Sheehan, Hongoltz-Hetling 2012 Pulitzer finalists

NORWAY — Editor A.M. Sheehan and former Assistant Editor Matt Hongoltz-Hetling were named 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalists for local reporting, Monday, for their series of articles on the health and safety violations in federally-subsidized Section 8 housing in Oxford County.

"It's truly outstanding, particularly for a smaller, weekly paper to be recognized," said Ed Snook, publisher, Advertiser Democrat. "The work that Anne and Matt did, is almost a once in a lifetime type event. Everyone should be very happy about it, and very proud if it; not only is Sun Media proud of it, but the whole surrounding Oxford Hills area should be proud of it."

The series led to a state and federal investigation of substandard housing conditions, and an overhaul of the practices used by the Maine State Housing Authority and HUD to ensure tenant safety.

According to the Pulitzer Jury, the Advertiser Democrat was chosen for its "tenacious exposure of disgraceful conditions in federally-supported housing in a small rural community that, within hours, triggered a state investigation."

"We are lucky to work in an environment, supported by Sun Media, that allows us to do stories such as these. We feel it's our job to support our community, see things that are wrong, and do something about them," says Sheehan. "We are thrilled to be amongst such prestigious news organizations."

Also nominated as a finalist in the local reporting category was the staff of California Watch, founded by the Center for Investigative Reporting, Berkeley, for its "rigorous probe of deficient earthquake protection in the construction of public schools across the state."

The winner for local reporting is Sara Ganim and members of The Patriot-News Staff, Harrisburg, PA, for their coverage of the Penn State sex scandal involving former football coach Jerry Sandusky.

The Advertiser Democrat was also one of four finalists for the national Michael Kelly Award. Other finalists were Rukmini Callimachi of the Associated Press for her coverage of events in West Africa; Kathy Dobie for a piece in Harper's Magazine about sexual abuse on Indian reservations; and Sarah Stillman (winner) for a piece in the New Yorker about women in Fiji who ended up as contract workers at military bases in Iraq against their will.

Sheehan and Hongoltz-Hetling also won the 2011 George Polk Award for local reporting. Other Polk recipients included The New York Times, The New Yorker and The Wall Street Journal.