First Place: “Plastic Surgery Below the Belt,” Laura Fitzpatrick, Time Magazine
Judges said: “Balanced, fair, well reported and well-written - I actually wanted to read the whole thing even though I find the topic - vaginal plastic surgery - depressing. Love the conclusion! This story reflected a strong feminist perspective, which is sometimes lacking even from the most admirably sex-positive journalism.”

Three-Way Tie for Second Place:
“A Little Too Anatomically Correct,” Tom Wharton, Salt Lake Tribune
Judges said: “When politicians decide that art objects that have stood in plain view for years (in this case 20) are obscene-well, aren't we on a slippery slope to the Taliban, and isn't that very much worth writing about?”

“What's Normal Sex?” Brian Alexander, MSNBC.com
Judges said: “The author does a fine job distinguishing, in terms accessible to a mainstream audience, between the illegal and the kinky. At the same time, he writes at a high intellectual level, truly bringing us inside the professionals' debates.”

“Trials of an Oregon Lawyer,” Susan Goldsmith, Oregonian
Judges said: “This is true investigative, impact journalism. The man did not get a fair trial, and Goldsmith's reporting not only draws attention to that important fact, but advances his defense. Goldsmith avoids sensationalism, covers a controversial story boldly, and isn't afraid to take a side. It's brave to take on the problem of false accusations by children, because the public is hysterical on the subject of child sex abuse, a panic that's led to intense and usually unnecessary repression of kids and everyone around them.”

For more winners, see the Sexies website.