The Deseret News picked up 74 awards — including 20 first-place honors and the overall general excellence award — Saturday evening from the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Recipients were honored at an annual awards banquet, where reporters, photographers, headline writers, page and Web site designers and broadcast journalists were recognized for their work during the past year.
The paper won more than half of all awards given to the seven Utah newspapers that entered the contest, which was judged by independent journalists at news organizations outside the state.
Deseret News staff members swept the top three honors in seven separate categories — opinion/column writing, sports news, health reporting, social services reporting, newspaper design, spot news photography and photo essay.
Joel Campbell, a former Deseret News staffer and former SPJ president, won the society's Clifford P. Cheney Service to Journalism Award. Lee Davidson, Deseret News Washington, D.C., correspondent, won the Roy B. Gibson Freedom of Information Award for his use of the Freedom of Information Act as an important news-gathering tool.
The society's first-place investigative reporting award was renamed the Don Baker Investigative Journalism Award after the late Deseret News reporter, admired for his hard-hitting, well-documented journalism. Baker also was on the staff of the Ogden Standard-Examiner for many years.
The following is a list of other award winners:
ALL MEDIA
News-oriented Web site, general excellence: 1. www.deseretnews.com; 2. www.standard.net
Editorials: 1. Marjorie Cortez, Deseret News; 2. Lex Hemphill, Salt Lake Tribune; 3. Nat Chalat Noaker, Park Record.
Opinion/columns: 1. Cathy Free, Deseret News; 2. Scott Iwasaki, Deseret News; 3. Gib Twyman, Deseret News; Honorable Mention: Tom Clyde, Park Record.
Reviews/criticism: 1. Jeff Inman, City Weekly; 2. Ben Fulton, City Weekly; 3. Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune.
Editorial cartoon: 1. "Now That's a Knife," Calvin Grondahl, Standard-Examiner; 2. "LaVell Edwards Resigns," Jonathan Brown, Deseret News; 3. "Kilbourn Cartoon," John Kilbourn, Park Record.
Investigative reporting: 1. (The Don Baker Memorial Award) "Speak No Evil," Lynn Packer, City Weekly; 2. "Grave Consequences: The Mountain Meadows Massacre," Christopher Smith, Salt Lake Tribune; 3. "Utah Military Secrets," Lee Davidson, Deseret News; H.M. "Disabled Plaintiffs Rarely Win," Shawn Foster, Salt Lake Tribune.
Investigative reporting for newspapers with circulations under 50,000: 1. "David Gardner," Amy K. Stewart, Daily Herald; 2. "Two Top Jobs in Transition," Arrin J. Brunson, Herald Journal; 3. "Unsportsmanlike Conduct," Jeremy Pugh, Herald Journal.
Investigative reporting for Spanish newspapers: 1. "Violencia Domestica," Myriam Rojas, Mundo Hispano
Comprehensive coverage: 1. "Olympic Indictments," Linda Fantin, Mike Gorrell, Greg Burton, Salt Lake Tribune; 2. "Glasmann Case," Tim Gurrister, Standard-Examiner; 3. "Clinic Cutback," Park Record staff; H.M. "Election 2000," Deseret News staff.
Series: 1. (tie) "La vida Utah," Jerry D. Spangler, Deseret News; 1. (tie) "Bringing hope to Haiti," Lois M. Collins, Deseret News; 2. "From the Ashes," Michael Vigh, Salt Lake Tribune; 3. "Reckoning with the Right," Bob Bernick Jr., Lucinda Dillon, Dennis Romboy, Deseret News; H.M, "Special Report: Gays in Utah," Salt Lake Tribune staff, "Niki's New Life," Lucy Boone, Standard-Examiner, "Utahns in Kosovo," Brent Israelsen, Salt Lake Tribune, "Special Anniversary Edition," Deseret News staff.
Series for newspapers with circulations under 50,000: 1. "Life Down Under," Anne Golden, Daily Herald; 2. "In Our Schools," Herald Journal staff; 3. "Millennium Special Edition," Herald Journal staff.
Series for Spanish newspapers: 1. "Derrotemos al English Only," Gladys Gonzalez, Myriam Rojas, Marisol Garzon, Sandra Plazas, Jose A. Loaiza, Mundo Hispano; 2. "Elian Sera Hijo de la Revolucion," Myriam Rojas, Mundo Hispano; 3. "Mexico Eligio Cambios y Nuevos Retos," Natalie Irene Meyer Perez, Myriam Rojas, Mundo Hispano.
Deadline reporting: 1. "Olympic indictments," Mike Gorrell, Greg Burton, Linda Fantin, Salt Lake Tribune; 2. "Man arrested in rampage," Brady Snyder, Derek Jensen, Jennifer Dobner, Deseret News; 3. "Firestone recalling 6.5 million of its tires," Brice Wallace, Deseret News.
Environment: 1. "Residents say dump spoiled dreams," Judy Fahys, Salt Lake Tribune; 2. "Rock miners run into feds' stony stand," Shawn Foster, Salt Lake Tribune; 3. "Negligence lawsuits forcing park to refocus," Brent Israelsen, Salt Lake Tribune; H.M. "Farm Will Stay a Farm With Special Easements," Donna Kemp Spangler, Deseret News.
Health: 1. "Before the desert," Carma Wadley, Deseret News; 2. "Y. researchers curious about bloodlines," Jeffrey P. Haney, Deseret News; 3. "Duo Excited by Pursuit of T. Rex," Joe Bauman, Deseret News; H.M. "The War on Diabetes," Bob Cazier, Lois M. Collins, Deseret News, "Scientists Are in Awe as Footprints Multiply," Joe Bauman, Deseret News, "Physician, Heal thy Pet," Carma Wadley, Deseret News, "Taking the Measure of Winter," Joe Bauman, Deseret News, "Fluoride Fight," Kristen Moulton, Salt Lake Tribune, "Who Carries On?" Hilary Groutage-Smith, Salt Lake Tribune.
Education: 1. "Teaching 101," Heather May, Salt Lake Tribune; 2. "The politics of recess," Elaine Jarvik, Deseret News; 3. "All on her own," Maria Titze, Deseret News; H.M. "Education Officials Vie," Heather May, Kirsten Stewart, Salt Lake Tribune.
Legal affairs: 1. "A year after movie buffs," Dan Egan, Salt Lake Tribune; 2. "SLOC is bracing for trial," Lisa Riley Roche, Hans Camporreales, Bob Bernick Jr., Lee Benson, Deseret News; 3. "Internet Libel, Joe Baird, Salt Lake Tribune; H.M. "Teens in Prison," Frank Curreri, Nesreen Khashan, Salt Lake Tribune.
Police/crime: 1. "Death of model inmate still a mystery," Greg Burton, Salt Lake Tribune; 2. "Rave," Pat Reavy, Deseret News; 3. "Brave little girl," Joey Haws, Standard-Examiner; H.M. "Boy Likely Died From Hypothermia," Michael Vigh, Frank Curreri, Salt Lake Tribune, "Kidnapping Victim," Frank Curreri, Salt Lake Tribune.
Business: 1. (tie) "Little digs, big treasures," Steven Oberbeck, Salt Lake Tribune; 1. (tie) "Modern campgrounds," Anna Cekola, Salt Lake Tribune; 2. (tie) "Job hopping," Angie Welling, Deseret News; 2. (tie) "Surfing for bucks," Angie Welling, Deseret News; 2. "Milkmen," Phil Sahm, Salt Lake Tribune; 3. (tie) "Charging college," Maria Titze, Deseret News; 3. (tie) "Merger collapse," Guy Boulton, Salt Lake Tribune; H.M. "Doing Time," Brice Wallace, Deseret News, "Confused? Bit of Insight on Zions, First Security Deal," Max Knudson, Deseret News.
Government/politics: 1. "Lobbyists say greed is growing," Jerry D. Spangler, Bob Bernick Jr., Deseret News; 2. "Envirocare plays politics," Jerry D. Spangler, Deseret News; 3. "Political whirl," Dan Harrie, Tom Wharton, Salt Lake Tribune.
Social services: 1. "Iowa corn saving lives," Amy Joi Bryson, Deseret News; 2. "ADA aiding disabled," Jennifer Dobner, Deseret News; 3. "Living with disabilities," Carma Wadley, Deseret News.
Religion: 1. "Westlake's wildlife," Carrie Moore, Deseret News; 2. "The Bible says just say yes . . . to sex," Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune; 3. "Two little girls," Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune.
Spanish: 1. "Puede el Color de la Piel . . .," Gladys Gonzales, Mundo Hispano; 2. "Migrante Head Program," Teresa Howes, Mundo Hispano.
Feature writing: 1. "Lessons on the river," Tom Smart, Deseret News; 2. (tie) "Contrary Mary," Brent Israelsen, Salt Lake Tribune; 2. (tie) "An opened box, a family secret, a personal odyssey," Bob Mims, Salt Lake Tribune; 3. "Planning allowed artist a peaceful death," Marilyn Karras, Deseret News; H.M. "Of Hope and Healing," Lois M. Collins, Deseret News, "Wild Horse Roundup," Amy Joi Bryson, Deseret News,"The Long Walk," Lance Frazier, Herald Journal, "Life, Times of Hugh Nibley," Mark Eddington, Salt Lake Tribune.
Lifestyle feature: 1. "Almost famous," Elaine Jarvik, Deseret News; 2. "Woman falling," Elaine Jarvik, Deseret News; 3. (tie) "A moral dilemma: Julie and BYU," Dan Egan, Salt Lake Tribune; 3. (tie) "One-time Utah whiz kid," Dan Egan, Salt Lake Tribune; H.M. "Malcolm in the Middle," Carolyn Campbell, City Weekly.
Sports feature: 1. "Gone but not forgotten (Jeff Hornacek)," Doug Robinson, Deseret News; 2. "World-class warrior (LaVell Edwards)," Doug Robinson, Deseret News; 3. "Logan Tom: Utah's Golden Spike," Linda Fantin, Salt Lake Tribune; H.M. "Getting it Together," Dan Egan, Salt Lake Tribune.
Sports feature for newspapers with circulations under 50,000: 1. "Paying it Forward," Darrell Edward Ehrlick, Herald Journal.
Sports news: 1. "Hometown Hero," Gib Twyman, Deseret News, 2. "This Kid Rocks," Mike Sorensen, Deseret News, 3. "Crowning a Splendid Career, Doug Robinson, Deseret News; H.M. "Reality Check," Mike Sorensen, Deseret News.
Sports news for newspapers with circulations under 50,000: 1. "LaVell Edwards," Scott Bell, Dick Harmon, Dorothy Knoell, Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald.
Headlines: 1. Bob Cazier, Deseret News; 2. Peggy Boss-Barney, Salt Lake Tribune; 3. Steve Warren, Deseret News; H.M. Susan Hermance, Deseret News.
Front page design: 1. "The orphans of Vladivostok," Heidi Perry, Deseret News; 2. "Top than, Salt Lake," Mary Archbold; Deseret News; 3. Tom Christensen, Standard-Examiner; H.M. Daily Herald staff.
Design: 1. "Ice hockey," Robert Noyce, Deseret News; 2. "Gone, but not forgotten," Pat Poyfair, Deseret News; 3. "Gladiators," Robert Noyce, Deseret News; H.M. "John Lennon/Beatles," Lou Ann Heller, Deseret News, "Halloween Hip," Christie Jackson, Deseret News.
Overall excellence: 1. Deseret News.
PHOTO
Spot news: 1. "Flood," Jeffery D. Allred, Deseret News; 2. "Roy flood," Ravell Call, Deseret News; 3. "Shooting tragedy," Chuck Wing, Deseret News.
Sports: 1. "Time trial," Steve Griffin, Salt Lake Tribune; 2. "Being thrown" Ravell Call, Deseret News; 3. "Pounded in the dirt," August Miller, Standard-Examiner; H.M. "Out at First," Ryan Galbraith, Salt Lake Tribune.
Feature: 1. (tie) "Queen of the river," Trent Nelson, Salt Lake Tribune; 1. (tie) "Diver down," Brian Nicholson, Standard-Examiner; 2. "First snowfall," Matt Houston, Standard-Examiner; 3. "Ropes course," Jason Olson, Deseret News; H.M. "Oh, For Me?" Stuart Johnson, Deseret News.
Photo essay: 1. "Carmelite nuns," Jeffery D. Allred, Deseret News; 2. "Sydney Olympics," Ravell Call, Deseret News; 3. "Russian orphans," Jeffery D. Allred, Deseret News; H.M. "Rodeo Queen," Chuck Wing, Deseret News.
Photo excellence: Jeffery D. Allred, Deseret News; 2. Ravell Call, Deseret News; 3. Rick Egan, Salt Lake Tribune; H.M. August Miller, Standard-Examiner, Jason Olson, Deseret News, Mikel Covey, Salt Lake Magazine.
MAGAZINE/NON-DAILY
Feature: 1. "Take the Money and Jump," Andrea Malouf, Salt Lake Magazine; 2. "Suicidal Tendencies," Marsha Boutelle, City Weekly; 3. (tie) "From Retired to Hired," Suzanne Kimball, Utah Business Magazine; 3. (tie) "Peddling Plants," Kevin Stoker, Utah Business Magazine.
News story: 1. "Right Wing Rebellion," Katharine Biele, City Weekly; 2. "Older & Wiser Monkey Wrench Gang," Christopher Smart, City Weekly; 3. "Nuclear Powwow," Mark Hengesbaugh, City Weekly.
Specialized: 1. Miriam Clare Kearns, Utah Homes & Garden Magazine; 2. (tie) Andrea Malouf, Salt Lake Magazine; 2. (tie) Greta Belanger de Jong, Catalyst.
RADIO
Spot news: 1. "Canyons deaths," Mike Savage, KPCW.
Non-deadline reporting: 1. "Mayoral inauguration," Beverly Amsler, KCPW; 2. "Learning English," Vince Pearson, KUER; 3. "English Only," Vince Pearson, KUER; H.M. "Geothermal Energy," Steve Spencer, KUER.
Comprehensive reporting: 1. "Toddler search," Marc Giauque, KSL; 2. "Park City doctors," Mike Savage, KPCW; 3. "Olympic indictment," Marc Giauque, Ben Winslow, Darci Marchese, KSL.
Public affairs: 1. Kat Snow, Doug Fabrizio, KUER.
Feature reporting: 1. "Alabados," Kat Snow, KUER; 2. "Life on the campaign trail," Jenny Brundin, KUER; 3. "Sydney's homeless," Beverly Amsler, KCPW.
Documentary reporting: 1. "Girls & violence," Jenny Brundin, KUER; 2. "Informed decision," Russ Hill, Ben Winslow, Marc Giauque, KSL.
Special projects: 1. "Teen politics 2000," Kat Snow, Jenny Brundin, Vince Pearson, Steve Spencer, KUER; 2. "The changing face of Salt Lake County government," Beverly Amsler, Jennifer Napier-Pearce, KCPW.
Series: 1. "Campaign 2000," Carl Stuart, Lisa Sanchez, Ben Winslow, Marc Giauque, Darci Marchese, KSL; 2. "Utah speedtraps," Ben Winslow, KSL; 3. "From Sydney to Salt Lake City," Beverly Amsler, Jennifer Napier-Pearce, Mike Savage, KCPW.
Sports: 1. "Zamboni," Beverly Amsler, KCPW.
Best sound: 1. "Vernal noise," Ben Winslow, KSL; 2. "Smokestack demolition," Jennifer Napier-Pearce, Beverly Amsler, KCPW.
Radio newscast: 1. "Utah's Morning News," Russ Hill, Lisa Sanchez, Don Brinkerhoff, Ben Winslow, KSL; 2. "Utah's Noon News," Marc Giauque, Darci Marchese, Joe Wren, Ben Winslow, KSL.
TELEVISION
Spot news: 1. "Chevy's shooting," John Hollenhorst, Dan Callanan, Winston Armani, KSL; 2. "Tongan church fire," Jill Atwood, Winston Armani, Reed Cowen, KSL; 3. "Tornado," Jed Boal, Deanie Wimmer, Richard Piatt, Keith McCord, Winston Armani, Kevin Bond, KSL, H.M. "Moose Rescue," Lane Lyon, Todd Hougaard, KSTU.
Non-deadline reporting: 1. "Messenger of hate," Paul Murphy, KTVX; 2. "Aaron's story," Lane Lyon, Jessica Sanchez, Steve Worthing, KSTU; 3. "Fighting chance," Ed Yates, Kerry Jensen, Mark Wetzel, KSL.
Comprehensive reporting: 1. "Olympics bribery scandal," John Daley, KSL; 2. "Inmate on the line?" Paul Murphy, KTVX; 3. "Murray smokestacks," KSTU staff; H.M. "Trevor Wagner/DCFS," Jill Atwood, KSL.
Investigative reporting: 1. "Chemical dump," Remi Barron, KSTU; 2. "Turf wars," Karen Scullin, KSL.
Feature reporting (short): 1. "Decker and the dogs," Rod Decker, Mike Sanches, David Rowan, KUTV; 2. "The Sydney Bridge climb," David James, Darren Bailey, KUTV; 3. "Hummingbirds," Carole Mikita, Kevin Bond, KSL; H.M. "Christmas Gift," Deanie Wimmer, Bob Greenwell, KSL, "Best Thanksgiving," Stacey Butler, Kevin Bond, KSL.
Feature reporting (long): 1. "Dr. Jung," Hope Woodside, KSTU; 2. "Jon Huntsman," Bob Evans, KSTU.
Sports reporting: 1. "Wrestling with Rulon," Jonas Schwartz, Jerry Anderfuren; 2. "Rick Majerus," Mike Runge, Allie MacKay, KSTU; 3. "Rulon Gardner: Olympic Hero," Shelley Osterloh, Dan Callanan, Matt Powers, KSL.
Special/documentary reporting: 1. "New LDS Conference Center," Carole Mikita, Alan Neves, Bob Greenwell, Matt Powers, KSL; 2. "Pioneers of Progress 2000," Bob Evans, Nichole Coombs, Darren Griffin, KSTU; 3. "A Conversation with Gordon B. Hinckley," Bob Evans, Darren Griffin, Doug Smith, Todd Hougaard, KSTU.
Series: 1. "Seizures," Ed Yeates, Steve Landeen, KSL.
Best newscast: 1. "Eyewitness News at 10," KSL staff, Con Psarras, Brink Chipman; 2. "KUTV 2 News at Ten," KUTV staff.
Feature editing: 1. "Year-ender," Peter Rosen, KUTV; 2. "Cataract river runners," David Rowan, KUTV; 3. "Bobsled track," David Rowan, KUTV. H.M. "Carmelite Nuns," Alan Bake, KSL, "Cell Phone Etiquette," Brian McBride, KSL.
Editing (long): 1. "Utah salary scale," Pat Duran, KSL; 2. "New LDS Conference Center," Bob Brown, KSL.
Daily editing: 1. "Fly fish guy," Todd Hougaard, KSTU; 2. "Waterless community," David Rowan, KUTV; 3. "Human book chain," Todd Hougaard, KSTU; H.M. "Ski Jump Kids," Brian McBride, KSL.
Overall editing excellence: 1. Peter Rosen, KUTV; 2. Todd Hougaard, KSTU; 3. David Rowan, KUTV.
Spot photography: 1. "Moose rescue," Todd Hougaard; 2. "Ogden apartment fire," Jen Pilgreen, KSL; 3. "Dog rescue," Todd Hougaard, KSTU.
Feature photography (short): 1. "Best Thanksgiving," Kevin Bond, KSL; 2. "State Christmas tree," Mike Riedel, KSTU; 3. "Human book chain," Todd Hougaard, KSTU, H.M. "Carmelite Nuns," Jen Pilgreen, KSL.
Feature photography (long): 1. "N. Eldon Tanner," Eric Betts, KSTU.
Photographic excellence: 1. Todd Hougaard, KSTU; 2. Jerry Anderfuren, KSTU.