Back row (standing), left to right: Mary Schulken, Jenna Hunt, Scott Batchelor, Stuart Savage, Al Clark, Cynthia Kopkowski, Rob Young. Front row (seated), left to right: Bobby Burns, Mark Rutledge, Nancy McGillicuddy.

The Sept. 11 terrorism attacks brought the harsh realities of war inside the U.S. borders and until more was known, imperiled every city.

In the quiet eastern North Carolina college town of Greenville, Daily Reflector Editor Al Clark realized the magnitude of the story and decided to publish an eight-page extra edition of the Daily Reflector.

"All news is local," the saying goes, and while carrying important wire stories and photos, the extra’s key element would be important local reaction.

Reporters were called in and assigned to develop stories not only for the extra, which would close by 2:30 p.m., but also for the next day’s newspaper.

The articles and editorials were written by Cynthia Kopkowski, Ginger Livingston, Mary C. Schulken, Jenna Hunt, Joshua Barker, Mark Rutledge and Rob Young.

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The photos were taken by Greg Eans, Chris Cummins and Rhett Butler.

That they succeeded in localizing well a world-changing story is reflected in their Best of Cox award.

Sept. 11’s legacies are many, including the reinstatement of a bedrock principle of journalism.

As frightened citizens are overwhelmed by uncertainty, it is newspapers that are called on to remain composed to do the in-depth reporting and editing needed to explain what is happening.

"Like everyone else, our editors, writers and photographers were shaken by the events of Sept. 11," said Clark. "Their intensity and concentration that day shaped their personal response to the tragedy and resulted in reporting that I believe helped our community deal with it as well."