Inland Southern Cal SPJ

2011-07-09T02:02:00.000-07:00

This blog is not longer being updated.

Contest

2009-03-19T17:28:00.000-07:00

OK, so we should have put something up about this months ago, but with all worries of job losses and the actual job losses, it's always pushed to the back burner.

The job losses, along with the poor economy (for newspapers and everywhere else), factored into us not having a contest this year. And with our board decimated by the layoffs (and furloughs) that have hit just about every paper in this region, it was a decision that needed to be made.

We're sorry that the great work done by journalists in the region in 2008 will not be honored, and hope to be back on our feet and able to run a contest next year. And if any one out there would be willing to volunteer to help with the contest (coordinate judging here and out of state, help sort out entries, organize the banquet, etc.) please contact us. We'd love the help.

A change in the board

2008-07-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

We've had some changes folks, a changing of the guard if you will.

Gina Tenorio has been named president of the Inland Chapter of Professional Journalists. C.L. Lopez has moved to vice-president, Bill Norris remains (much to our relief) as treasurer-secretary and John Bender continues as a board member.

Given the climate for some of us, the chapter has not been very active. But we still exist and are here to serve the journalists in Riverside and San Bernardino counties to the best of our abilities.

We realize that things are tough for a lot of people right now. If there is a service we can provide, we will. And we need all of you to come out and support us more than ever. We have a few ideas we're kicking around.

If you have any suggestions, please let us know. You can reach Gina Tenorio at ginatenoriospj@yahoo.com.

Ethics and the Contest

2008-05-14T16:22:00.000-07:00

One of the guiding principals of the Society of Professional Journalists is ethics. If people can't trust that we're not reporting and writing the truth as we know it, why should the public trust us.

To read SPJ's Code of Ethics, click here.

I bring this up because the entries in our contest should be held to the ethical standards of the business. If you made a mistake in a story that you're going to enter, the correction (if one ran) should be attached to the story as well.

As such, when I got an e-mail this morning, I was pleased that one of my journalistic colleagues was so bound to his ethics that months after his story ran, and just a few days after he received an award, that when two mistakes were discovered in the story yesterday (one, the person said was "a particularly egregious error"), he withdrew his story from the contest and returned the award.

The winner's list has been updated below, and replacement awards for the other people in the category will be made and sent out in the coming weeks.

AWARDS LIST

2008-05-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

The winner's list follows this post. Sorry about any typos, and if there are any names misspelled, I apologize, and let me know at billnorrisspj@yahoo.com, and I'll fix 'em.

In the results themselves, none of the comments have been edited as they were sent back from the judges from Florida and Washington. If there are no comments, that means they weren't provided to us. Sorry.

Remember, if you need your award fixed, or need to order a duplicate, please let me know as soon as possible.

WRITING AWARDS FIRST HALF*

2008-05-11T16:49:00.000-07:00

1A Best Breaking News Story
FIRST PLACE: Stacia Glenn and Staff, The Sun
“Scorched Earth”
COMMENTS: Wow! Comprehensive reporting, the very definition of breaking news journalism lifted above the competition by clear but evocative writing that gave a sense of being there. Superb.
SECOND PLACE: The Press-Enterprise Staff
“Firestorm”
COMMENTS: Amazingly sound reporting, writing and editing under difficult conditions
THIRD PLACE: Sarah Burge, Tammy McCoy and Leezel Tanglao, The Press-Enterprise
“Fourth Teen Dies”
COMMENTS: Solid reporting, balanced
1B Best Breaking News Story
FIRST PLACE: Ryan Orr, Daily Press
“Honeycutt Arrested”
COMMENTS: Complete reporting included context for newcomers. Sidebar was excellent addition. Clearly written.
SECOND PLACE: Tim O’Leary and Shannon Starr, The Valley News
“Murder/Suicide Shocks Temecula”
COMMENTS: Well-reported, decently written but how can you go 6 grafs without identifying the victims?
THIRD PLACE: Beau Yarbrough, Hesperia Star
“Smoke-Out”
COMMENTS: Nicely reported and written
2A Best Enterprise Story
FIRST PLACE: Paige Austin, The Press-Enterprise
“No Rescue: The Case of Ricky Morales.“
COMMENTS: This story is the epitome of enterprise. The reporter never gave up, demanding to find out the how and why of this tragedy. Not only was the reporter industrious but the story is beautifully -- and heart-wrenchingly -- writen. Good job....no, great job.
SECOND PLACE (Tie): Paul LaRocco, The Press-Enterprise
“Neighborhoods, Lives Silenced”
SECOND PLACE (Tie): Leslie Berkman, The Press-Enterprise
“From Dreams to Debt”
COMMENTS: Both stories are well-researched and showed both journalists’ reporters skills and writing talents. These articles are the prime examples of how to show, not tell, a story.
THIRD PLACE: Stacia Glenn, The Sun
“On the front with fire crew”
COMMENTS: Fine writing is enhanced by reporter’s skills at interviewing. Reporter made judge feel as if she was on the scene with the firefighters.
2B Best Enterprise Story
FIRST PLACE: Jason W. Armstrong, Daily Journal
“Defender Exodus …”
COMMENTS: A fine look into the justice system, in a place where problems have persisted for years.
SECOND PLACE (tie): J.P. Crumrine, Idyllwild Town Crier
“Did IFPD do enough…”
SECOND PLACE (tie): Gretchen Losi, Daily Press“Teens dealing with addiction.”
COMMENTS: Losi’s writing stands out, but also her ability to get people to talk who reasonably could have feared being hurt by an article about them. Crumrine stands out for looking into the emergency responders’ own review of their performance. Story makes us want to know more.
3A Best Feature Story
FIRST PLACE: Paul LaRocco, The Press-Enterprise
“The Lone Rangers”
COMMENTS: In a category where half the submissions were war-related, it’s significant that the winners came from that other half. Leading the way was this well-written, well-reported story. It may not be far, but it’s true that feature stories benefit from photos and maps – as this one did. An interesting tale well told.
SECOND PLACE: Paige Austin, The Press-Enterprise
“Inmates’ Children”
COMMENTS: Excellent feature writing requires time and attention to detail. Austin not only pre-reported a story about the Get On A Bus program, she rode that bus. Along the way, she uncovered fascinating facts that most likely eluded all the ordinary news stories ever written about the program.
THIRD PLACE: Shirin Parsavand, The Press-Enterprise
“Thanks to Lidia”
COMMENTS: Just as award-winning feature stories can turn on the parts that aren’t written (photos, graphics), they can also be decided by the letter that explain the situation behind the story. In this case, the tiebreaker in a bunch of qualified third-place finishers was Parsavand’s persistence in turning a community story into an A1 story – documented in her submission. The judges agreed: if you have a compelling back story to your award submission, by all means tell it.
3B Best Feature Story
FIRST PLACE: Nick Schou, OC Weekly
“Just a Random Female”
COMMENTS: This was the ultimate combination of a great story told by a great reporter and writer. Move over Mickey Spillane. It must have taken him months to research this dark tale, "Just a Random Female" of a serial killer and his first victim, and her parents’ quest for justice more than 20 years after a fateful meeting in a dark college parking lot. I came away from the story hoping he would write a book.
SECOND PLACE (tie): Marianne Napoles, Chino Hills Champion
“Daddy to the Bone”
COMMENTS: This story is a heart-warming story of Robert Van Den Brink, who inherited a stepdaughter who has severe autism when he married her mother 21 years ago.“Today, Cynthia Leba is 38 ... she still cannot speak or take care of herself. Mr. Van Den Brink is now 71, and is still holding Cynthia’s hand, braiding her thick red hair and brushing her teeth.”
SECOND PLACE (tie): C.L. Lopez, Redlands Daily Facts“Raising Todd”
COMMENTS: “Some nights, Todd Avery Gunterman still calls out for his mother, Army Pfc. Hannah Leah McKinney.”That’s the lead of the emotional opening story about grandparents raising a 2-year-old after his mother, their daughter, was killed in Iraq. This was a three-part series that dealt with the financial hardship the grandparents face; how their daughter’s new husband has not provided for his stepson, and how their church has stepped up to help them emotionally.
THIRD PLACE: David Silva, IE Weekly.“Masters of their Eminent Domain”
COMMENTS: This was a smartly written saga of how the Riverside City Hall is declaring war on private property, as the subhead says, in an effort to gentrify a city.“Coming soon! Coming soon!,” the signs proclaim," he writes. “Riverside is a city on the move... These are exciting momentous times if you’re young or new or fabulously wealthy...Fear is another sign you see everywhere, on the powerless merchants or the faces of lifelong residents as they gaze nervously at the bulldozers outside their door…”Although this story has a point of view, which is not conventional journalism, it gave voice to the people who are being pushed out in the name of progress.

4A Best Special Project/Package
FIRST PLACE: Douglas Quan, Janet Zimmerman, Lora Hines and Gregor McGavin, The Press-Enterprise
“Reckoning with Homelessness”
COMMENTS: This package examined the prevalent problem of homelessness from a multitude of angles: the personal perspective, the social policy aspects, the reasons why these people were homeless in the first place. We appreciated the legwork done by the reporters as Riverside and San Bernardino Counties began to implement and conceive plans to fix the problem. The reporters guide the readers through these proposals, and even travel to Denver to see how a plan worked there. The paper did a service for its readers by not just treating the homeless as masses gathered on the sidewalks asking for spare change, but giving them faces and names and telling their stories through a series of moving profiles.
SECOND PLACE: Will Bigham and Wendy Leung, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
“Grass Valley ”
COMMENTS: Well-written and thoroughly-reported series on a unique topic of suburban grow houses and the pot phenomenon. The writers attacked the subject from a multitude of interesting angles, and complemented their stories with informative sidebars (by the numbers, location of pot busts, the history of pot, etc.). The writing was crisp and compelling, and kept the reader’s interest throughout the series. The debate over medical marijuana and the mayor’s take on the whole issue nicely topped the package off. Fantastic job! This is how a series should be done.
THIRD PLACE: Julia Glick and Michelle DeArmond, The Press-Enterprise
“Saving Sacred Sites”
COMMENTS: Glick and DeArmond tackled a very interesting but rarely written about topic. The story’s opening is fantastic, drawing you in immediately to issue of modernity built on top of sacred Native American lands. The writers provide a fascinating discussion of the new law and how it is working, and top off the package with great background on the Indian cultures that are being affected.

4B Best Special Project/Package
FIRST PLACE: Shannon Starr and Julie Reeder, The Valley News
“Special Edition while displaced by fire”
COMMENTS: The judges were impressed by how thorough, interesting and helpful the special edition was -- especially when put out in difficult circumstances. A real public service that shows passion for the job.
SECOND PLACE: Aaron Aupperlee, Desert Dispatch
“In the box series coverage of training at Fort Irwin”
COMMENTS: This three-part series really showed initiative and creativity, and brought the readers insight into national and international news events. The reporter went far beyond his desk, embedding with a training unit to bring readers first-hand news.
THIRD PLACE: Maritza Velazquez, Highlander
“Bomb blast disrupts Glendora lives; War takes toll on Glendora family; The healing process / Wounded soldier looks forward to going home”
COMMENTS: The judges liked this reporter’s commitment in following this family as it dealt with a severe war injury. The stories were well written. The judges liked, for example, the story top that began “It was 4 a.m. when Veronica Solorio awoke to the feeling of her husband’s head on her shoulder.” This writer really tried to pull readers in to this family’s world. Nice job.
5A Best Continuing Beat Coverage
FIRST PLACE: Sandra Stokley and David Olson, The Press-Enterprise
“Mikey”
SECOND PLACE: Julia Glick and Ben Goad, The Press-Enterprise
“In the slow lane”
THIRD PLACE: Duane Gang, The Press-Enterprise
“Red-hot housing’s cool down”
5B Best Continuing Beat Coverage
FIRST PLACE: Ryan Orr, Daily Press
“Water haulers”
SECOND PLACE: J.P. Crumrine, Idyllwild Town Crier
“Valley Health System”
6A Best Law Enforcement/Legal Affairs Story
FIRST PLACE: Douglas Quan, The Press-Enterprise
“Mean Streets”
COMMENTS: It is clear a great deal of work went into putting this series together. The reporter got gang members and residents to open up about a sensitive subject and presented all the information in an easy-to-read manner.
SECOND PLACE: Sonja Bjelland, The Press-Enterprise
“In deputy involved fatal shootings, Riverside County tops LA County.”
THIRD PLACE: Paul LaRocco, The Press-Enterprise
“Confessor regrets divulging Redlands bank robbery”
6B Best Law Enforcement/Legal Affairs Story
FIRST PLACE: Beau Yarbrough, Hesperia Star
“Necrophiliac Belatedly Lands in Prison”
SECOND PLACE: Jason W. Armstrong, Los Angeles Daily Journal
“DA Sees Murder in Girlfriend’s Fatal Leap”
THIRD PLACE: Katherine Rosenberg, Daily Press
“Intruder Shot During Garage Gunfight”
7A/B Best Education Story
FIRST PLACE: Daffodil J. Altan, OC Weekly
“Hard knocks”
SECOND PLACE: Claudia Bustamante, The Press-Enterprise
“Laptop program missing keys”
THIRD PLACE: Maritza Velazquez, Highlander
Challenging students: Program seeks to prevent violence
8A Best Environmental Story
FIRST PLACE: David Olson and Leslie Berkman, The Press-Enterprise
“Warming World, Cleaner Choices”
COMMENTS: This story leading off a 14-page special section was notable for its clear, step-by-step introduction for readers to how California’s new rules designed to fight global warming are likely to interact with their electricity and their pocketbook. The approach was comprehensive, including a visit to the Utah town where electricity is produced for Southern Californians in a coal-fired power plant, and a look at how energy conservation pays off.
SECOND PLACE: Jennifer Bowles, The Press-Enterprise
“Cleanup wait grows longer”
COMMENTS: This look at the Cold War-era spilling of perchlorate at a Rialto defense contractor came alive because the reporter tracked down one of the workers who actually spilled the stuff, and told her story.
THIRD PLACE: Jason Pesick, The Sun
“$18 million down the drain?”
COMMENTS: Another look at the perchlorate problem in Rialto, this one posing excellent questions about whether the city should continue a legal fight on its own or turn the problem over to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
8B Best Environmental Story
FIRST PLACE: Hillary Borrud, Daily Press
“Cement plants want to turn gray to green”
COMMENTS: A really interesting, unexpected topic thoroughly covered. It included great context - relative contribution of greenhouse gases by cement plants, California’s ranking in cement production, Supreme Court and EPA action on the pollutants. It carried the concept all the way through to completion - who would use the captured CO2 and how likely is development of that market. All of this technical information was clearly explained and well supported.
SECOND PLACE: Shannon Starr, The Valley News
“Groups promote local produce”
COMMENTS: This article included some great descriptive scene setting and details, tracking some of the people involved with the local farming, organic program, bringing their efforts to life. It included needed context for why this is an important and growing trend.
THIRD PLACE (tie): Jahmal Peters, Business Press“Growers scramble as taps close”
COMMENTS: A great effort to tackle a technical, really important issue that got a little bogged down in numbers and jargon. Still, it captured some of the magnitude, challenges and competing interests in the parched region.
THIRD PLACE (tie): Betty Bailey, Idyllwild Town Crier
“Eaglet survival hard at Lake Hemet”
COMMENTS: There’s an assumption that eagles are thriving everywhere, but this story details the struggle of getting a reproducing population near Lake Hemet. Includes great history to get a sense of how and why the birds’ numbers plummeted, and the interest and concern in boosting the local population.
9A/B Best Government/Political Story
FIRST PLACE: Marcia Gawecki, Idyllwild Town Crier
“IFPD violates Brown Act”
SECOND PLACE: Ryan Orr and Katherine Rosenberg, Daily Press
“Inmates incompetent of standing trial sit in jails”
THIRD PLACE: Brian Eckhouse, The Californian
“Shopping center deal questioned”
10A Best Health Care/Social Services Story
FIRST PLACE: Sean Nealon, The Press-Enterprise
“Sickbed shortage”
SECOND PLACE: David Olson, The Press-Enterprise
“More seniors struggle with debt”
THIRD PLACE: Claudia Bustamante and Shirin Parsavand, The Press-Enterprise
“Nurses’ objections”
10B Best Health Care/Social Services Story
FIRST PLACE: Richard Irwin, Highland Newspapers
“Making miles of smiles”
SECOND PLACE: Darla Martin Tucker, Business Press
“Health care help wanted”
THIRD PLACE: Carol Park, Business Press
“Former users help others clean up”

WRITING AWARDS SECOND HALF

2008-05-11T16:38:00.001-07:00

11A Best Cultural/Diversity Story
FIRST PLACE: David Olson, The Press-Enterprise
“Clash of Cultures”
COMMENTS: Well-written, thoroughly researched piece on the Purepecha culture and how it has attempted to assimilate in Mexico and California. Photos and web presentation complement the articles nicely.
SECOND PLACE: Julia Glick and Michelle DeArmond, The Press-Enterprise
“Saving Sacred Sites”
COMMENTS: Excellent piece on the struggle to gain cooperation and support for preserving sacred sites. Photos illustrate the story very nicely.
THIRD PLACE: David Olson, The Press-Enterprise
“Acknowledging a Genocide”
COMMENTS: Thoughtful, balanced piece about a sensitive topic.
11B Best Cultural/Diversity Story
FIRST PLACE: Janine Kahn, OC Weekly
“The Closet and the Cross”
COMMENTS: Clearly the best submission in the category, this illuminating piece offers insight and examples of the controversy surrounding the "ex gay" ministry. Superbly researched and written. Great cover story.
SECOND PLACE: Richard Irwin, Highlander Newspapers
“Mosque on the Move”
COMMENTS: Interesting, factual piece on how one Islamic Center reaches out to its followers as well as the local community. Good front page photos.
THIRD PLACE: C. L. Lopez, Redlands Daily Facts“Church Reaches Out”
COMMENTS: Nice piece on how one church is reaching out to its families of military veterans.
12A Best Business Story
FIRST PLACE: Chris Bagley, The Californian
“Real Estate Group Guts Neighborhood”
COMMENTS: Aggressive and resourceful reporting made this entry stand out. The story brought to light the impact of one individual’s questionable activities in the real estate market, but it also provided an example of the shenanigans behind the broader market bust.
SECOND PLACE: Kimberly Pierceall, The Press-Enterprise
“What’s in Store? Increased machinery”
COMMENTS: Fascinating subject, and a well-reported story, providing concrete examples to show how machines are replacing people in retail settings. A glimpse of where we’re headed.
THIRD PLACE: Sean Nealon, The Press-Enterprise
“Wineries seek workers who know both vines, bottom line”
COMMENTS: Good details, strong reporting, interesting subject.
12B Best Business Story
FIRST PLACE: Joseph Ascenzi, The Business Press
“P.S. Cabbies face tough new rules”
COMMENTS: This well-reported story showed how a simple change in rules can impact a local industry. The bonus is that it’s also a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the taxicab business.
SECOND PLACE: Ray Marano, Smart Business Magazine
“Beating Bankruptcy”
COMMENTS: This story stood out because of the reporter’s ability to get candid comments from the executive on a difficult subject. With more sourcing, it would have ranked higher.
THIRD PLACE: Evelyn Barge, Highlander Newspapers
“Mom’s Brainchild”
COMMENTS: Interesting look at a creative business idea
13 A/B Best Entertainment Story or Feature
FIRST PLACE: Julia Glick, The Press Enterprise
“Reality TV helping truckers shape up”
SECOND PLACE: Peter Day, Hesperia Star
“Swingin’ to Success”
14 Best Review
FIRST PLACE: Stacy Davies, Inland Empire Weekly
“Embrace Your Sexy Menstrual Cycle!”
SECOND PLACE: Taylor Jordan, The Black Voice News
“Monterey Jazz Festival Retains Its Magic For 50 Years”
15A Best Sports Story or Feature
FIRST PLACE: Landon Negri, The Californian
“Munoz leads by faith”
COMMENTS: Well-written story, but what truly makes it stand out is the depth of reporting. The story did a good job of taking the reader beyond the obvious and into Munoz’s life.
SECOND PLACE: John Murphy, Sun
“Unusual umpire”
COMMENTS: Good story. A sensitive issue was handled nicely.
THIRD PLACE: John Murphy, Sun
“No safety net”
COMMENTS: Captured the courage of someone facing tremendous odds. A good read.
15B Best Sports Story or Feature
FIRST PLACE: Gerald Tang, Daily Press
“The dark side of prep football”
COMMENTS: Well-researched and nicely written. The story painted a nice picture of a problem nearly everyone is sure exists, but no one knows exactly how to quantify.
SECOND PLACE: Gerald Tang, Daily Press
“A miracle in every breath”
COMMENTS: The story included some nice detail and did a good job of creating a portrait of the cancer patient as well as capturing the emotions of those around him.
THIRD PLACE: Betty Bailey, Idyllwild Town Crier
“Outdoor sports tests fear of heights”
COMMENTS: Nice piece on a little-known, but very interesting sport.
16 Best News Column
FIRST PLACE: Cassie MacDuff, The Press-Enterprise
“Charging marchers”
SECOND PLACE: Cassie MacDuff, The Press-Enterprise
“County’s secrecy”
THIRD PLACE: David Reynolds, The Valley News
“Who’s come a long way?”
17 Best Features Column
FIRST PLACE: Leo Greene, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
“Still time, energy for one last trip”
COMMENTS: A poignant read about one man’s memories of a distant homeland. Greene invites us to come along to Ireland with his vivid descriptions, poetic language and powerful imagery.
SECOND PLACE: Jeff Girod, The Press-Enterprise
“A Couch For Small Potatoes”
COMMENTS: Humor writing is never easy. Girod scores big-time with a column that’s funny from beginning to end.
THIRD PLACE: Marianne Napoles, Champion Newspapers
“Reflections from Vinny’s Mom”
COMMENTS: Thoughtful writing that resonates with parents and non-parents alike.
18 Best Sports Column
FIRST PLACE: Jim Alexander, The Press Enterprise
“Time to Acknowledge Empty Seats Problem.”
COMMENTS: It’s unusual to read a sports columnist who takes the time to do some research and provide meaningful insight into a sporting event. Alexander does that in his column about the lack of attendance at the California Speedway.
SECOND PLACE: Jim Alexander, The Press Enterprise
“Instant Replay KOs NHL Frontier Justice.”
COMMENTS: In this column, Alexander uses humor and dry wit to the serious subject of cheap shots to the head in the world of professional hockey.
THIRD PLACE: Matthew Peters, The Desert Dispatch
“MLB Scholarship plan allows players to chase their dreams.”
19 Best Editorial/Opinion Piece
FIRST PLACE: Becky Clark, Idyllwild Town Crier
“A Scary Month”
COMMENTS: Gets right to the heart of the matter, quickly and easily.
SECOND PLACE: Beau Yarbrough, Hesperia Star
“An Awful Week for a Virginia Tech Graduate”
COMMENTS: Shows how the Virginia Tech shooting hit close to home, even thousands of miles away.
THIRD PLACE: Peter Day, Hesperia Star
“An Original Rides Into the Sunshine”
COMMENTS: An engaging read.
20 Best Blog Essay
FIRST PLACE: Barbara E. Hernandez, Fourstory.org
“The Curse of the Median Home Price”
COMMENTS: She does a good job at mixing details with personal perspective on a crisis affecting many people.
SECOND PLACE: Barbara E. Hernandez, Fourstory.org
“The Rise of House Porn”
COMMENTS: Innovative way of describing a sales tactic. It not only gets to the heart of the matter, but it also gets readers to pay attention.
THIRD PLACE: Katherine Rosenberg, Daily Press
“State of Fear?”
COMMENTS: The reader gets an upfront sense of what Rosenberg is writing about.
21 Best Overall Blog
FIRST PLACE: Aaron Aupperlee & Jason Smith, The Desert Dispatch
“Off the I-15”
SECOND PLACE: Scott Shackford, The Desert Dispatch
“The Editor’s Desk”
THIRD PLACE: Kimberly Pierceall, The Press Enterprise
“Tourism Blog”

DESK/PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO/AUDIO WINNERS

2008-05-11T16:31:00.000-07:00

Desk/Graphics
22 Best Headlines
NO AWARD GIVEN - NOT ENOUGH ENTRIES
23 Best A1
FIRST PLACE: Sheila Rowland, Desert Dispatch
“Atomic Flashback”
COMMENTS: This designer took a single, dramatic image and built a strong, meaningful page around it. The narrative comes through the visuals as well as the words.
SECOND PLACE: Evelyn Barge, Whittier Daily News“Sweet Remembrance”
COMMENTS: The compelling crop and display of the teen-ager’s close-up gives this page power. The visual clutter contributed by 8 mediocre images on the same page prevented this design from winning the category.
THIRD PLACE: Evelyn Barge, San Gabriel Valley Tribune“Abortion Views Stir GOP Debate”
COMMENTS: A good stab a conceptual packaging – if the page had more visual organization and narrative power it would have been an unqualified success
24 Best Non A-1
FIRST PLACE: Evelyn Barge, Pia Abelgas Orense, Audrey Reed, San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group
“The Rose”
COMMENTS: This section may appear to have a built-in design advantage: magazine format, glossy cover, high quality paper. But what really makes it a winner is the consistency with which images and typography are displayed throughout. Headlines, text and listings are carefully and legibly controlled. And images – ranging from fanciful to painfully mundane are presented with consistency and organization.
25 Best News Graphic
FIRST PLACE: Chris Ramos, The Press-Enterprise
“Cleaning up coal”
COMMENTS: Excellent 3-D drawing, easy to follow flow of information.
26 Best Illustration/Drawing
FIRST PLACE: Maggie Delbon, The Press-Enterprise
“Royal Pain for Parents”
COMMENTS: Nice drawing style and strong concept.

PHOTOGRAPHY
27 Best Spot News photo
FIRST PLACE: Paul Gallaher, Valley News
“Back Fire”
COMMENTS: Silhouetting firefighters against a big blaze not only gives the viewer a sense of the scale of the fire, it also frames the photo and lends it a human perspective.
28 Best News photo
FIRST PLACE: Therese Tran, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
“GTA Apprehension”
COMMENTS: Capturing an arrest in progress is difficult enough, but doing so from the same level as the suspect puts the viewer into the photo. Excellent work.
SECOND PLACE: Paul Gallaher, Valley News
“Graduation Flip”
COMMENTS: Not your average graduation photo. It couldn’t have been easy to freeze-frame this with no warning.
29 Best Feature photo
NO WINNERS AWARDED
30 Best Portrait/Personality photo
FIRST PLACE: Rodrigo Peña, The Press-Enterpise
“Broken Hearted”
COMMENTS: While the composition could benefit from a tighter crop, this is a telling portrait with compelling information in the background and perfect lighting.
SECOND PLACE: John Gilhooley, OC Weekly
“Ronny”
COMMENTS: While it obviously benefits from being played as a tabloid cover, the shot itself is still compelling. The beads of sweat are clearly focused, but more importantly, the expectation of seeing a tough boxer in wrapped fists is turned around by the almost-scared look on his face.
31 Best Sports photo
FIRST PLACE: Jenny Kirchner, Idyllwild Town Crier
“Bendin’ Like Beckham”
COMMENTS: Not your tradition sports photo winner. Sure, kids are a sucker’s way to win a photo contest, but in this case, Kirchner not only caught a bunch of cute youngsters and a soccer ball, she also highlights one of the amusements of youth soccer – namely, everyone goes for the ball.
SECOND PLACE: Therese Tran, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
“Football Bobble”
COMMENTS: Shooting high school football is always tough: poor lighting betrays many a good image, and it often prevents capturing faces through the helmets. Even so. Tran gets a fine action shot under adverse conditions.
THIRD PLACE: Rodrigo Peña, The Press-Enterprise
“Baseball Dive”
COMMENTS: A great action moment, but a tad blurry.
32 Best Photo Gallery
FIRST PLACE: Paul Gallaher, Valley News
“Grape Harvest”
COMMENTS: Photo essays need to tell a story, not only feature excellent images. Harvest doesn’t require reading the cutlines to know what’s going on.
SECOND PLACE: Michael Stenerson, Daily Press
“Here Come the Mavericks”
COMMENTS: Up close and far away, from the field to the fans, Stenerson visually tells the story of a minor-league team.
THIRD PLACE: Michael Stenerson, Daily Press
“A Taste of Italy”
COMMENTS: Great images, but it would have meant more to have such quality work be local.
33 Best Photo Illustration
NO ENTRIES

VIDEO
V1 Best Breaking News Story
NO ENTRIES
V2 Best News Story
FIRST PLACE: Patrick O’Neil, The Press-Enterprise
“Extreme 04”SECOND PLACE: Aaron Aupperlee, The Desert Dispatch
“Route 66 Car Show”
V3-4 Best Feature/Sports Story
FIRST PLACE: Leo Greene and Mediha DiMartino, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
“Spirituality”
SECOND PLACE: Leo Greene and Jeff Malet, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
“Coping with a terminal illness”

Audio - Includes Podcasts and Radio productions
A1 Best News Reporting
FIRST PLACE: Jim Ness and Julie Estrada, Inland Empire News Radio
“October 2007 Wildfires Newscast - Number 4”
Comments: Great use of sound in this newscast, especially the cut with a fire official from a fire camp talking about how firefighters have to "suck it up" and keep going in the face of sometimes deadly circumstances. Good placement of sidebar story of how wildfires impacted tree planting event.
SECOND PLACE: Jim Ness, Inland Empire News Radio
“October 2007 Wildfires Newscast Number 2”
COMMENTS: Strong writing in this newscast: "whipping winds" and firefighters "conceding defeat."
THIRD PLACE: Jim Ness, Inland Empire News Radio
“October 2007 Wildfires Newscast Number 3”
COMMENTS: Good cuts from Red Cross and prosecutor vowing to go after "firebugs."

COLLEGE WINNERS/COMMENTS

2008-05-11T14:29:00.000-07:00

Here are the College Newspaper Awards List with judge's comments. If there are typos, quite sorry, let me know at billnorrisspj@yahoo.com and I'll try to get 'em fixed.

S1 Best Newspaper
FIRST PLACE: The Poly Post, Cal Poly Pomona
COMMENTS: Excellent job of reporting on topics and issues related to students and their interests. Tuition, price of beer, cell phones.
SECOND PLACE: Campus Times, University of La Verne
COMMENTS: Look for stories on issues and topics more relevant to students for the cover. “Protecting the Planet” was a good idea.
THIRD PLACE: Viewpoints, Riverside Community College
COMMENTS: Fantastic, bold design. Very view of the news stories were about the campus itself or issues and topics important to people of college age.
S2 Best News Story
FIRST PLACE: Marilee Lorusso, ULV Campus Times
“Cancellation of Crimonline Sparks Governance Debate”
COMMENTS: A thorough examination of the issue. The story was well-organized and balanced.
SECOND PLACE: Sher Porter and Jonathan Smith, ULV Campus Times
“Live Hip Hop Banned from ULV”
COMMENTS: This story flowed well and was balanced. The story needed to state more clearly why this issue was being written about now.
THIRD PLACE: Timothy Guy, RCC Viewpoints
“Riverside Parade Honors Veterans”
COMMENTS: Good color and lively quotes.
S3 Best Feature Story
FIRST PLACE: Jessica Bell, Campus Times, University of La Verne
“Senior project captures complex ‘Electra’ ”
COMMENTS: Good lede. Writer creates powerful imagery, at times delivers poetic quality and shows a strong use of descriptive words. Story goes beyond simply describing the visuals in each scene but explains their significance. Well-chosen quotations add more depth to the story, not merely reiterating previous paragraphs.
SECOND PLACE (Tie): Michelle Ajemian, Campus Times, University of La Verne
“Put your best foot forward”
COMMENTS: Michelle Ajemian’s story, "Put your best foot forward," has a playfulness and easy flow to it, which fit the topic. It simply could have consisted of the writer’s opinion, but it also used quotations from experts in the field of fashion/shoes. Some lines convey strong imagery, while others reveal a power in their simplicity.
SECOND PLACE (Tie): Daniel Tedford, The Poly Post, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
“Shootings raise awareness over campus security” and sidebar “Thoughts on Virginia Tech Massacre”
COMMENTS: Daniel Tedford’s story, “Shootings raise awareness over campus security,” shows research and serious reporting fitting the topic, and interviews with police officials and others shows the writer didn’t simply go for the easy interviews. The sidebar, “Thoughts on Virginia Tech Massacre,” adds a personal touch with well-written descriptive imagery that is as emotional and heartfelt as the main story is newsy and straightforward.
THIRD PLACE: Katherine Hillier, Campus Times, University of La Verne
“The Path to India” (Parts 1 - 3)
COMMENTS: Part 3 is a strong, very poetic piece of writing. Many lines bring the images readily and powerfully to mind, while also going straight to the point. It proves the old adage, that sometimes less is more. The first two parts are solid, stream-of-consciousness pieces, almost like diary/journal entries, but Part 3 delivers a stronger focus and impact with its more thoughtful, insightful and concise lines that come from both heart and mind, rather than wordy descriptions of primarily what the eyes see.
S4 Best Sports Story
FIRST PLACE: Joseph Muldoon, The Poly Post, Cal Poly Pomona
“Midnight Soccer is Perfect Setting”
COMMENTS: Good lead. Good subject. Well written.
SECOND PLACE: Marilee Lorusso, Campus Times, University of La Verne
“Sagehens get best of Leos, 26-20”
COMMENTS: A well-constructed piece and good use of quotes.
THIRD PLACE: Galo Pesantes, Campus Times, University of La Verne
“Men’s hoops wins over Panthers”
COMMENTS: Good construction. Solid writing.
S5 Best Column
FIRST PLACE (tie): Erin Konrad, Campus Times, University of La Verne
“Sicko Made me Sick”
COMMENTS: One of things that struck me about many if not most of the submissions in this category was how trivial they were: complaining about the walk from parking structures to classrooms, the death of American culture thanks to Starbucks and iPods, and other ‘so what’ topics. I congratulate Ms. Konrad on taking on a national topic, the uninsured/underinsured in America, and tying it skillfully to the campus and its community. Healthy eighteen-year-olds might not see the need for good health insurance, but her example of the child in need of dental work his family cannot afford drives the point home without being Michael-Moore extreme. Well done.
FIRST PLACE (tie): Tom Anderson, Campus Times, University of La Verne
“War on Traffic Needs New Strategy”
COMMENTS: Again, Mr. Anderson’s piece on the pathetic state of public transportation in Southern California takes on a significant regional issue and delivers it in a readable, snappy package. It was well-structured and a pleasure to read.
SECOND PLACE (tie): Galo Pesantes, Campus Times, University of La Verne
“The Game Will Always be a Part of Me”
COMMENTS: Mr. Pesantes skillfully ties a sentimental look at his final football game with the lessons he learned about dedication, the value of teamwork, patience and the power of mental preparedness. He refutes the image of the dumb jock with this thoughtful meditation and offers universal truths we can all learn from.
SECOND PLACE (tie): Madison Steff, Campus Times, University of La Verne
“Start Your Engines - Drag Races Are Here!”
COMMENTS: This personal essay was just plain fun to read. I could feel the rumble of the top fuel dragsters thanks to the physicality of Ms. Steff’s writing, which nicely conveys the excitement of the moment. Thank you, Ms. Steff - you have given me the excuse I need to buy tickets this year.
SECOND PLACE (tie): Erin Konrad. Campus Times, University of La Verne
“Dreidels Under the Christmas Tree”
COMMENTS: Ms. Konrad did a good job of celebrating the blending of family traditions she calls "Chrismukkah", a season she says has left her twice the memories and the richer for them. I especially liked the way she ties her childhood to the optimistic adult she is today. Nicely done.
THIRD PLACE: Desiree Perez, Viewpoints, Riverside City College
“Worst Voter Turnout in 10 Years”
COMMENTS: Ms. Perez is right to castigate her classmates for not showing up at the polls, especially with a contentious national election season shaping up on the horizon (this was published May 2007), and I applaud the newspaper for taking responsibility for producing voter information material and posting it when the apathetic candidates failed to do so. I hope the paper also took student apathy to task when so few people decided to run for office in the first place. It is difficult to get people interested in voting when there are no choices and those who do chose to run don’t bother to campaign. Just ask any lonely poll worker during a parks-district or school board election!
S6 Best Editorial
FIRST PLACE: Staff, ULV Campus Times
“ULV needs new war memorial”
SECOND PLACE: Staff, ULV Campus Times
“Parking: Pay more, get less”
THIRD PLACE: Timothy Guy, Desiree Perez and Daniel Segraves, RCC Viewpoints
“The Rotella Era at RCC comes to an end”
S7 Best Page Layout
FIRST PLACE: Sabrina Jones, RCC Viewpoints
“ ‘Halo 3’ Aims for Gaming Glory”
COMMENTS: Good use of PR art along with a quote from the game.
SECOND PLACE: Staff The Poly Post
“Lifestyles - Oct. 23, 2007”
COMMENTS: Good use of headline hierarchy and consistent spacing.
THIRD PLACE: Galo Pesantes, ULV Campus Times
“Raising the Bar”
COMMENTS: Clean, logical layout with an appropriate headline treatment. Not too kitschy.
S8 Best News/Feature photo
FIRST PLACE: Khai Le, RCC Viewpoints
“Firestorm”
COMMENTS: Strong shot from the front lines of a fire. Could easily have run in a professional daily.
SECOND PLACE: Brandon Tan, The Poly Post
“Grand Piano”
COMMENTS: Could have easily won in a feature photo only category. Very well composed with strong light balance.
THIRD PLACE: Christopher Dietrich, RCC Viewpoints
“Dickens Festival”
S9 Best Sports photo
FIRST PLACE: Allen Chen, The Poly Post
“Basketball Layup”
COMMENTS: Solid, crisp action shot.
S10 Best Editorial Cartoon/Illustration
FIRST PLACE: Matt Hill, ULV Campus Times
“Soldiers’ Blogs”
COMMENTS: Thought-provoking and well spoken. This cartoon did more than enough to convey the story.
SECOND PLACE: Matt Hill, ULV Campus Times
“Join a Sorority”
THIRD PLACE: Lucio Villa, The Poly Post
“Beer Prices”
S11 Best Video News Segment
FIRST PLACE: Angela Gangi, LVTV-3, University of La Verne
“Kevin Normington Death”
COMMENTS: Solid all-around piece. Good reporting and editing.
SECOND PLACE: Yessica Acevedo and Bounroeun Lor, Inland Valley News, RCC
“Dog-toberest”
COMMENTS: A good job of interviewing subjects and telling us the story.
S12 Best Video Feature Segment
FIRST PLACE: Chelsea Sherier, Veronica Andrews, LVTV-3, University of La Verne
“Vertical Minds”
COMMENTS: Just a great job all around. Excellent use of graphics to add structure to the piece. Proof that a good feature doesn’t need an anchor personality.
SECOND PLACE: Angela Gangi, LVTV-3, University of La Verne
“Smile Girl”
THIRD PLACE: Angela Gangi, Megan Montalvo, LVTV-3, University of La Verne
“Deals for your Dollar”
S14 Best Magazine Non-Fiction Story
FIRST PLACE: Tom Anderson, La Verne Magazine, University of La Verne
“Now that’s racin’ ”
COMMENTS: A good use of the first person to show excitement and make the story a personal journey.
SECOND PLACE: Yelena Ovcharenko, La Verne Magazine, University of La Verne
“La Verne’s own renaissance woman”
COMMENTS: Great lead and an interesting woman.

Some info on your banquet

2008-05-09T01:49:00.001-07:00

It's banquet time people. For all you honorees and family and friends of honorees, we just wanted to let you know a little about how things will be set up.

The only assigned tables at this year's event will be for those who purchased tables. If you are not sure if your college or newspaper purchased a table, you might want to check with your editor or adviser.

Reserved will be marked accordingly. Any table that does not have a reserved sign is open to everyone.

If you have not paid or have not had time to send the check, you may pay at the door with cash or check. NO CREDIT OR DEBIT. Sorry folks. We're not that advanced yet. The cost is $40. Parking is $4 with validation. If you do not validate it might get expensive. Remember to bring the parking ticket in with you.

Checks should be made out to Inland Southern California SPJ.

Tea, iced tea, water, and decaf and regular coffee will be served at the tables. There will be a cash bar available at 6:30 p.m. Cash bar means they except cash only. Sodas are available at the bar. We don't have a price for them but the price of alcoholic drinks are as follows:
Cordials @$6.50 Each
Premium Wine @$7 Each
House Wine @$5.50 Each
Call Drinks @$6 Each
Premium Brands @$7 Each
Specialty Drinks @$8 Each
Well Drinks @$4.50 Each
Domestic Beer @$3.75 each
Imported Beer @$4.75 each

If anyone has any other questions, please email us at billnorrisspj@yahoo.com or ginatenoriospj@yahoo.com.

Thanks.

2008-05-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

From the Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Profesional Journalists:

REMINDER -- TOMORROW
JOURNALISTS' MIXER WITH FORMER DAILY NEWS EDITOR
TUESDAY, MAY 6
The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California invite you to a mixer TOMORROW, May 6, in downtown Los Angeles!Our guest will be former Los Angeles Daily News Editor Ron Kaye. He's been described as an "accidental anarchist," "passionate populist" and "the Patrick Henry of the San Fernando Valley."

Kaye recently launched a blog, RonKayeLA.com, and says he's "committed to carrying on his crusade for a greater Los Angeles as an ordinary citizen."Come by after work, have a drink and chat with Ron Kaye at Casey's Bar & Grill! The mixer is free and open to all journalists and FoJs (friends of journalists).

The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation's largest and most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to promoting high standards of ethical behavior and encouraging the free practice of journalism. SPJ works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

For more on SPJ-LA, go to: www.spj.org/losangelesCCNMA's mission is to promote diversity in the media by providing encouragement, scholarships and educational programs for Latinos pursuing careers in the news media.

CCNMA seeks to foster an accurate and fair portrayal of Latinos in the news media, and promote the social, economic and professional advancement of Latino journalists. For more on CCNMA, go to: www.ccnma.org

WHAT: SPJ-CCNMA MIXER
WHO: Our guest is former Daily News Editor Ron Kaye
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 6
WHERE: Casey's Bar & Grill at 613 S. Grand Ave. in downtown LA (between 6th and Wilshire); 213-629-2353. Parking is available across the street for $6. There's cheaper parking in the area. The bar is near the 7th St/Metro Center stop on the Red Line.INFO: We'll be meeting in the bar annex. Happy hour is from 4 to 7 p.m.
RSVP: Let us know your coming by sending an e-mail to: spj_la@hotmail.com# # #

Important banquet news

2008-05-05T08:18:00.002-07:00

The time is fast approaching for the SPJ banquet. The honorees have been posted on this blog. Hopefully some of you also remember that the Inland SPJ chapter also has a MySpace page. It has been updated.

One of the updates is a list of people and their meal choices for this Saturday's event. If you have RSVP'd, we ask that you give a quick glance at the list, find your name and the names of your guests and make sure that the proper meal choices are listed for all of you.

If not, we need to know immediately. The club and the hotel does its best to have the proper number of meals. But when people get the wrong meal or change at the last minute, it could mean someone else will not be getting what they ordered.

In an effort to avoid that, we created the list. REMEMBER that the event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 10 at the Riverside Marriott, 3400 Market Street, Riverside, Calif. 92501. Hotel phone: 951-784-8000.

If you have any questions or need to RSVP right away, email Bill Norris at billnorrisspj@yahoo.com.

Banquet Reminder

2008-05-02T22:41:00.000-07:00

Many of you already have, but if you have not: Please RSVP for the SPJ Excellence in Journalism awards banquet. We need to know by Monday if you are attending, who your guest are and what you're meal choice is. The event is Saturday May 10 at the Riverside Marriott.

That way we avoid confusion and everyone gets what they want. Remember the meal choices this year are prime rib, salmon and vegetable napoleon (our vegetarian dish.)

If you do not have a chance to send the RSVP card by mail for any reason, email us at billnorrisspj@yahoo.com.

Thanks.

Excellence in Journalism Banquet

2008-04-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

This year's banquet will begin with check-in and cocktails at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 10 at the Riverside Marriott. We are starting a little later than usual, because the Marriott has another event ending at 5 p.m. in the same room as ours.

Tickets are $40 per person or $350 for a table of 10.

Meal choices this year are Prime Rib, Salmon and Vegetable Napoleon.

If you plan to attend, please e-mail an RSVP to billnorrisspj@yahoo.com. We need to know the names of the attendees and their meal preference. We are going to do our best to keep all the meals straight this year, so it is very important that we have meal choices in advance. (If you want to trade meals once you're at the table, that's up to you.)

Any other information, contact Bill Norris at the e-mail above.

Evening with the Editor

2008-04-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Press Club Presents: Transforming the Los Angeles Times: An Evening With Editor Russ Stanton

7 p.m. this Thursday, April 24, at the club

The Times recently tapped its innovations expert as its new editor. Russ Stanton, in one of his first appearances, will offer some early glimpses of how he plans to turn around slipping circulation and deal with slashed budgets that are affecting the entire news business.How will The Times continue its Pulitzer-winning tradition? Come here Stanton on the future of newspapers, the new business and hear answers to your questions about the West's largest daily.

COST: Bring your friends. The event is free to Press Club and SPJ members, $10 for non-members and $15 at the door. Refreshments included.
WHERE: The L.A. Press Club at the Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Boulevard, two blocks west of Vermont Ave. (Metro: Sunset/Vermont station)
RSVP: rsvp@lapressclub.org or 323-669-8081

Ethnic Media Workshop in LA

2008-04-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

SPJ/LA to Host Panel on Hyper-Localism in Los Angeles' Ethnic Communities on May 15

Save the Date: Thursday, May 15
The Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists invites you to join us on Thursday, May 15 for a discussion with journalists from the Latino, African American, Asian and Arab-American media on covering the city's diverse ethnic communities. Since LA has become an ethnic majority city, producing and investigating local stories can be challenging, especially when it means crossing over ethnic language and cultural barriers. These veteran journalists will share tips and insights on how mainstream journalists can effectively pursue, and even partner with, ethnic media journalists for stories that involve ethnic communities.

WHAT: Hyper-Localism in Los Angeles' Ethnic Communities
WHEN: 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15
WHERE: Cal Plaza, Suite 3950, 300 S. Grand Ave.
RSVP: SPJ/LA's Julian Do at jdo@newamericamedia.org

Professional Category Winners (Take 2)

2008-04-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

Here's THE COMPLETE list of names (UPDATED 4-21) who will be getting invites for the Excellence in Journalism banquet. The event will begin at 7 p.m. May 10 at the Riverside Marriott (we're starting a little later this year, there's an event in the same room that will keep us from starting at our usual time).
As always, if you see a name misspelled on this list, let us know. You can either post a comment on this board, or you can e-mail billnorrisspj@yahoo.com.
College results are on a separate posting.

THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Jim Alexander
Paige Austin
Leslie Berkman
Sonja Bjelland
Jennifer Bowles
Sarah Burge
Claudia Bustamante
Michelle DeArmond
Maggie Delbon
Duane Gang
Jeff Girod
Julia Glick
Ben Goad
Lora Hines
Paul LaRocco
Tammy McCoy
Cassie McDuff
Gregor McGavin
Sean Nealon
David Olson
Patrick O'Neil
Shirin Parsavand
Rodrigo Pena
Kimberly Pierceall
Douglas Quan
Chris Ramos
Sandra Stokley
Leezel Tanglao
Janet Zimmerman

THE SUN
Stacia Glenn
John Murphy
Jason Pesick

INLAND VALLEY DAILY BULLETIN
Will Bigham
Mediha DiMartino
Leo Greene
Wendy Leung
Jeff Malet
Therese Tran

THE CALIFORNIAN
Chris Bagley
Brian Eckhouse
Landon Negri

DAILY PRESS
Hillary Borrud
Ryan Orr
Katherine Rosenberg
Sheila Rowland
Michael Stenerson
Gerald Tang

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY NEWSPAPERS (WHITTIER/PASADENA/SGVN)
Evelyn Barge
Pia Abelgas Orense
Audrey Reed

DESERT DISPATCH
Aaron Aupperlee
Matthew Peters
Scott Shackford
Jason Smith

HESPERIA STAR
Peter Day
Beau Yarbrough

VALLEY NEWS
Paul Gallaher
Tim O’Leary
Julie Reeder
David Reynolds
Shannon Starr

HIGHLANDER
Evelyn Barge
Richard Irwin
MaritzaVelazquez

REDLANDS DAILY FACTS
C.L. Lopez

IDYLLWILD TOWN CRIER
Betty Bailey
Becky Clark
J.P. Crumrine
Marcia Gawecki
Jenny Kirchner

THE BUSINESS PRESS
Joseph Ascenzi
Darla Martin Tucker
Carol Park
Jahmal Peters

CHAMPION NEWSPAPERS
Marianne Napoles

OC WEEKLY
Daffodil J. Altan
John Gilhooley
Janine Kahn
Nick Schou

IE WEEKLY
Stacy Davies
David Silva

BLACK VOICE NEWS
Taylor Jordan

INLAND EMPIRE NEWS RADIO
Julie Estrada
Jim Ness

DAILY JOURNAL
Jason W. Armstrong

Fourstory.org
Barbara E. Hernandez

SMART BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Ray Marano

College Contest Winners**

2008-04-17T17:26:00.000-07:00

With all but a couple of categories finished, here's a list of winners for the college entries. Again, if you find a spelling error, please let billnorrisspj@yahoo.com know. UPDATED 4-28

UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE
Michelle Ajemian
Tom Anderson
Veronica Andrews
Jessica Bell
Angela Gangi
Matt Hill
Katherine Hillier
Erin Konrad
Marilee Lorusso
Yelena Ovcharenko
Galo Pesantes
Sher Porter
Chelsea Sherier
Jonathan Smith
Madison Steff

CAL POLY POMONA
Allen Chen
Joseph Muldoon
Brandon Tan
Daniel Tedford
Lucio Villa

RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Yessica Acevedo
Christopher Dietrich
Timothy Guy
Khai Le
Bouroeun Lor
Sabrina Jones
Desiree Perez

A slip that will live in infamy?

2008-04-15T18:58:00.000-07:00

It was just a slip of the tongue.

During the annual Associated Press luncheon in Washington, D.C., William Dean Singleton, MediaNews chairman, was in a high pressure situation and slipped up while asking a question of Presidential candidate Barack Obama and called Osama bin Laden as "Obama" bin Laden.

We all had a good laugh and moved on ... unless you read the Huffington Post I guess. The Website has posted a video from an Arab language television newscast which delivers the news of the gaffe to a whole new audience.

Presidential candidates support a shield law

2008-04-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

SPJ leaders pleased with Democratic hopefuls’ support of a federal shield law

INDIANAPOLIS – Leaders of the Society of Professional Journalists today welcomed additional support of S. 2035, the Free Flow of Information Act, from Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Advice on how to get started on multi-media reporting

2008-04-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

From the Society of Professional Journalists.

Solo journalism advice
By Debora Wenger
Bob Cronkleton is a reporter for the Kansas City Star. He recently answered a question about multimedia reporting which was posted on the Criminal Justice Journalists listserv. It offers some valuable advice, right from the front lines.

Industry news

2008-04-15T18:03:00.000-07:00

The mighty New York Times is now talking about layoffs.

The New York Observer writes the story.

The times are a changing for AP

2008-04-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

The Associated Press will cut its service fees next year due to the severe financial turmoil most of the papers in the country are struggling with. The story below is through Yahoo Finance:

State Of AP: Singleton: Less Than 25 Percent Of 2009 Revs From Member Newspapers; No New Century Net
For a sense of the dramatic shift at the Associated Press in the digital age, consider this: by 2009, less than 25 percent of Associated Press revenues will come from member newspapers. That was just one of the stats tossed out by William Dean Singleton during his chairman's report at the AP annual meeting in Washington D.C. Monday. (Unfortunately, I couldn't make it this year so working off his published remarks.) This year, only 28 percent will come from member newspapers, he said: "Broadcasters, internet companies and international subscribers now provide the lion's share of AP revenue."

Old news about Belo

2008-04-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

Sorry for posting such old news folks. But the blog is pretty young and was not really up and running at full speed when this news came out. But it won't happen until April 28 anyway...

A.H. Belo Corporation , owners of the Riverside Press Enterprise, will announce its' first quarter financial results on April 28. Following the announcement, there will be a conference call that will be simulcast on the corporation's Web site. This will be a first for A.H. Belo, a new corporation formed when Belo Corp. split its television and newspaper operations.

Read the Yahoo Finance story on it.

A longer story on the funny gaffe

2008-04-14T22:15:00.000-07:00

From Editor and Publisher:

AP Chairman Refers to "Obama bin Laden" -- In Posing Question to Barack Obama
By Joe Strupp
Published: April 14, 2008
WASHINGTON After addressing the journalists gathered at the annual Associated Press luncheon in Washington, D.C., today, Sen. Barack Obama, standing at the podium, took a few questions. The last one from the audience, delivered via AP chairman W. Dean Singleton, was related to Afghanistan, our troops in Iraq and the threat posed by, as Singleton put it, "Obama bin Laden."

Sam Zell Named to AP Board

2008-04-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

Murdoch, Zell Named to AP board
April 14, 2008
WASHINGTON Rupert Murdoch and Sam Zell, two media figures who led major newspaper acquisitions in recent months, are among four new members joining the board of directors of The Associated Press, it was announced Monday at the news cooperative's annual meeting

Et Tu Mr. Singleton?

2008-04-14T17:32:00.000-07:00

It's been documented (even by Jon Stewart) how many people have mangled presidential candidate Barack Obama's name. MediaNews chairman Dean Singleton mistakenly added to the list of mispronunciations, according to a short article by the Associated Press and published by the Lexington Herald Leader.

**************************************
Make that Obama, not Osama, please

The Associated Press
WASHINGTON --Sen. Barack Obama's name has been mangled plenty of times, though not always in the presence of 1,200 news executives and TV cameras.

LA Times still deciding what to do with reporter

2008-04-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

Editor and Publisher's Website have posted a story in which Los Angeles Times editor Russ Stanton updates the situation with Pulitzer prize winning reporter Chuck Philips. He has not been let go from the paper but his fate is still undecided, according to the story. Philips became embroiled in controversy after it was discovered that his March 17 article linking Sean "P. Diddy" Combs to the shooting death of Tupac Shakur was based on fabricated information.

Sigma Delta Chi award winners

2008-04-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

The Society of Professional Journalists national today (April 14) released the list of recipients 2007 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in journalism. The list includes Michael Ramirez, of the Investor’s Business Daily, for editorial cartooning. Ramirez also won that other prize, The Pulitzer.

KABC-TV Anchor Jovana Lara to MC SPJ/LA event

2008-04-14T12:30:00.000-07:00

A news release from the Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists:

SPJ/LA ANNOUNCES KABC-TV ANCHOR JOVANA LARA WILL SERVE AS MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES FOR THE 32ND ANNUAL DISTINGUISHED JOURNALISTS AWARDS BANQUET

LOS ANGELES – KABC-TV anchor Jovana Lara will serve as the mistress of ceremonies for the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists' 32nd annual awards banquet later this month.

The Distinguished Journalists Awards banquet will be held on Wednesday, April 30 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The event helps SPJ/LA raise money for local programs, including scholarships and professional development.

Journalist and author Cokie Roberts will be the speaker at this year's event, which honors six local journalists.

This year's award recipients are Bob Banfield of KABC-TV, Beth Barrett of the Los Angeles Daily News, John Rabe of KPCC-FM and Tom Tugend of the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Los Angeles Times reporters Scott Glover and Matt Lait will be honored with the Freedom of Information Award.

Lara joined ABC7 Eyewitness News since December 2000 as a reporter and was promoted less than two years later to her current position as a co-anchor for the station's 11 a.m. newscast.
Tickets to the banquet are $80 per person for SPJ members, and $90 for non-SPJ members. Tables of 10 are available for $800.

More information on the banquet is available at www.spj.org/losangeles
The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation's largest and most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to promoting high standards of ethical behavior and encouraging the free practice of journalism. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

Media News to stop publicly filing financial news

2008-04-11T22:08:00.000-07:00

As reported by Reporter-G and Gary Scott who has learned it from the Rocky Mountain News, MediaNews has agreed to provide its financial information directly to its bondholders. Bondholders have agreed to let MediaNews stop making filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ... effective immediately.

Dean Singleton in the news

2008-04-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

From "Scoop World" Independent News:

Newspapers in the USA The Next Five Years

Paris, 10 April 2008 - Dean Singleton, the Vice Chairman and CEO of the MediaNews Group in the United States, has joined the programme of the World Newspaper Congress, where he will present his group's strategy plans for the next five years, while addressing the current difficulties of the most challenging market in the world.

Industry news

2008-04-11T02:14:00.000-07:00

Gary Scott reports on more moves, literally, at LANG East.

Rally the troups!?

2008-04-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

As some of you have already seen on Laobserved.com, Meg Worley takes the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin to task for a goof found in a headline posted their Website.

Of course there's always two sides to every story, or in this case mistake. Read all the way to the bottom and check out Daily Bulletin columnist David Allen's funny response to the blog item.

Catching Online Plagiarists

2008-04-10T16:59:00.000-07:00

Here’s an interesting item posted on Craig Silverman’s blog Regret the Error about a suspected Online plagiarist.

Buyouts good for the papers?

2008-04-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

You be the judge.

Via Romenesko.

He was responding to Jack Shafer's column.

If Katie can't save network news, who can?

2008-04-10T14:10:00.000-07:00

Time Magazine writer James Poniewozik shines a light on yet another example of the problems facing the press in a story about Ms. Couric's possible early departure from CBS. The article also asks that all important question, in this day and age, what journalist is worth $15 million.

Journalism Watches as Yahoo! Battles

2008-04-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

AOL and Yahoo are looking to merge. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that "Yahoo Inc. and Time Warner Inc.'s AOL are closing in on a deal to combine their Internet operations. Here's the full story.

How does that affect journalism?

Well In almost every newsroom (if not in every newsroom) in this country, one thing has been made clear: The survival of Journalism depends on the industry's ability to make money off of the Internet.

We're collectively still struggle to solve that problem. But many including Media News and the Belo (owners of the Riverside Press Enterprise) had pinned at least some of their hopes on Yahoo! who has next-generation Online ad tools for some 600 newspapers which have joined in a newspaper consortium.

But with Microsoft making a bid to take over Yahoo! and now with AOL now attempting to merge with Web company, we can only speculate how this will impact the implementation of the Online ad tools.

Online Ad Revenue actually coming?

2008-04-09T18:20:00.001-07:00

An April 7 article from Biz Report provides a glimmer of hope and briefly quotes Mr. Dean Singleton.

From the article:

According to the New York Times, marketers will be able to target online audiences based on online behavior, demographic profile or geographic location. The first to use AMP will be the hundreds of newspapers in Yahoo’s consortium.

More industry news

2008-04-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

Our favorite watchdog Web blog LA Observed is reporting that "Los Angeles Daily Journal newsroom ... lopped off its copy desk last night." The layoffs reportedly took place April 8 as this item was posted Wednesday. The item is titled Expect More Tpyos at Daily Journal.

Professional Category Winners*

2008-04-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a nearly complete list of names (UPDATED 4-16) who will be getting invites for the Excellence in Journalism banquet. The event will be May 10 at the Riverside Marriott (we may be starting a little later this year, there's an event in the same room that will keep us from starting on time).

As always, if you see a name misspelled on this list, let us know. You can either post a comment on this board, or you can e-mail billnorrisspj@yahoo.com.

College results will come in a later posting.

THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Jim Alexander
Paige Austin
Leslie Berkman
Sonja Bjelland
Jennifer Bowles
Sarah Burge
Claudia Bustamante
Michelle DeArmond
Maggie Delbon
Duane Gang
Jeff Girod
Julia Glick
Ben Goad
Paul LaRocco
Tammy McCoy
Cassie McDuff
Sean Nealon
David Olson
Patrick O'Neil
Shirin Parsavand
Rodrigo Pena
Kimberly Pierceall
Douglas Quan
Chris Ramos
Sandra Stokley
Leezel Tanglao

THE SUN
Stacia Glenn
John Murphy
Jason Pesick

INLAND VALLEY DAILY BULLETIN
Leo Greene
Therese Tran

THE CALIFORNIAN
Chris Bagley
Brian Eckhouse
Landon Negri

DAILY PRESS
Hillary Borrud
Ryan Orr
Katherine Rosenberg
Sheila Rowland
Michael Stenerson
Gerald Tang

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY NEWSPAPERS (WHITTIER/PASADENA/SGVN)
Evelyn Barge
Pia Abelgas Orense
Audrey Reed

DESERT DISPATCH
Aaron Aupperlee
Matthew Peters
Scott Shackford
Jason Smith

HESPERIA STAR
Peter Day
Beau Yarbrough

VALLEY NEWS
Paul Gallaher
Tim O’Leary
Julie Reeder
David Reynolds
Shannon Starr

HIGHLANDER
Evelyn Barge
Richard Irwin
Maritza Velazquez

REDLANDS DAILY FACTS
C.L. Lopez

IDYLLWILD TOWN CRIER
Betty Bailey
Becky Clark
J.P. Crumrine
Marcia Gawecki
Jenny Kirchner

THE BUSINESS PRESS
Joseph Ascenzi
Darla Martin Tucker
Carol Park
Jahmal Peters

CHAMPION NEWSPAPERS
Marianne Napoles

OC WEEKLY
Daffodil J. Altan
John Gilhooley
Janine Kahn
Nick Schou

IE WEEKLY
Stacy Davies
David Silva

BLACK VOICE NEWS
Taylor Jordan

INLAND EMPIRE NEWS RADIO
Julie Estrada
Jim Ness

DAILY JOURNAL
Jason W. Armstrong

Fourstory.org
Barbara E. Hernandez

SMART BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Ray Marano

A program for copy editors

2008-03-27T23:59:00.000-07:00

This one comes from the SPJ Leads weekly e-mail:

COPY EDITORS: COPY THIS!
The Robert C. Maynard Institute is offering eight $6,000 fellowships to attend the Institute's program for copy editors, June 1-12 at the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada Reno. Fellowships cover tuition, room and group meals during the six-week program and include a travel stipend. The fellowships are underwritten by a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. Print and online journalists from small- and medium-size newspapers with circulations of 50,000 and below are encouraged to apply. The program immerses participants in the basics of headline writing, design, line and content editing, story organization and news judgment, interpersonal skills and online editing. The curriculum includes classroom work, daily skills-building drills, evening seminars and practical experience at the local newspaper. Deadline: April 21. More information and an application: Visit The Institute's Web site.

SPJ/LA takes on ethics

2008-03-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

SPJ/LA Presents Ethics in the Digital Age
Save the Date: Wednesday, April 23

The Greater L.A. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists invites you to join us on Wednesday, April 23, for an in-depth panel discussion on how reporters can ethically make use of the Internet in their research and reporting – How can reporters authenticate Internet sources? When is it appropriate to interview subjects via e-mail? When is it ethical for broadcast outlets to use material from YouTube, Facebook and MySpace?Attorney Terry Francke of Californians Aware will be among the featured panelists.

WHAT: Ethics in the Digital Age
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23
WHERE: Location to be determined
COST: Free for SPJ members and students; $5 for non-members.

More details will soon be posted on our Web site, http://spj.org/losangeles.

Welcome

2008-03-25T01:41:00.000-07:00

Well, after our other Web site went away (and hey, who needed all those spammers who tried to sign on to the message boards), we needed someplace to keep people up to date on what's happening for journalists in Southern California.

So, here we are.

At this least, I'll be posting names of finalists for the Southern California Excellence in Journalism Awards here. And whenever an event comes across my vast array of e-mails, I'll post it here.

Thanks for your interest.