Jones viewed his success as a victory for The Review itself. Although the two winning stories involved hands-on reporting regarding social change, the journalists used very different styles. Murphy became intrigued with the issue of food stamps after reading an article in the Denver Post at last year's competition. She supplemented her research by donning a pair of ripped jeans and a stained purple sweatshirt and spending nights interviewing homeless people on the city streets. While most students indulge in a celebration with close friends on their 21st birthdays, Lisa spent hers watching a television movie with other homeless women.
Young mothers are just one segment of the homeless population.
Murphy said, noting she also met the mentally ill, people on welfare and war veterans. Jones made the decision to cover his story on instinct. He had been working late on deadline at The Review one night when he saw the newscasts of the California riots on television. Two days later, he was in South Central Los Angeles covering the event. Riots are indicative of race relations happening on a much larger scale.