From Our Archive
March 12, 2004
Scripps Howard Foundation
announces National Journalism Award winners
CINCINNATI -- The Scripps Howard
Foundation today announced the winners of its annual National
Journalism Awards, honoring the best in print and electronic
journalism and journalism education for 2003.
The awards, which are open to all U.S. news
organizations and college journalism educators, recognize
excellence in 19 categories, including editorial writing,
human interest writing, environmental and public service
reporting, business/economics reporting, commentary,
photojournalism, radio and television journalism, college
cartooning, Web reporting and editorial cartooning.
The awards also honor
distinguished service to journalism education, literacy and
the First Amendment. One new category, Journalism Teacher of
the Year, was added for 2003.
Cash awards totaling
$130,000 will be presented April 23 during a dinner at the
National Press Club in
“Scripps Howard Foundation sponsors the National
Journalism Awards in recognition of the essential role that
journalists and journalism educators play in a free and
democratic society,” said Judith G. Clabes, the Foundation’s
president and chief executive officer. “The journalists and
journalism educators whose work we honor with these awards
have achieved the highest levels of dedication and
professionalism. By bringing the critical issues of the day to
our attention, they serve as catalysts for change and are
making a difference for each and every one of us. National
Journalism Award winners represent the best of what American
journalism has to offer today.”
The Scripps Howard
Foundation is the philanthropic arm of The E. W. Scripps
Company.
Kenneth W. Lowe, president and chief executive
officer for Scripps, said, “As a diversified media company
with its roots firmly planted in a tradition of journalistic
excellence and integrity, we take great pride in the
Foundation’s sponsorship of the National Journalism Awards. We
firmly believe in the virtues of a free and unfettered press
and have made it a priority to honor those in our industry who
best demonstrate those values through their exemplary work.
This year’s impressive roster of winners is no
exception.”
The National Journalism Award winners
are:
EDITORIAL
WRITING
Philp
won for “The Water Barons,” a series of 20 editorials that
exposed financial abuses by employees of a local water
district. Judges said Philp “used facts and language both as
tools of powerful persuasion. These editorials are so well
written, with a clear call to action and passion without
preaching.” Finalists: Chuck Baldwin, Argus
Leader,
COMMENTARY
John Kass,
Kass won for a selection of his
columns, including a series of reflections on an honest
Kelley Benham, St. Petersburg (Fla.)
Times. Benham will receive $5,000 and the Ernie Pyle
Award trophy.
Benham won for a
collection of human interest stories, including a piece
entitled, “One thousand words about the Terri Schiavo you
never knew.” Schiavo is a
WEB
REPORTING
Times
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING - Over
100,000
circulation
The
The Washington Post won for its series, “Big
Green,” which brought attention to questionable business
practices at The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest,
nonprofit environmental group. Judges said, “This was an
extraordinary piece of investigative work that also fulfilled
the mission of explaining to readers a significant
environmental story. It speaks directly to the purpose of
journalism.” Finalists: Marla Cone,
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING – Under 100,000
circulation
EDITORIAL
CARTOONING
Walt Handelsman, Newsday,
Handelsman won for a
selection of cartoons commenting on national issues, including
the war in
Rochelle Riley,
Riley, a columnist for
the Detroit Free Press, won for her adult literacy campaign,
Metro Detroit Reads. Her columns have resulted in the
recruitment of more than 1,000 tutors and the raising of more
than $35,000 toward the reading campaign. Judges said Riley
“stirred people up and got them moving. The project was
methodical and initiated by one dedicated journalist.”
Finalist: The Ledger,
The Dayton Daily News won for its series,
“Casualties of Peace,” which uncovered a long history of
safety and security problems faced by Peace Corps volunteers.
The newspaper examined thousands of public documents, traveled
to 10 countries and interviewed more than 500 people to
complete the project. Judges said, “The story was
extraordinarily readable and brought an international story
home to
Brian Vander Brug,
Vander Brug’s winning
portfolio included “Mortal Wounds,” a series of photographs
that documented the effects of urban homicide on families,
loved ones and other survivors. Judges said Vander Brug’s
“range, presentation and journalism are what made him a
winner." Finalists: Cheryl Diaz Meyer, The
BUSINESS/ECONOMICS
REPORTING
Clint Riley, The Record,
Riley won for his series, “Banking on Your
Money,” which examined how a New Jersey bank has benefited
from political connections with state government officials.
Judges said, “A clear, authoritative telling of Commerce
Bancorp’s phenomenal growth and the intricate web of political
and financial clout that helped fuel it.”
Finalist: The Wall Street Journal,
JOURNALISTIC EXCELLENCE IN ELECTRONIC MEDIA
- Small Market Radio
South Dakota Public Radio won for "Surviving on
the Stream,” a documentary that raises questions about the
level of services available to
JOURNALISTIC EXCELLENCE
IN ELECTRONIC MEDIA - Large Market Radio
WBEZ,
WBEZ, This
American Life, won for “Teenage Embed,” its series of reports
from
JOURNALISTIC EXCELLENCE IN ELECTRONIC MEDIA - Small Market TV/Cable
KTUU-TV,
KTUU won for
its series, “Wrangell Institute: Legacy of Shame,” which
detailed incidents of repeated sexual abuse at a remote
JOURNALISTIC EXCELLENCE
IN ELECTRONIC MEDIA - Large Market
TV/Cable
WCNC-TV,
WCNC won for a
series of stories that linked Medicaid dental reimbursement
rules to unnecessary dental procedures that were being
performed on children. Judges said, “There are many reasons
why this story could have died. Many would have written off as
too difficult to document or too time consuming to chase down.
We are all the beneficiaries of their courageous decision.”
Finalists: WFAA-TV,
COLLEGE
CARTOONING
Nathaniel R. Creekmore,
The Babbler,
Creekmore won
for his comic strip, “Maintaining,” which offers commentary on
everyday campus life. Judges said, “Nathaniel Creekmore's
comic strip is the most polished work by a college cartoonist
that we’ve seen in many years. His characters are fully
developed, his dialogue is well-written, and his art is
sophisticated. He is a very promising young cartoonist.”
Finalists: Theo K. Chargualaf, The Daily,
University of Washington, Seattle; Julian Narino, The Nerve
and K-State Collegian, California Institute of the Arts,
Valencia; and Adam Zyglis, The Griffin, Canisius College,
Buffalo, N.Y.
PUBLIC SERVICE REPORTING -
Over 100,000
circulation
The
The Seattle Times won
for its series, “Coaches Who Prey,” which uncovered an
extensive pattern of sexual misconduct by coaches of youth
athletics in
PUBLIC SERVICE REPORTING
- Under 100,000 circulation
Argus Leader,
The Argus
Leader won for a series of stories that examined former South
Dakota Gov. Bill Janklow’s liberal and questionable use of his
executive powers to pardon convicted criminals and commute
sentences. Judges said, "The Argus Leader’s dogged pursuit of
the extent and nature of secret gubernatorial pardons is an
outstanding example of public service journalism. As a result
of their efforts, the public’s right to know has been
broadened in the best tradition of a determined free press.”
Finalists:
JOURNALISM TEACHER OF THE
YEAR
Dr. Debashis “Deb” Aikat,
Aikat, associate professor
of journalism and mass communications, joined the faculty
at
Dedicated to excellence in journalism, the Scripps Howard Foundation is a leader in industry efforts in journalism education, scholarships, internships, literacy, minority recruitment/development and First Amendment causes.
Contact: Patty Cottingham, Scripps Howard Foundation, 513-977-3847, cottingham@scripps.com