge with references to Tolstoy, Facebook outrages and more. Like the late Roger Ebert, he comes off as both a student of film and a student of the world."

• The editorial page staff led by Paul Greenberg for a portfolio of work that included editorials about the University of Arkansas and a deficit in its fundraising division, particularly one entitled "The Fayetteville Follies," which appeared Feb 10, 2013. The judges said: "These editorials are written in a unique, engaging style with passion and authority. They take a strong position, and they achieved positive results."

• Benjamin Krain, sports action photography, showing Tom Whitlow, with team Flying W, from Plainview, leading other racers during a heat in the Classic division of the National Championship Chuckwagon Races that attracted 4,700 horses and spectators in Clinton. The photograph appeared in the Aug. 31, 2013, editions.

The Great Plains contest, sponsored by the Tulsa Press Club, includes competition from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Des Moines Register, The Oklahoman of Oklahoma City, Tulsa World and the Omaha World-Herald, among others.

Great Plains finalists from the Democrat-Gazette:

• Philip Martin and John Deering, entertainment feature.

• John Deering, editorial cartoon.

• Paul Greenberg, personal column portfolio.

• Kelly Brant, food.

• ArkansasOnline.com staff, best website page design.

• ArkansasOnline staff, best overall website design.

• Debra Hale-Shelton, Charlie Frago (former staff reporter), Cameron Moix (former intern), Jessica Seaman, Sean Beherec, Lisa Hammersly, Rick McFarland, Stephen B. Thornton, Dusty Higgins and Kirk Montgomery, general news reporting.

• Dusty Higgins, graphics/illustration.

• Celia Storey, specialty feature.

• Melissa Sue Gerrits, feature photography (single).

• Rick McFarland, spot news photography.

Great Plains finalists from Arkansas Life were:

• Arshia Khan, magazine photo illustration.

• Dero Sanford, Justin Bolle, Stephanie Pyle and Kimberly Cyr Calhoun, magazine photo illustration.

• Wesley Hitt and Stephanie Pyle, magazine photo feature.

Great Plains finalists from Sync Weekly were:

• Nate Olson, Shea Stewart, Emily Van Zandt, Norma Edwards, Stephanie Maxwell and Arshia Khan, magazine of the year.

• Shea Stewart, magazine news writing.

Metro on 05/19/2014