Judges have found their “groove,” as one said just before lunch Saturday. They are making their way through the final stage of the second round of judging.

The second round allows each judge to speak for or against the publication being discussed. Each succeeding round – and there could be one or two more before the final discussion and vote – is expected to take much more time because of the thoroughness of those discussions.

Judges could take several hours reviewing, reading, asking questions and discussing the pros and cons of each remaining newspaper after they finish round two.

While judges work to make sure only the very best publications remain in the competition, facilitators are doing research to get answers to questions that judges may ask about a publication that remains in the competition. In almost all cases the questions are about an international entry.

“It’s impressive to see how far the judges go to make sure they have the information needed as they head towards the goal of selecting the final winners,” said Marshall Matlock, the competition and judging director for SU and SND.

“There is much to be done, but judges have returned from lunch and are back grooving.”