Cheryl Allen, lifestyle/features reporter, The Greenville (S.C.) News
Nichole Monroe Bell,staff writer, The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer, Rock Hill, S.C. bureau
Ian Berry, city desk reporter, Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail
Raju Chebium, correspondent, Gannett News Service, Washington, D.C.
Johnny Edwards, reporter, The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle
Jaymi Freiden, public health reporter, The State, Columbia, S.C.
Amanda Greene, arts and religion reporter, Morning Star, Wilmington, N.C.
Le Datta Grimes, family and parenting reporter, Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader
Justin Cord Hayes, nonprofit agency reporter, News & Record, Greensboro, N.C., High Point bureau
Cindy Landrum, education writer, The Greenville (S.C.) News
Kimberly Lenz, senior reporter, Daily Press, Newport News, Va.
Kimathi T. Lewis, staff writer, The State, Columbia, S.C.
Sarah Lundy, reporter, The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C.
Stephanie Maxwell, anchor/reporter, WAGT-TV, Augusta, Ga.
Diane Norman, bureau chief, The Herald-Journal, Spartanburg, S.C.
Charles Shumaker, staff writer/police and county government reporter, Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette
Jan Skutch, senior reporter, Savannah (Ga.) Morning News
Kaffie Sledge, columnist, Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer
Tyrone L. Turner, freelance photojournalist, Arlington, Va.
Heather Vogell, staff writer, The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer, Rock Hill, S.C. bureau