From Our Archive
March 9, 1999
Foundation announces
National Journalism Awards Winners
CINCINNATI -- The Scripps Howard Foundation today
announced the winners of its National Journalism
Awards.
Three newspapers, one
broadcast television station, a radio station and nine
individuals are being recognized for excellence in categories
including editorial writing, human interest writing,
environmental and
public service reporting, business and economics reporting,
commentary, photojournalism, electronic journalism and
cartooning.
Two of the awards
recognize distinguished service to literacy and a third,
awarded to seven Indiana newspapers, recognizes distinguished
service to the First Amendment.
Cash awards
totaling $52,500 will be presented April 8 during a banquet at
the Westin Hotel in downtown Cincinnati.
"The caliber
of entries in this year’s competition was astounding," said
Judith G. Clabes, president and CEO of the Scripps Howard
Foundation. "Clearly, the winners represent a level of
excellence in their
profession that’s recognized and admired by their peers.’’
William R.
Burleigh, president and CEO of The E.W. Scripps Company,
praised the winners of the 1998 competition.
"It’s heartening to know
that there are people in our profession with such high
standards, who are willing to give that extra effort to get it
right," Burleigh said. "Their work has made a difference in their
communities. For journalists, there can be no higher praise."
The winners are:
EDITORIAL
WRITING
David V. Hawpe, The
Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.
Hawpe will receive
$2,500 and the Walker Stone Award trophy.
Hawpe won for
editorials written as part of a series of reports critical of
Kentucky’s coal industry. Judges said: "These editorials show
clear outrage, a rarity among the entries. The editorials
are short,
forceful, passionate, eloquent. There is no mincing of words."
Finalists: John
Boston, The Signal, Santa Clarita, Calif.; Michael Gartner,
The Tribune, Ames, Iowa.
HUMAN INTEREST
WRITING
Gary M. Pomerantz, The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pomerantz will
receive $2,500 and the Ernie Pyle Award trophy.
Pomerantz won for a
series, "9 minutes, 20 Seconds," that told the story of 29
people aboard a commuter plane that crashed in a Georgia
hayfield. Judges said: "In the tradition of Ernie Pyle,
Pomerantz told the
story of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary
circumstances. His reporting was thorough, his storytelling
was riveting, and his respect, even love, for his subjects
was powerful."
Finalists: Larry
Bingham, Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram; Todd Lewan,
Associated Press.
ENVIRONMENTAL
REPORTING - Over 100,000 circulation
The Seattle Times (Jim
Simon, Deborah Nelson, Eric Nalder, Danny Westneat)
The newspaper will
receive $2,500 and the Edward J. Meeman Award trophy.
In an investigative
series, "Trading Away the West," The Seattle Times showed how
taxpayers were short-changed when the federal government
traded public land to developers, speculators, even environmental groups.
Judges said: "The Times’ work has forced a review of federal
land-trade policy. This is environmentally-focused
public-interest reporting at its best."
Finalists: Star
Tribune, Minneapolis (Chris Ison, Joe Rigert, Richard Meryhew,
Tom Meersman); Jim Morris, Houston Chronicle.
ENVIRONMENTAL
REPORTING - Under 100,000 circulation
Yakima (Wash.)
Herald-Republic (Jennifer Hieger, Bill Heisel Jr.)
The newspaper will
receive $2,500 and the Edward J. Meeman Award trophy.
The environmental
challenges brought by a move toward factory farming in dairy
country were chronicled in "The Dairy Boom — Growth, Trouble
and Transition." Judges said: "The newspaper documents the
mountains-of-manure issue with thorough research and striking
examples."
Finalists: Herald
& Review, Decatur, Ill. (Arvin Donley, Dave Moore, Debbie
Pierce); Scott Streater, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal.
PUBLIC SERVICE
REPORTING - Over 100,000 circulation
The Philadelphia Inquirer
(Mark Fazlollah, Michael Matza, Craig McCoy)
The newspaper will
receive $2,500 and the Roy W. Howard Award trophy.
The investigative series
‘Downgrading the Offense’ exposed how the Philadelphia police
department for years had downgraded major crimes or excluded
them from their official tally. Judges said: "The strong investigative
work redefined crime in Philadelphia. It also brought changes
to the system. The newspaper went a step further. They placed
700,000 crimes on their web site, involving readers by
giving the public access to years of crime reports."
Finalists: Alix M.
Freedman, The Wall Street Journal; The Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock (Mary Hargrove, Linda Satter,
Patrick Henry).
PUBLIC SERVICE
REPORTING - Under 100,000 circulation
Ken Ward Jr., The
Charleston Gazette
Ward will receive $2,500 and the Roy W. Howard Award
trophy.
Ward won for his
series, "Mining the Mountains," which showed that more than
100 mountaintop removal jobs by coal companies were in
violation of law. Judges called Ward’s work "strong and
daunting research. The governor appointed a task force that
confirmed the stories’ outcomes, and that report said state
law and enforcement should be strengthened."
Finalists: Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal (Amie K.
Streater, Scott Streater); Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat (Gerald
Ensley, James Rosica, Paige St. John, Bill Varian).
COMMENTARY
R. Bruce
Dold, Chicago Tribune
Dold will receive
2,500 and a trophy.
Dold won for columns that judges said inject soul into
public policy issues. "He’s a clever writer, tough reporter
with a quick wit and attitude. He loves Chicago and it shows."
Finalists: Rheta Grimsley Johnson, The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution; E.J. Montini, The Arizona Republic,
Phoenix.
PHOTOJOURNALISM
Patrick Davison, Denver
Rocky Mountain News
Davison will
receive $2,500 and a trophy.
Judges said Davison’s
portfolio "had a range of work that made us reflect on life.
He made us laugh and cry and with each photo we came away with
a feeling that we had met the people in the photos and had walked in
their shoes."
Finalist: Sean
Haffey, San Diego Union-Tribune.
COLLEGE CARTOONIST
Audra Ann Furuichi, Ka Leo
O Hawaii newspaper, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Furuichi will
receive $2,500 and the Charles M. Schulz Award trophy.
Judges said Furuichi’s
cartoons were "nicely drawn." They added, "it’s an engaging
college-themed strip. She is a good writer who is making
creative use of her current environment in the strip."
Finalists: Brian
Fairrington, The State Press, Arizona State University, Tempe;
Patrick O’Connor, Daily Kent Stater, Kent State (Ohio)
University; David Simpson, The Cooper Point Journal, Evergreen State
College, Olympia, Wash.
BUSINESS/ECONOMICS
REPORTING
Richard Read, The
Oregonian, Portland
Read will receive
$2,500 and the William Brewster Styles trophy.
Read won for his series,
"The French Fry Connection," which explained the Asian
economic crisis and its impact on Americans. Judges said:
"Creatively seizing on the tale of one boatload of
potatoes grown in
the Northwest, Read brings life and insight to issues as real
to Americans as they are to Asians. He tells a story that
everyone can understand."
Finalists: The
Philadelphia Inquirer (Karl Stark, Andrea Gerlin, Joshua
Goldstein).
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO LITERACY (Two
winners)
The Baltimore Sun
Betty
Williford, Elberton, Ga.
The newspaper and
Williford will each receive $2,500, the Charles E. Scripps
trophy, and a $5,000 donation from the Scripps Howard
Foundation to the literacy group of their choice.
Judges said of The
Baltimore Sun: "The Baltimore Sun’s "Reading by 9" project
accomplished dramatic improvements in the educational system
of the state of Maryland. Its year-long intensive commitment to the cause of
literacy has been adopted as a model in other communities as
far away as Los Angeles."
Judges said:
"Betty Williford’s selfless dedication to fighting illiteracy
has benefited thousands, and been an inspiration to all who
have come in contact with her. For more than 15 years,
she has
personally taught people to read, established volunteer
programs, and generally raised the level of literacy in her
own community, as well as many others."
DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT
A joint entry by seven
Indiana Newspapers (The Indianapolis Star/News; South Bend
Tribune; The (Fort Wayne) Journal-Gazette; The Evansville
Courier; The Times of Northwest Indiana; Terre Haute Tribune Star;
The Star Press of Muncie)
The newspapers will
share $2,500, and each will receive the Edward Willis Scripps
Award trophy.
The newspapers won for a
statewide study of open records law compliance by public
officials and agencies. Judges said: "A powerful and unique
demonstration of how normally-competing institutions can pool
their resources to bring about dramatic change in the context
of the First Amendment. These seven newspapers deserve high
praise for being pioneers."
Finalist: Joe
Stephens, The Kansas City (Mo.) Star; The New York Daily News.
JOURNALISTIC
EXCELLENCE IN ELECTRONIC MEDIA - Large market television/cable
NewsChannel 8, Washington,
D.C.
The station will
receive $2,500 and the Jack R. Howard Award trophy.
NewsChannel 8 won for a
year-long project, "68/98 The Journey," in which it chronicled
30 years of change in Washington D.C. Judges said "’The
Journey’ impressed us with its broad scope, and thoroughly
professional execution. It did a consistently masterful job of
linking events and people, past and present. A fine piece of
television journalism."
Finalists: WRAL-TV,
Raleigh, N.C.; KSHB-TV, Kansas City, Mo.
Small
market television/cable
Karen Hensel, WANE-TV, Ft.
Wayne, Ind.
Hensel will receive
$2,500 and the Jack R. Howard Award trophy.
Hensel won for
"Christopher," a story about grieving parents who donated
their young son’s organs to others in need. Judge said:
"Remarkable reporting . . . largely told in real time. This is
a uniquely
sensitive and powerful piece of broadcast journalism."
Finalist: KION-TV,
Salinas, Calif.
Large market
radio
WTN Radio, Nashville,
Tenn.
The station will
receive $2,500 and the Jack R. Howard Award trophy.
WTN won for, "When
Violence Hits Home," a project focusing on victims of drug and
alcohol-induced family tragedy. Judges said: "Going beyond its
reach on radio, the producers developed special public service
announcements using stars of The Grand Ole Opry and partnered
with state and community agencies to present a public forum on
the issues of violence and abuse. It is an outstanding example of the
best use of radio to tell a powerful and important story and
have a powerful effect on the community it serves."
Finalist: WMFE-FM,
Orlando, Fla.
Small
market radio
Caitlyn Kim, WAMC,
Northeast Public Radio, Albany, N.Y.
Kim will receive
$2,500 and the Jack R. Howard Award trophy.
Kim won for "The Hudson
River Series," an examination of the Hudson River clean-up in
New York. Judges said: "Great use of natural sound and
relevant music. Includes a sense of the rich history of the River, how
it was polluted and the remarkable clean-up efforts spurred by
dedicated individuals and municipalities."
Finalist: KGLT-FM,
Bozeman, Mont.
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