Contributor Connect

When we asked you to nominate your best content and your favorite pieces from other contributors' libraries, you came through in a big way!

Thousands of "Content of the Year" nominations were tallied, and from this impressive collection of content, our judges were asked to select five winners to receive our $500 prize. It wasn't an easy task, but we're honored to present our winning pieces, which truly exemplify the power of our publishing platform:

Content of the Year, 2010

Cleveland's 'Etch A Sketch King' uses unusual canvas for works of art
by Diane DiPiero

Diane DiPiero was one the first contributors to start publishing her work on Yahoo! Local in Cleveland, and her fascinating profile of a local artist became the first piece published through our platform to be featured on Yahoo!'s home page — a destination visited by millions daily. This fascinating piece demonstrates local news reporting at its best. Diane sought out an unusual story and covered it from with great skill from a familiar, neighborly perspective. You're sure to fall in love with the "Etch A Sketch King" and his strange, awesome talent!
> Read Diane's Content of the Year acceptance speech 

6 Tips for Keeping Your Relationship Together While Mourning Your Loss
by Nicki Andrews 

We're always amazed by our contributors' ability to turn the greatest challenges they face into opportunities to help others. Nicki Andrews suffered a miscarriage at twelve weeks and immediately channeled that pain into great advice for partners grieving the loss of a child. Nicki's relationship survived this sad test, and the resulting article will surely serve as a lifeline to others. By sharing her story and her insight, Nicki beautifully captures the spirit of "Your Wisdom," the special section of Yahoo! Shine where her winning piece was published.
> Read Nicki's Content of the Year acceptance speech  

First person fan reaction: McKinley's suicide and the pain of losing one more Bronco to tragedy
by Sammy Emerson 

Look up "loyalty" in the dictionary, and you might find a picture of a Broncos fan, cheering on his or her team even through losing seasons. When Bronco Kenny McKinley, aged 23, took his own life last year, fans were shocked and devastated. Sammy Emerson poignantly expresses in her winning Yahoo! Sports op-ed not just what it meant to lose a rising star of the NFL, but what being a football fan has meant to Sammy throughout her life.
> Read Sammy's Content of the Year acceptance speech  

Stan Lee Interview with Associated Content
 by L. Vincent Poupard

What happens when a lifelong Marvel Comics  afficionado asks Stan Lee to grant an exclusive interview for publication on Associated Content? When L. Vincent Poupard did just that, Mr. Lee cheerfully agreed and the interview delved into topics fans have wondered about for decades. L. Vincent's article wound up on Yahoo! News and Yahoo! Movies, too, delighting comic fans around the world. If you' ve ever wondered what it would be like to interview someone you've idolized since childhood, just ask L. Vincent Poupard — and then ask your idol for an interview!
> Read L. Vincent's Content of the Year acceptance speech  

Katrina Five Years Later: Storm Wrecked Houses, but Not Home
by Whitney Laurence 

New Orleans Native Whitney Laurence reflects on a tragic anniversary in her Yahoo! News article, published for the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastating assault on the Gulf Coast. Whitney's story is touching, painful, and ultimately uplifting. It'll take you back to the day Katrina hit and the levees broke.  By the end, you'll come away smiling at the reminder that home is more than a house or material possessions. 
> Read Whitney's Content of the Year acceptance speech  

But wait, there's more!   Stay tuned to our blog for a special second part to our 2010 Content of the Year announcement.