Deseret News columnist Lee Benson won a first-place award in the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors' 12th Annual Excellence in Writing Competition in the commentary category for newspapers under 75,000 circulation. Winners will be honored at the group's annual convention in New York City Sept. 27-30.
Of the three columns he submitted, published between December and March — "Kids have the right to have mom," "John Rocker is monster of our making" and "Empty tank: It's plain ol' unAmerican" — a judge commented on the first, about two men wishing to adopt a child, saying "Strong voice, well paced. Interesting way to state his case. Wrote his entire column without mentioning the two would-be fathers are gay."
Benson, while playing down his winning the award, was appreciative that editorial writing as a whole is being recognized.
"When you win it's great and when you don't, you go on," said Benson, chuckling. "It is kinda nice to know there's somebody out there that might not think you're a crackpot."
First-place winners in the general feature-writing category will receive $1,000 and first-place winners in the other four topic categories — short feature, commentary, arts and entertainment criticism and headline writing — will receive $500.
The AASFE, founded in 1947, is an international organization of editors dedicated to the quality of features in newspapers.
More than 1,000 entries were submitted in five categories this year — general feature, short feature, commentary, arts and entertainment criticism and headline writing — in four circulation divisions. Submissions for commentary, criticism and headlines included three pieces.