Wednesday, June 29, 2005 1:40 PM
Winners: 47th Southern California Journalism Awards for Work During 2004
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Print Over 100,000 Circulation
RONALD BROWNSTEIN – Los Angeles Times
Comments: Mr Brownstein’s coverage of the 2004 differed from the coverage of others in the national press corps. It was original, it was documented and it did not rely on the propaganda coming out of both political camps. In addition, Mr Brownstein was far ahead of his counterparts, who continue to repeat tired slogans offered by the two political parties. His post-election story was a classic. It was well written, well sourced and informative, in contrast to shallow television coverage and clearly one-sided (or at least one-dimensional) pieces coming from the New York Times or even the Washington Post.
2nd Place: Jeffrey Anderson – LA Weekly.
Honorable Mention: Robert Hilburn – Los Angeles Times.
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Print Under 100,000 Circulation
SUSAN McRAE – LA Daily Journal
Comments: McRae provided the best blend of solid reporting, engaging writing and enterprising effort. Her leads invited readers in and her reporting kept them interested. Particularly impressive was her even-handed reporting of the John Stoll story.
2nd Place: Michael Collins – Los Angeles City Beat.
Honorable Mention: John Boston – The Signal.
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Television Anchor or Reporter
ANA GARCIA – KNBC-TV
Comments: Excellent investigative work. The judges especially liked the solid, balanced storytelling. Great production values in all three stories compliment the reporter’s sharp writing skills.
2nd Place: Oswaldo Borraez – KMEX-34 Univision Los Angeles.
Honorable Mention: Dave Lopez – KCBS/KCAL
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Radio Anchor or Reporter
MICHAEL LINDER – KNX 1070 NewsRadio
Comments: Excellent writer and reporter. Clear, concise material presented in all his reports. Writes for the ear. He’s the epitomy of a true roving reporter, capable of covering stories far from home base. Feature story on police cars was top-notch. Superb use of natural sound. That part of the entry is a textbook piece of radio journalism that could be used for demonstration purposes in any classroom.
2nd Place: Warren Olney – KCRW
Honorable Mention: Kitty Felde – KPCC
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Sports Anchor or Reporter
TIM BROWN – Los Angeles Times
Comments: It was a pleasure to read Mr Brown’s work. He captured the mood and feel of the Lakers during this incredible time of transition. The judges were especially impressed with the Phil Jackson cell-phone interview. Good, clear, concise writing.
2nd Place: Steve Grad – KNX 1070 NewsRadio
Honorable Mention: N/A
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Photo Journalist or Designer
RICK LOOMIS – Los Angeles Times
Comments: Based on the photos in the series on “Roadblocks to Middle East Peace,” we saw both sides of the story. This was a collection of excellent illustrative pictures that told the story well. Photographer Loomis’ use of color impressed the judges, evoking emotions and creating contrasts. We were able to see the photographer’s breath of ability with the variety of shots, angles and illumination. Every picture contributes to the story in a different way. This photojournalist is creative, observant…..SOLID.
2nd Place: Francine Orr – LA Times
Honorable Mention: N/A
HARD NEWS
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
KIM MURPHY AND DAVID HOLLEY – Los Angeles Times
“Russian Standoff Explodes.”
Comments: Emotional and fact-packed account of the end of the Russian-Beslan-Hostage taking. Quotes and concise background move the reader through the sequence of events in an unhurried, yet surprisingly, brief account of the event.
2nd Prize: Beth Barrett and Rick Orlov – Daily News of LA. “LA Water Gate?”
Honorable Mention: N/A
NEWS FEATURE
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
DAVAN MAHARAJ – Los Angeles Times.
“Living on Pennies.”
Comments: Wonderful writing, incredible detail, combine to tell a story most of us will never experience and certainly rarely think about. Great feature package that – with excellent photography – brings closer a far-off corner of the planet -sub-Saharan Africa. Everything a News Feature should be!
2nd Prize: Mark Arax – Los Angeles Times. “A Grieving Son’s Journey Comes to a Crossroads.”
Honorable Mention: Alyssa J. Rubin and Doyle McManus – Los Angeles Times.
“Why America has waged a losing battle in Fallouja.”
INVESTIGATIVE/SERIES
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
TRACY WEBER, CHARLES ORNSTEIN, MITCHELL LANDSBERG, STEVE HYMON- Los Angeles Times.
“The Troubles at Drew/King.”
Comments: Such a great piece of journalism – a combination of outstanding writing, presentation and public service.
2nd Place: Staff of the Los Angeles Times. “Pay to Play at City Hall.”
Honorable Mention: Troy Anderson – Daily News of LA. “Terror in Our Streets.”
BUSINESS
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
DAVID WILLMAN – Los Angeles Times.
“The National Institutes of Health: Public Servant or Private Marketer?”
Comments: A powerful and in-depth look at the behind-the-scenes dealings in the biomed industry. The writing is captivating and facts underscore the extensive research that went into the work. This is what all investigative business stories should strive to be.
2nd Place: Kevin Sack and Alicia Mundy – Los Angeles Times. “A Dose of Denial.”
Honorable Mention: Leslie Berestein – San Diego Union-Tribune. ” Insurance Ills Put Squeeze on Consumers.”
SIGNED COMMENTARY
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
AMY ALKON – Creators Syndicate. “Ask the Advice Goddess.”
Comments: Funny, engaging, insightful, entertaining and, as befits signed commentary, charged with high-voltage personality. Also thought-provoking and well-researched, although the commentary/advice rings with honesty that appears to have welled from within.
2nd Place: Chris Weinkopf – Daily News of Los Angeles.
Honorable Mention: Thomas D. Elias – Southern California Focus Syndicated Column.
COLUMNIST
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
TIM RUTTEN – Los Angeles Times.
Comments: Rutten’s writing is forceful, yet elegant, with the power to convey sophisticated arguments simply. His columns stand out, however, for his superb intellect and his ability to persuade a reader through his use of incontrovertible reason. He brings moral courage to his pieces – one always knows where he stands – and a potent, polished style. Rutten’s work ranks with that of the finest columnists of the day.
2nd Place: Mariel Garza – Daily News of Los Angeles
Honorable Mention: Steve Lopez – Los Angeles Times.
EDITORIALS
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
MARY ENGEL – Los Angeles Times. “Systemic problems at the King/Drew Medical Center.”
Comments: A compelling series of editorials that lays out the problems of a hot-button hospital, intelligently dissects each false step, scolds where appropriate, and offers tough, but reasonable solutions. Should be required reading in city hall and in college editorial classes across America.
2nd Place: Michael Kinsley – Los Angeles Times.
Honorable Mention: Robert A. Kittle – San Diego Union-Tribune.
ENTERTAINMENT/REVIEWS/CRITICISM/COLUMN
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
ROBERT HILBURN – Los Angeles Times. “Music Reviews.”
Comments: A master of his craft. Whether he’s tackling a short review or a massive profile, Hilburn’s creativity shines. A clear favorite.
2nd Place: Glenn Whipp – Daily News of Los Angeles. Film Reviews.
Honorable Mention: Doug Harvey – LA Weekly. Art World.
ENTERTAINMENT HARD NEWS
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
THE STAFF OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES – Los Angeles Times. “Eisner.”
Comments: For the Sidebars reporters found creative angles that engaged readers with what could have been dry business coverage.
2nd Place: The Staff of the Los Angeles Times – Los Angeles Times “The Oscars.”
Honorable Mention: The Staff of the Los Angeles Times – Los Angeles Times. “Brando.”
ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
MARY McNAMARA – Los Angeles Times. “The Conversation.”
Comments: Mary McNamara’s vividly descriptive lead draws you in, and her natural way of storytelling keeps you reading, wondering just what The Conversation is and how the actor, Michael O’Neill, and many of his peers, deal with the realities of making a living as an actor in Hollywood.
2nd Place: Paul Cullum – LA Weekly. “Radio Provocateur.”
Honorable Mention: Robert Hilburn – Los Angeles Times. “Rock’s Enigmatic Poet.”
SPORTS
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
MARK ZEIGLER – The San Diego Union-Tribune. “Fatal Errors.”
Comments: Brilliantly crafted and written. Really gives you a feeling of a man who had it all and lost it all, including his life.
2nd Place: Bill Shaiken – Los Angeles Times. “Showtime at Chavez Ravine.”
Honorable Mention: Joe Donnelly – LA Weekly. “The Malloy Brothers Contract.”
SPECIAL SECTION
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
LA WEEKLY STAFF – LA Weekly. Special “Best of LA.” Section. ???
Comments: A Special section, by definition, should be “special.” The weekly annual “Best of LA” issue for 2004 is just more interesting, more visually intriguing and more journalistically challenging – yes, more special – than any other entry in this category. Lots of cool stuff to take in. ????
2nd Place: Bret Israel, Donna Frazier, Lennie La Guire and Lisa Fung – Los Angeles Times. “Calendar.”
Honorable Mention: Jonathan Gold, Deborah Vankin, Michelle Huneven – LA Weekly. “Koreatown Eating and Drinking Pullout Guide.”
HEADLINE
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
MICHAEL McGARR – Daily News of Los Angeles. “Cops Say 10-4 to 3/12.”
Comments: “Creative, catchy- short and sweet – perfect! This headline is a great play on numbers and their meaning.
2nd Place: Laura Dominick – Los Angeles Times. “Marines walk softly and carry a big stick.”
Honorable Mention: N/A.
DESIGN
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Over 100,000 Circulation
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES DESIGN STAFF – The Los Angeles Times.
“The 76th Annual Academy Awards”
Comments: Bold use of photos and white space supported by the use of distinctive typography combine to make each page sparkle with life. The use of the color border on the photos coordinated with color type made for a pleasant thread of design woven through the section. This presentation is in contrast to the usual understated presentation of the Times making it all the more of a surprise for the readers.
2nd Place: Jon Gerung – LA Daily News. “Goodbye Gipper.”
Honorable Mention: Joseph Hutchinson, Bill Gaspard, Michael Whitley – Los Angeles Times. “Living on Pennies.”
HARD NEWS
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
RUBY GONZALES,ROBERT MORALES,KAREN RUBIN – San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “Asian, Latino Gangs.”
Comments: Very thorough, well-done look at the rising problem of gangs; photos and chart made the package more interesting and reader-friendly. Writers/Reporters looked at the problem from a variety of aspects. Good use of quotes and sources. Statistics are illustrated with good use of examples, including information from police, gang members, social service groups and an author who offers help to gang members looking for a way out.
2nd Place: Ben Baeder – Whittier Daily News. “Freight Train Derailment.”
Honorable Mention: Tracy Manzer – Press Telegram. “Long Beach Woman Slain in Backyard.”
NEWS FEATURES
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
WENDY THOMAS RUSSELL – Press-Telegram “Special Report: The McClure Jury – Judging the Jury.”
Comments: Wow! Fascinating story. Thorough research and incredible detail make this an excellent read on a significant news story. A very good example of what “news feature” writing can and should be.
2nd Place: Doug Irving – Daily Breeze. “Cherished Time.”
Honorable Mention: Dan Evans – Los Angeles Daily Journal.
INVESTIGATIVE/SERIES
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
TOM HENNESSY – LONG BEACH PRESS- TELEGRAM
“Suicide: Out of the Darkness.”
Comments: A great series on a topic that needs the kind of attention Tom Hennessy offers. This had to be tremendously hard to put together; Tom did a wonderful job.
2nd Place: Eric Johnson – Long Beach Press-Telegram. “Local Ports Contribute to Pollution.”
Honorable Mention: Dani Dodge – Ventura County Star. “Tracking the Disease – West Nile Virus.”
BUSINESS
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
KATE BERRY,LAURENCE DARMIENTO, HOWARD FINE AND KAREY WUTKOWSKI- Los Angeles Business Journal. “The Calpers Machine.”
Comments: This is what good business journalism can and should do. An engaging, well-researched and thorough story that brings Calpers’ influence and it’s impact on the corporate world to life in brilliant detail.
2nd Place: Anthony Palazzo and Laurence Darmiento – Los Angeles Business Journal. “LA’s Richest ZIP Codes.”
Honorable Mention: Tina Spee – Daily Journal Extra. “The Cable Guy.”
SIGNED COMMENTARY
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
ANDREW GUMBEL – Los Angeles City Beat. “American Babylon.”
Comments: Conversational, thoughtful, contrary, entertaining: Gumbel whisks the reader through lengthy commentary, making it seem like a breeze.
2nd Place: Amy Alkon – Creators Syndicate. “The Advice Goddess.”
Honorable Mention: Mark Lacter – Los Angeles Business Journal. “Comment.”
COLUMNIST
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
TERESA STRASSER – The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles. “Saying Goodbye to an Angel in Sin City.”
Comments: This column told a good story and told it well. Ms Strasser has a great voice and uses quotes and details well. She allows the reader to see the story clearly and feel a part of it. The column is also a touching reflection of our society’s rituals surrounding death.
2nd Place: Joe Woodward – Claremont-Upland Voice. “On Hearing of the Death of a Boy.”
Honorable Mention: John Boston – The Signal. “Screaming Quietly in the Night.”
EDITORIALS
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
STEVE SCAUZILLO – San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “Our View.”
Comments: Straightforward, thoughtful, clearly in touch with readers sensibilities.
2nd Place: Bill Bell – Whittier Daily News. “Our View.”
ENTERTAINMENT/REVIEWS/CRITICISM/COLUMN
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
JOHN BOSTON – The Signal. “The Rise and Fall of Western Civilization.”
Comments: Humorous, entertaining to read. A clear favorite for a creative, easy- to – read style.
2nd Place: Natalie Nichols – Los Angeles City Beat. “Natalie Nichols Reviews.”
Honorable Mention: Corey Levitan – Daily Breeze. “Britney Spears Concert.”
ENTERTAINMENT HARD NEWS
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
No Winners.
ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
JIM FARBER – Daily Breeze. “Counterpoint.”
Colorful details and a breezy writing style make Jim Farber’s “Counterpoint,” a story of two violinists with different career goals, an entertaining read.
2nd Place: Steve Appleford – Los Angeles City Beat. “Triumph of the Paparazzo.”
Honorable Mention: Laurence Darmiento – Los Angeles Business Journal. “Oscar After the Bell.”
SPORTS
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
GABE LACQUES – San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “Guerrero, Figgins Find Common Ground.”
Comments: Well-written – brings out the friendship each has for the other and what they mean to each other on the field.
2nd Place: Robert Morales – San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “Friends Recall Belin.”
Honorable Mention: Carin Davis – The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles. “Home Run.”
SPECIAL SECTION
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
NEWSROOM LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL – Los Angeles Business Journal. “The Future of Los Angeles – Setting the Agenda.”
Comments: Thorough and intriguing look ahead for an amazing city. The history is well presented and the future well thought out. An impressive effort!
2nd Place: Tim Grobaty – Press-Telegram. “80 Years of Movie Making in Long Beach.”
Honorable Mention: Newsroom Los Angeles Business Journal. “Playing to Win.”
HEADLINE
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
SHOSHANA LEWIN (Copy Editor) and ADAM WILLS (Associate Editor) – The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles. “There’s No Santa, but Keep it Quiet.”
Comments: What a great headline that captures what so many parents must fear – the truth about Santa.
2nd Place: Amy Alkon – Creators Syndicate. “Love is a Paddle Field.”
Honorable Mention. N/A.
DESIGN
Daily/Weekly Newspapers Under 100,000 Circulation
CARVIN KNOWLES – The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles. “In Search of the Perfect Latke.”
Comments: Well executed magazine cover. Integrated use of color, typography and image combined for a clean, effective presentation. Creative use of potatoes, potato head and Latke head worked well.
2nd Place: Mark Lacter – Los Angeles Business Journal. “Setting the Agenda.”
Honorable Mention: John Curry/Ryan Ward – LA Weekly. “Kids Rock.”
NEWS PHOTO
Print
LUIS SINCO – Los Angeles Times. “Charlie Company Soldier.”
Comments: It’s the face of the American G.I. in war (with no offence to our women soldiers!). We wanted to get in this man’s mind…..what was he thinking, feeling? The amazing part is that, while there have been thousands of faces shot in the war and it’s aftermath, this one continued to “grab” us even though we’d seen it before.
2nd Place: Carolyn Cole – Los Angeles Times. “Death “Uncovered” in Haiti.”
Honorable Mention: Luis Sinco – Los Angeles Times. “A Street in War.”
FEATURE PHOTO
Print
FRANCINE ORR – Los Angeles Times. “Medical Evaluation of Malnourished Baby.”
Comments: Caring hands on this child make the shot in this sub-Sahara Clinic. Fear/sadness/pain on the child’s face elicit visceral response, especially when it hits you that the scene in this part of the world must be repeated thousands of times…with little that can be done to help.
2nd Place: Stephen Carr – Press Telegram. “Miss Teen Long Beach Gains Crown, then Loses it.”
Honorable Mention: Hans Gutknecht – Daily News of Los Angeles. “Dog Headed for CATS.”
SPORTS PHOTO
Print
CRISTINA SALVADOR – Long Beach Press – Telegram. “Natalie Coughlin Headed for Victory”
Comments: Technically perfect. Can’t find fault. Draws the viewer in first with the feeling of the moment, then with details of the photo.
2nd Place: Wally Skalij – Los Angeles Times. “Carl Lewis Runs Torch Past the Acropolis.”
Honorable Mention: John McCoy – Daily News of Los Angeles. “USC’s Jarrett Upended.”
EDITORIAL CARTOON
Print
STEPHEN P. BREEN – San Diego Union – Tribune. “A Collection of Cartoons on the Iraq War.”
Comments: Breen’s ideas were clear, concise and pointed. His images are strong and artistically solid. His zingers have immediate impact that would appeal to the widest variety of readers.
2nd Place: Patrick O’Connor – Daily News of Los Angeles.
Honorable Mention: Michael Ramirez – Los Angeles Times. “Does this look like the body of a girlie-man to you?”
PHOTO ESSAY (single topic)
Print
HANS GUTKNECHT – Daily News of Los Angeles. “Spread of Street Gangs.”
Comments: Excellent Continuity. Start to finish, a full story with no need of words. Begins with youth and machismo, ends with grief and death with a young man next to a coffin holding a folded flag. Leaves you wondering the cycle in the gang world will soon begin anew. Unfortunately for LA’s youth, this is an excellent example of the “circular story.” We acknowledge that these photos were not just waiting there to be shot…the photographer has to wait for them…and have keen reflexes and a good eye to capture them.
2nd Place: Francine Orr – Los Angeles Times. “Living on Pennies – Sub-Saharan Africa.”
Honorable Mention: Rick Loomis – Los Angeles Times. “Roadblocks to Middle East Peace.”
TELEVISION, REGULARLY SCHEDULED NEWSCAST
Television – 35 Minutes or Less
CBS2 NEWS TEAM – KCBS. “CBS2 NEWS AT 11”
Comments: Very well produced! Good pacing; good set up at the top of the newcast; good stacking. The judges like how the producer showcased the scope of the flooding through the use of various live shots.
2nd Place: The Newsteam of “Noticias Univision Solo a Las Once.” KMEX-TV (Noticias Univision 34 A Su Lado).
Honorable Mention: N/A
REGULARLY SCHEDULED NEWSCAST
Television – Over 35 Minutes
KCAL 9 NEWS TEAM – KCAL 9. “KCAL 9 NEWS AT TEN.”
Comments: Well-paced, well written and overall well produced. The newscast had a good variety of stories that flowed well and kept the judges’ interest.
2nd Place: Yolanda Lopez de Otero, Armando Acevedo, Beatriz Gomez and the Newsteam of ‘Noticios Univision 34 a Su Lado.”
Honorable Mention: Jeff L Wald, Marcia Brandwynne, Gerald Ruben, Kim Rouggie, Christine Miceli, Scott Aulerich, Hal Fishman, Lelia Feinstein, Damon Andrews – KTLA. “KTLA News at 10.”
BREAKING NEWS
Television
JEFF L. WALD, MARCIA BRANDWYNNE, RICHARD GOLDNER, CHRIS FALIN, MICAELA PEREIRA, ERIC SPILLMAN, WILLA SANDMEYER, BILL SMITH, WARREN WILSON – KTLA. “Mexican Consulate Standoff.”
Comments: The obvious teamwork in covering this breaking story came across on air. KTLA broadcast the event as it was happening – from the multiple live shots and live interviews to good sound anchoring “on the fly.” Well done!
2nd Place: Oswaldo Borraez and Raul Gutierrez – KMEX-34. “Day Laborer Shot 15 Times.”
Honorable Mention: Oswaldo Borraez and the “Noticias Univision-34 a Su Lado” Newsteam. “Redadas.”
FEATURE
Television
JOEL CONNABLE – KCAL 9,CBS2 News Los Angeles. “Reagan Stonecutter.”
Comments: Good, solid writing; well shot and edited; very good use of nat sound.
2nd Place: David Jackson, Jessica Ming ??, Chris Taylor, David Cronshaw, Henry Zinman??, Joel Fallon, Nina Maaluf – KCAL 9. “Uncovering Southern California – Downtown LA.”
Honorable Mention: Francisco Ugalde, Christopher Alvarez, Moana Ramirez, Tony Martinez – KMEX-34 Univision Los Angeles. “No Man’s Town.”
INVESTIGATIVE/SERIES
Television
ANA GARCIA, FRED MAMOUN AND TY KIM – KNBC-TV. “Parking at LAX.”
Comments: Judges like the solid undercover work. Very well written.
2nd Place: Marley Klaus, Marc Shaffer, Michael Bloecher – California Connected (California Public Television). “Twin Towns.”
Honorable Mention: Carmen Escobosa and Hector Gonzalez – KMEX-34 Univision Los Angeles. “Pasando Agente.”
SPORTS
Television
DAMON ANDREWS AND TED GREEN – KTLA. “Field of Dreams.”
Comments: Judges like the use of relevant video matched with solid writing.
2nd Place: N/A
Honorable Mention: N/A
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Television
CECILIA BOGRAN – KMEX – 34 Univision Los Angeles, “Dirty Allegations Against Paulina Rubio.”
Comments: Judges like the exclusive and original story.
2nd Place: Sam Rubin, Jamie Novak, Reushann Wong – KTLA. “Academy Awards Coverage.”
Honorable Mention: N/A
TALK/PUBLIC AFFAIRS/DOCUMENTARIES
Television
MITCH WALDOW, BOB TARLAU, JOHN BEARD, MARK SUDOCK, BURKE EWING III AND EMANUELLE ACHILLE – KTTV. “Reagan in Hollywood.”
Comments: Good use of old movie footage weaved in with solid writing skills. Excellent production values.
2nd Place: Laura Diaz, Paul Magers, Mark Silver, J D Crowley – KCBS. “Road to Nowhere.”
Honorable Mention: Adam Wilkenfeld – Connect with Kids. “Count Me In.”
RADIO NEWSCAST
Radio – Over 15 Minutes
Southern California’s Morning News, KNX 1070 NewsRadio.
Comments: Nice smooth presentation. Right from the top I knew what I would be dealing with if I was a resident in Southern California.
2nd Place: KCSN News Staff. “The Evening Update.”
Honorable Mention: N/A
NEWSCAST
Radio – Under 15 Minutes
NO WINNERS
BREAKING NEWS
Radio
LANCE OROZCO, JIM RONDEAU, KEN BORGERS AND BRIAN WEBB,
KCLU-FM. “Ronald Reagan Motorcade and Funeral.”
Comments: Well-done team coverage of a live, historical event. Reporters did a good job of describing the scene and letting listeners feel like they were there.
2nd Place: Julie Dolan, Liz Dolan, Sheila Dolan, Monica Dolan, Lian Dolan – KABC Radio. “Beslan School Siege.”
Honorable Mention: N/A
FEATURE
Radio
CHRIS STANLEY – KNX 1070 NewsRadio. “Remembering Ronald Reagan”
Comments: This was great radio. A wonderful retrospective about a controversial figure. The tone was appropriate, the sourcing was solid and the production/delivery was masterful. First rate work.
2nd Place: Perri Chasen, Forrest Murray, Eric J Lawrence, Bob Carlson – KCRW. “Final Curtain.”
Honorable Mention: Debra Baer – KPCC-89.3 “Marine Murder Folo.”
INVESTIGATIVE/SERIES
Radio
MICHAEL LINDER – KNX 1070 NewsRadio. “Green Acres”
The production work on the series is outstanding along with answering all of the questions surrounding “Green Acres.”
2nd Place: Ilsa Setziol – KPCC 89.3. “All-American Canal.”
Honorable Mention: John Rabe – KPCC 89.3. “Mato Revealed.”
ENERTAINMENT REPORTING/CRITICISM
Radio
CLAUDE BRODESSER AND MATT HOLZMAN – KCRW.
“The Business – The Two Mikes”
Comments: A well-done Newsmagazine with great use of sound. Well-paced.
2nd Place: Shirley Jahad – KPCC “Call Sheet.”
Honorable Mention: Elvis Mitchell, Mary Holdridge – KCRW. “The Treatment.”
SPORTS
Radio
STEVE GRAD – KNX 1070 NewsRadio. “Women’s Professional Tackle Football”
Comments: Great four-part series on women’s pro-football. Clever writing, great use of natural sound and good delivery. Grad is a fine pro.
2nd Place: Rod Schmitz – KPCC 89.3. “OC Basketball.”
Honorable Mention: Talk of the City – KPCC 89.3. “The Ticket Out.”
USE OF SOUND
Radio
FRANK STOTLZE – KPCC 89.3. “Measure A”
Comments: The sound takes me there! Great use of nats and actualities that lend interest and layers to what could have been a dry story. Masterful editing and thoughtful sound bytes made this report stand out from the crowd. Great job!
2nd Place: Bob Carlson – KCRW. “Celebrating the Walt Disney Concert Hall Organ.”
Honorable Mention: John Rabe – KPCC 89.3. “Disney Organ.”
TALK/PUBLIC AFFAIRS/DOCUMENTARIES
Radio
JIM RONDEAU – KCLU. “Crosstalk: Marine Life and Ocean Health.”
The program provides solid and applicable information on the subjects discussed. The host , Jim Rondeau, is pleasant to listen to with good pacing and tone toward the audience, guests and callers. The host is clearly informed on the day’s subject as well. The show displays careful guest choices, using strong personalities, showing good investigation or really good luck!
2nd Place: Airtalk – KPCC 89.3. “Gay Marriage Remote.”
Honorable Mention: Warren Olney, Katie Cooper, Christian Bordal, Karen Radziner, Frances Anderton and Ileana Justus – KCRW. “Which Way LA?”
NEWS BUREAU
Radio
WARREN OLNEY, FRANCES ANDERTON, KAREN RADZINER, CHRISTIAN BORDAL, KATIE COOPER, SHARON REMBAUM AND ILEANA JUSTUS – KCRW. “To the Point: Neo-Cons in Doubt about War in Iraq.”
Comments: A thorough review of a complicated subject. It was very well sourced and expertly delivered. It’s the kind of quality we’ve come to expect from “To the Point.”
2nd Place: WARREN OLNEY, FRANCES ANDERTON, KAREN RADZINER, CHRISTIAN BORDAL, KATIE COOPER, SHARON REMBAUM AND ILEANA JUSTUS – KCRW. “To the Point: Was Spanish Election a Win for Bin Laden?”
Honorable Mention: WARREN OLNEY, JONAH KING, FRANCES ANDERTON, KAREN RADZINER, CHRISTIAN BORDAL, KATIE COOPER, SHARON REMBAUM AND ILEANA JUSTUS – KCRW. “To the Point: The Decline of the American Dollar.”
MAGAZINES: NEWS/INVESTIGATIVE
Magazines
DAVID EVANS – Bloomberg News. “Clean Banks, Dirty Money.”
Comments: Story portrays a situation in financial world not easily uncovered and not easily understood. Evans did an excellent research job and put the information together in a very readable form. Good description of how “money laundering” works.
2nd Place: Vince Beiser – Los Angeles Times Magazine. “Rise of the Corporate Plutocrats.”
Honorable Mention: Liz Valsamis – Los Angeles Daily Journal Extra. “High Anxiety.”
FEATURE/COMMENTARY
Magazines
FRED DICKEY – Los Angeles Times Magazine. “A Final Resolution.”
Comments: Fred Dickey tells Howard Wildfang’s story in a compelling narrative read that takes the reader along Wildfang’s journey after he makes the decision to take his own life. The story is as uplifting as it is sorrowful, yet through Dickey’s prose, the reader comes to understand, if not appreciate, the reasons for Wildfang’s decision.
2nd Place: Michael Goldstein – Story appeared in LA Times Magazine. “Sheer Lunacy.”
Honorable Mention: Ted Johnson – V Life. “Tivolution.”
ENTERTAINMENT REVIEWS/CRITICISM/COLUMN
Magazines
TOM SHALES, ALEX BEN BLOCK, TOM GILBERT, MELISSA GREGO AND CHUCK ROSS -Television Week. “Tom Shales Column.”
2nd Place: Matt Welch – Reason. “Temporary Doves.”
Honorable Mention: N/A
ENTERTAINMENT HARD NEWS
Magazines
NO WINNERS
ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE
Magazines
RICHARD RUSHFIELD -V Life. “Inside an Agent’s Mind”
Comments: The profiles and the narrative style were compelling. We feel like we met these people for better or worse.”
2nd Place: F.X. Feeney – Written By, The Writers Guild of America West. “Growing up with Bradbury.”
Honorable Mention: Emory Holmes 11 – Written By, The Writers Guild of America West. “The Great Black Hope.”
IN HOUSE OR CORPORATE PUBLICATION
Magazines
JIM PERRY – The Los Angeles Firefighter.
Comments: Well written articles. Good use of photographs and graphics. A thoroughly professional piece of work.
2nd Place: The Staff of Written By – Written By, The Writers Guild of America West. “Politics of Fantasy.”
Honorable Mention: N/A
DESIGN
Magazines
TIPATAT CHENNAVASIN AND RON TAMMARIELLO – Written By, The Writers Guild of America West. “Behind Lost in Translation”
Art work and layout draw the reader into the story. Simple yet effective.
2nd Place: Jennifer Gininillo, Chad Rooney, Alex Ben Block, Tom Gilbert, Melissa Grego, Chuck Ross – TV Week Magazine. “Oprah Winfrey’s 20 Years of Telecasting from Chicago.”
Honorable Mention: N/A
NEWS BUREAUS AND CORRESPONDENTS: BREAKING NEWS
TERRI VERMEULEN KEITH – City News Service. “Catherine Zeta Jones Tells of Fear…”
Comments: When the line blurs between the movies and real life, and real life becomes “stranger than fiction,” art no longer imitates life – life imitates art. The fact that real life events depicted in movies are too often a blueprint for the life that follows. News and Hollywood may see more of the same. It’s well written, quirkey, with interesting comments.
2nd Place: N/A
Honorable Mention: N/A
INVESTIGATIVE/SERIES
News Bureaus and Correspondents
DAVID EVANS – Bloomberg News. “Cayman Islands Tax Scheme.”
Comments: It was thoroughly researched, well-written and significant. So many investigations do not deal with issues of national significance, but this one does.
2nd Place: N/A
Honorable Mention: N/A
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS OR FEATURE
News Bureaus and Correspondents
MICHAEL WHITE – Bloomberg News “J.P. Morgan, Hollywood’s Biggest Banker.”
Comments: Different, behind-the-scenes approach. Well-told.
2nd Place: N/A
Honorable Mention: N/A
ONLINE NEWS, FEATURES OR SERIES
PARITOSH BANSAL, JANNA BRAUN, EUGENE LEE, MATT MYERHOFF, ERIC ULKEN AND HEATHER WILSON – Annenberg School for Communication USC. “Making it in LA”
Comments: This is an ambitious project that successfully mixes text, photographs, graphics and design to tell the stories of six Los Angeles residents who are ” making it” in the city.
2nd Place: James Gerstenzang – Los Angeles Times. “Campaign Coverage.”
Honorable Mention: N/A
COLUMN, COMMENTARY, CRITICISM
Online
TIM CAVANAUGH – Reason Online.
Comments: Writing is lively, entertaining and thought-provoking, but more important is Cavanaugh’s resistance to pigeon-holing. His willingness to reject knee-jerk ideology makes each column a treat full of surprises designed to delight and fascinate the reader.
2nd Place: Nick Gillespie – Reason online.
Honorable Mention: Rip Rense – Freelance
DESIGN AND LAYOUT
Online
CLARE SUP – Los Angeles Times. latimes.com “Los Angeles Times Website.”
Comments: Unlike some newspaper Web sites we have seen, latimes.com is very functional and user-friendly because it uniquely places news and features ahead of the advertisements. As evidenced in samples provided, we really like the fact latimes.com maintains the look and feel of a newspaper, putting the top stories upfront, followed by the same kind of “sections” that you’d find when opening the hard copy LA Times. We thought the Bush Election Homepage especially reflected that feel of a newspaper front page. Left and right page columns of the homepage are no-nonsense links, making them very easy to navigate. All-in-all, latimes.com functions very well; it’s layout easy to navigate; it’s use of photos and easy-to-read fonts enhancing the presentation. Years ago, there was speculation about what the future held for newspapers. There was talk that someday the daily newspaper would come into your home by an electronic medium. Well, the future has obviously arrived, and latime.com answers the call for bringing the services of a traditional newspaper via 21st Century technology and presentation.
2nd Place: Martha Hernandez -Variety. variety.com
Honorable Mention: N/A
WEBLOG
Online
MATT WELCH AND TIM BLAIR – Reason “Reason’s Democratic National Convention Weblog”
Comments: This weblog is very entertaining and keeps the reader’s interest. It gives a different look at the DNC that did not appear in the mainstream media, showing the reader the lighter side of convention coverage. Reason uses well-placed humor to replace the mud-slinging and hate that all too often overflow from political coverage. The contributers quote from a wide variety of sources and show through their blogs that they work hard to get a good story.
2nd Place: Mack Reed – LA Voice. LAvoice.org
Honorable Mention: Luke Y. Thompson, LYTrules.com
INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM: HARD NEWS
DAVID WILLIS – BBC Los Angeles. “Gay Marriage.”
Comments: Strong editorial content on subject matter that was and still is relevant to viewers. Mr. Willis and BBC show an interesting viewpoint from the perspective of a lesbian couple that is unique and refreshing. The only flaw in the production is the lack of showing a strong viewpoint from someone opposing gay marriage and an explanation from that viewpoint on why some oppose gay marriage based upon theological and social arguments. The report was a good, solid piece of television reporting.
2nd Place: N/A
Honorable Mention: N/A
NEWS FEATURE
International Journalism
DAVID WILLIS, KARI BROWNE AND ANDREW CLARKE – BBC Los Angeles
“Craigslist”
Comments: It best hit the mark of all the entries by offering an interesting topic that is both timely and newsy and handling it in a thorough yet creative manner, including some playful camera angles and effects (for example, Craig standing still in an intersection while city life teems around him at hyper speed). Finding the couple “desperately seeking a kidney” was a great way of underscoring how something as enormous as craigslist has become remains true to it’s mission of making the Internet meaningful and accessible on a micro/neighborhood level.
There were definitely some production problems with the piece, most notably, the reporter’s voice-over was barely audible (I had to go back three times to catch the almost thrown-away explanation of how of how the list can make money without advertising and pop-ups) but overall, this was solid, effective and entertaining.
2nd Place: Christina Schweighofer – Die Presse, Vienna, Austria. “Bowling Is All We Can Do Here.”
Honorable Mention: Helena Groll – Swedish Broadcasting. “Homeless Veterans on Skid Row.”
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS OR FEATURE
International Journalism
CLAES ANDREASSON – SVERIGES RADIO, Sweden. “The Singing Yeast Cell.”
Comments: This 13 minute piece for Swedish NPR is superbly produced and rendered, capturing the wonder and mystery of science. UCLA’s Atomic Force Microscope can detect the mechanical motions inside a cell and transform them into sound, creating a sort of singing cell. The result is an amazing piece balancing informative data and ethereal sonic reverberations that give the listener an aural high. Lovely radio.
2nd Place: N/A
Honorable Mention: N/A
COLUMN
International Journalism
DIANA LJUNGAEUS – Resume. “The Passion of the Christ.”
Comments: Ljungaeus’ trademark Nordic wit is in rare form with this scathingly funny take on the marketing genius behind Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of Christ.” With the selling of Jesus-knickknacks from Passion clothes hangers to the odd crucifixion nail to drape around one’s neck, the writer exposes the movie star’s real intentions behind his film: making money. Taut, first-class writing that provokes an immediate reaction.
2nd Place: N/A
Honorable Mention: N/A
