Michelle Caruso, <em>Boston Herald</em>
Inheritor of Brian Mooney's mantle as the town's most tenacious investigator, Caruso was the first to begin unraveling the Mary Beth Lenane story, and was all alone on the poisoning of two children in a Roxbury foster home. When you think of Caruso, the word unrelenting comes to mind.
Alex Beam, <em>Boston Globe</em>
The Howie Carr of high finance is the perfect antidote to the Globe's dreary business coverage and a much-needed lance in the backside of Boston's puffed-up business community.
Charles Pierce, <em>Boston Herald</em>
He has become the most consistently engaging and entertaining sports columnist in any Boston paper.
Political Staff, <em>Boston Herald</em>
The paper's Sunday "Pols and Politics" column—a breezy, biting collection of one-liners, tidbits, and anecdotes culled from the annals of the state's number-one spectator sport—is a must-read for political junkies.
George Kimball, <em>Boston Herald</em>
When he's on his game, he's as good as they come. This year he was on his game.
Jack Driscoll, <em>Boston Globe</em>
Because everybody seems so comfy cozy in the newsroom these days.
John Powers, <em>Boston Globe</em>
Although he seems to be abandoning the beat.
John Robinson, <em>Boston Globe</em>
Acerbic, witty. His trashing of the Jason's anniversary party is memorable.
Greg Dawson, <em>Boston Herald</em>
A fine addition to the media scene.
Michael Madden, <em>Boston Globe</em>
For his tough reporting on the segregated Elks Club in Winter Haven, Florida.
Christine Temin, <em>Boston Globe</em>
Her criticism of the visual arts has proved telling and informative.
Diane White, <em>Boston Globe</em>
After a bit of a slump at the start of the decade, she found her stride in 1984.
Nathan Cobb, <em>Boston Globe</em>
Ah, the joys of damning with faint praise.