The Deseret News captured 18 excellence-in-journalism awards, including clean sweeps in the layout-and-design and ongoing-coverage categories, at the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists Saturday night.
The professional organization gave special awards to a veteran reporter with the Ogden Standard-Examiner, a local media attorney and a former reporter with the Southern Utah News who faced roadblocks in reporting about Kane County government.The three top awards were selected by SPJ's board of directors. The other print and broadcast journalism awards were selected by judges who are media professionals in Anchorage and San Diego.
In the layout and design category, Deseret News art director Robert Noyce won the first-, second- and third-place awards.
For ongoing coverage, Marianne Funk and Matthew S. Brown won a first-place award for their coverage of the complex Bonneville Pacific bankruptcy. The Deseret News staff won second place for its election coverage, while Funk and Lisa Riley Roche captured third for their reporting of the abortion issue.
Veteran police reporter Brian West garnered a first place in special projects for his detailed account of the hostage-taking at Alta View Hospital, while photographer Ravell Call won first place in spot-news photography.
Sports writer Doug Robinson won a second place in sports reporting, while Gary McKellar received a second-place award for sports photography.
Deseret News Washington Bureau chief Lee Davidson captured a third place in investigative reporting; human services writer Lois M. Collins won two third-place awards, one in special projects and the other in feature reporting.
Other third-place awards went to Deseret News Utah County Bureau chief Brooke Adams for deadline reporting; chief photographer Tom Smart for spot news photography; Call for general-excellence photography; and Garry Bryant for sports photography.
Deseret News staff writers Brad Rock and Jay Evensen were awarded honorable mentions in sports reporting.
The Clifford P. Cheney Service to Journalism Award went to Don Baker of Ogden Standard-Examiner. Baker was cited for his tireless efforts in behalf of freedom of information and public access to government meetings and records, as well as an exemplary 22-year reporting career.
The Roy B. Gibson Freedom of Information Award went to Jeffrey J. Hunt with the law firm of Kimball, Parr, Waddoups, Brown & Gee. Hunt was recognized for extraordinary commitment to First Amendment principles as exemplified by his work in establishing the Utah Freedom of Information Hotline.
The Quintus C. Wilson Ethics Award was given to Jeannie Hunt, former reporter for Southern Utah News. She was cited for her defense of truth as she battled Kane County government officials, who violated the state's open-meetings law and tried to restrict access to public records.
Here are the winners in all categories:
Editorials: first: Lex Hemphill, Tribune; second: Harry Fuller, Tribune; third: Flora Ogan, Standard-Examiner.
Criticism, columns and analysis: first: Constance Crompton, KUER News; second: Michael Morris, Utah County Journal; third: Michael Nakoryakov, Tribune.
Investigative: first: Norma Wagner, Tribune; second: Ted Cilwick, Tribune; third: Lee Davidson, Deseret News; honorable mention: Nancy Hobbs, Tribune.
Series and special projects: first: Brian West, Deseret News; second: Tom Wharton, Tribune; third: (tie) Carol Sisco, Tribune, and Lois M. Collins, Deseret News.
Layout and Design: first: Robert Noyce, Deseret News; second: Robert Noyce, Deseret News; third: Robert Noyce, Deseret News.
Deadline news reporting: first: Amy Joi Bryson, Standard-Examiner; second: Tribune Staff; third: Brooke Adams, Deseret News.
Non-deadline reporting: first: Chris Jorgensen, Tribune; second: Chris Jorgensen and Peggy Fletcher Stack, Tribune; third: Tom Walsh, The Private Eye; honorable mention: Christopher Smith, Tribune; Chris Jorgensen, Christopher Smith and John Keahy, Tribune; Jennefer Katleman, Standard-Examiner; Michael Phillips, Tribune; honorable mention: Janelle Biddinger, Standard-Examiner.
Feature print reporting: first: Cheryl Smith, Utah Holiday; second: Christopher Smith, Tribune; third: Lois M. Collins, Deseret News; honorable mention: April Daniels and Carol Scott, Utah Holiday; honorable mention: Lili Wright, Tribune; Ellen Fagg, Private Eye.
Ongoing coverage: first: Marianne Funk, Matthew S. Brown and Deseret News staff; second: Deseret News Staff; third: Marianne Funk, Lisa Riley Roche and Deseret News staff.
Sports reporting: first: Lex Hemphill, Tribune; second: Doug Robinson, Deseret News; third: Joe Baird, Kurt Kragthorpe, Dick Rosetta, Tribune; honorable mention: Joe Baird, Tribune; honorable mention: Jay Evensen, Deseret News; honorable mention: Brad Rock, Deseret News.
Editorial cartoons: first: John deRosier, The Daily Universe.
Spot news photo: first: Ravell Call, Deseret News; second: Anne Raup, Standard-Examiner; third: Tom Smart, Deseret News; honorable mention: H. Hart Evans, Standard-Examiner.
Feature photo: first: Jeffery Allred, Tribune; second: Lynn R. Johnson, Tribune; third: (tie) Anne Raup, Standard-Examiner, and Steve Griffin, Tribune; honorable mention: Rick Egan, Tribune.
Sports photography: first: Rick Egan; second: Gary McKellar, Deseret News; third: Garry Bryant, Deseret News.
Photo essay: first: Lynn Johnson, Tribune; second: Steve Griffin, Tribune; third: Lynn Johnson.
General excellence in print photography: first: Steve Griffin, Tribune; second: Rick Egan, Tribune; third: Ravell Call, Deseret News.
Radio
Deadline news: first: Tim Hughes, KSL; second: Scott Seeger, Tim Lewis, KSL; third: Robert Smith, KUER.
Non-deadline news: first: Doug Fabrizio, KUER; second: Constance Crompton, KUER; third: Robert Smith, KUER; honorable mention: Robert Smith, KUER;
Series and special projects: first: KUER; second: Kristy Snow, KUER; third: KUER.
Sports reporting: first: Doug Fabrizio, Hawk Mendenhall, KUER; second: KSL sports staff; third: James Nelson, independent; honorable mention: James Nelson.
Best newscast: first: KSL afternoon drive news, Scott Seeger, Tim Lewis; second: KSL midday news, Tammy Kikuchi, Tracie Cayford.
Ongoing coverage: first: Robert Smith, KUER.
Television Photography
Spot news: first: Bill Cortez, KUTV News: second: George Griner, KSL: third: George Griner, KSL.
Feature photo/long format: first: Jerry Andersch, KTVX; second: George Griner, KSL; third: Carl Siebert, KUED.
Feature photo/short format: first: Jack Hubbell, KSL; second: Martin L. Metcalf, KSL; third: Kenneth Fall, KUTV; honorable mention: Martin L. Metcalf.
General excellence: first: Martin Metcalf, KSL; second: Bill Cortez, KUTV; third: George Griner, KSL.
Television reporting
Investigative reporting: first: Con Psarras, KSL; second: Jay Kolls-Jerry Merrick, KUTV; third: Con Psarras, KSL; honorable mention: Vaughn Roche, KUTV.
Series: first: Kenneth Fall; second: Heather Ross; third: Rod C. Jackson; honorable mention: George Griner.
Documentaries and projects: first: Duane Cardall/Brenda Beienburg, KSL; second, Ken Verdoia, KUED; third: Kenneth Fall/Terry Wood, KUTV.
Ongoing coverage: first: Rod Jackson, KTVX; second: Con Psarras, John Hollenhorst, KSL; third: Mark Mesesan, Dennis Kurumada, KTVX; honorable mention: KUTV staff.
General reporting: first: Paul Murphy, KTVX; second: Vaughn Roche, KUTV; third: Michael Rawson/Bill Cortez, KUTV; honorable mention: Michael Rawson, Ken Fall, KUTV.
Spot news reporting: first: Peter Rosen, KUTV; second: Steve Eager, KSL.
Feature reporting: first: Jerry Andersch, KTVX; second: Kenneth Fall, KUTV; third: Duane Cardall, KSL; honorable mention: Chris Vanocur, KTVX.
Sports reporting: first: Dave Fox, KUTV; second: Shelley Osterloh, KSL; third: Mike Allen, KTVX.
Best newscast: first: Warren Morningstar, KTVX; second: Ben Spencer, KSL.
Television editing
Daily news editing: first: Bill Cortez, KUTV: second: David Rowan, KUTV; third: Bill Francis, KSL; honorable mention: Bob Brown, KSL.
General excellence in editing: first: Jerry Andersch, KTVX; second: Jack R. Hubbell, KSL; third: Bob Brown, KSL.
Feature editing: first: Jack R. Hubbell, KSL; second: Bill Francis, KSL; third: George Griner, KSL.