Sigma Delta Chi Awards honor biz stories from Puget Sound Biz Journal
The Society of Professional Journalists announced its Sigma Delta Chi Awards today, and several business stories are among the winners. They include extensive reporting on the collapse of Washington Mutual by the Puget Sound Business Journal, which was a Pulitzer finalist, and The Miami Herald’s stories on financial schemer Allen Stanford. CNNMoney.com took top honors as a specialized journalism site. The winners were selected from among 1,300 entries published or broadcast in 2009, according to SPJ.
Here are some tips on how Kirsten Grind and Al Scott of the Business Journal got the WaMu story. You can read the full list of winners at SPJ.org, or here are more business stories among the winners:
Newspaper/Wire Services
Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“Natural Gas Explosion Destroys Half a Downtown Block,” Staff, Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Non-Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“Fatal Funnel,” about trafficking in illegal immigrants and drugs, Gabe Semenza, Chris Cobler, Staff, Victoria Advocate
Non-Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
“Allen Stanford’s Miami Connection,” Michael Sallah, Rob Barry, Lucy Komisar, The Miami Herald
Investigative Reporting (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“Luzerne County Corruption Investigation,” which involved kickbacks to the owner and builder of child-care centers, Terrie Morgan-Besecker, Jen Learn Andes, Jerry Lynott, Gary Visgaitis, The Times Leader
Investigative Reporting (Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)
“Dead by Mistake,” on hospital errors, Eric Nalder, Cathleen F. Crowley, Times Union
Investigative Reporting (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
“Toxic Waters,” about water pollution, Charles Duhigg, The New York Times
Investigative Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)
“WaMu’s Final Days,” Kirsten Grind, Alwyn Scott, George Erb, Puget Sound Business Journal
Editorial Writing (Daily Circulation 1-50,000+)
“Kids for Cash,” Dave Janoski, The Citizens’ Voice
Editorial Writing (Daily Circulation 100,000+)
“Michigan’s Budget Tightrope,” Barb Arrigo, Detroit Free Press
General Column Writing (Daily Circulation 100,000+)
Nicholas D. Kristof, who has written about the exploitation of girls in Southeast Asian brothels. The New York Times
Public Service Journalism (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“Meijer’s Secret Plan,” Brian McGillivary, Traverse City Record-Eagle
Public Service Journalism (Daily Circulation 100,000+)
“Trust Betrayed,” about felons working in businesses providing care for children and the elderly, Sally Kestin, Peter Franceschina, John Maines, Sun Sentinel
Public Service Journalism (Non-Daily Publication)
“WaMu and the Foreclosure Crisis,” Kirsten Grind, Jeanne Lang Jones, Alwyn Scott, George Erb, Puget Sound Business Journal
Magazines
Magazine Investigative Reporting (Regional/Local Circulation)
“Watchdogs on a Leash,” about inspector generals in Florida agencies that regulate business, Cynthia Barnett, Florida Trend
Magazine Writing (National Circulation)
“The Deadly Choices at Memorial,” about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans, Sheri Fink, ProPublica with The New York Times Magazine
Public Service in Magazine Journalism (National Circulation)
Climate Countdown, Staff, Mother Jones
Arts/Graphics
Feature Photography (Non-Daily Publication)
“Energizing the Fans,” Marcus Donner, Jenny O’Brien, George Erb, Puget Sound Business Journal
Informational Graphics (Non-Daily Publication)
“Healthcare by the Numbers,” Eric Semelroth, Modern Healthcare
Radio
Documentaries (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
“Created in China,” Mary Kay Magistad, Public Radio International’s “The World”
Documentaries (101+ Market)
“Cash, Credit and Saving While in College,” Kevin Hurd, KVSC-FM
Public Service in Radio Journalism (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
“This is the South Bronx,” with a story on “money stress,” Miguelina Diaz, Keith Tingman, Amon “AJ” Frazier, WNYC Radio
Television
Documentaries (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
“Ghana: Digital Dumping Ground,” about electronic waste, Staff, PBS Frontline World, PBS
Feature Reporting (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
“Children of the Recession,” CBS News
Investigative Reporting (Small-Market Station, 51+)
“Protecting Patients,” Don Dare, Dave Wignall, WATE-TV
Investigative Reporting (Large-Market Station 1-50)
“Evergreen Community College Investigation,” involved travel spending by the chancellor, Beth Rimbey, Dan Noyes, KGO-TV
Investigative Reporting (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
“60 Minutes: Amazon Crude,” Scott Pelley, Draggan Mihailovich, Warren Lustig, Nathalie Sommer, CBS News
Newsletters
Public Service in Newsletter Journalism
“Wal-Mart Tagged Over Needle Sticks,” Kevin Thompson, Cal-Osha Reporter
Online Reporting
Deadline Reporting (Independent)
“Three-alarm Fire Destroys Greenwood Businesses,” Doree Armstrong, Cory Bergman, Kate Bergman, Dale Steinke, PhinneyWood.com
Digital Media Presentation (Affiliated)
“AP Economic Stress Index,” Staff, The Associated Press
Digital Media Presentation (Independent)
“The Bay Area Toxic Tour: West Oakland,” Kim Komenich, Kwan Booth, Josh Wilson, Newsdesk.org/Independent Arts & Media
Investigative Reporting (Independent)
“Buried Secrets: Gas Drilling’s Environmental Threat,” Abrahm Lustgarten, Joaquin Sapien, Sabrina Shankman, ProPublica
Non-Deadline Reporting (Independent)
“Credit Rating Series,” Ben Protess, Lagan Sebert, Huffington Post Investigative Fund
Online Column Writing (Affiliated)
Charlie LeDuff, who often writes on economic topics, The Detroit News
Specialized Journalism Site
CNNMoney.com, Staff, CNNMoney
The awards will be presented Oct. 2 during the 2010 SPJ Convention and National Journalism Conference in Las Vegas.
