Contact:
Heather Porter, Assistant Director of Programs, The Society of Professional Journalists 317-927-8000 ext. 204

Indianapolis — The Society of Professional Journalists announced today the finalists for the 2004 Green Eyeshade Awards.

This year’s finalists were chosen from more than 440 entries in 29 categories including print, radio, television and online. The Green Eyeshade Awards have honored the best in professional journalism in 11 southeastern states for 55 years. The states included in the contest are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

The finalists will be honored May 14 at a banquet in Atlanta, Ga. During the banquet, first, second and third place winners will be announced along with the winner of the Overall Best of Show, The Green Eyeshade Award. The Green Eyeshade winner receives a $1,000 cash reward.

For more information about the banquet or the awards program, contact Heather Porter at hporter@spj.org or 317/927-8000 ext. 204.

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulation high standards of ethical behavior.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

2004 Green Eyeshade Award Finalists
Alphabetical order by media outlet)

Print (Daily) Finalists

Deadline Reporting
“Firefighter Killed,” Staff, The Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington, Ky.
“Hurricane Jeanne: Storm Torn Florida,” Staff, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
“Hurricane Charley,” Neil Brown, St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Non-Deadline Reporting
“Lost days in the classroom,” Mary Shanklin and Denise-Marie Balona, Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Fla.
“Seven crosses in Statesville,” Elizabeth Leland, Eric Frazier and Kathryn Wellin, The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC.
“Crisis in Haiti,” Joe Mozingo, The Miami Herald, Miami, Fla.

Feature Writing
“A husband for Vibha,” Babita Persaud, St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Fla.
“Chess king,” Zack McMillin, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.
“The missing past,” Leonard Pitts, Jr., The Miami Herald, Miami, Fla.

Sports Reporting“Mobile: Baseball City,” Tommy Hicks, Mobile Register, Mobile, Ala.
“Horse racing’s dirty little secret,” Rick Maese, Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Fla.
“Ricky Williams retiring,” Dan LeBatard and Jason Cole, The Miami Herald, Miami, Fla.

Sports Commentary“Mike Bianchi’s Columns,” Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Fla.
“Linda Robinson’s Columns,” Linda Robinson, The Miami Herald, Miami, Fla.
“Martin Fennelly’s Columns,” Martin Fennelly, The Tampa Tribune, Tampa, Fla.

Business Reporting
“The condo game,” Ryan Dezember, Mobile Register, Mobile, Ala.
“Disney/Comcast: Battle of the media giants,” Staff, Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Fla.
“J.D. Byrider,” Andrew Wolfson, The Courier Journal, Louisville, Ky.

Investigative Reporting
“Cashing in on disaster,” Sally Kestin, Megan O’Matz and John Maines, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
“Wired for waste, Atlanta schools spending scandal,” Paul Donsky and Ken Foskett, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, Ga.
“DWI-Sobering Acquittals,” Staff, The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, N.C.

Criticism
“Words on music,” Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Ark.
“John Kessler’s Work in 2004,” John Kessler, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, Ga.
“Film Criticism,” Rene Rodriquez, The Miami Herald, Miami, Fla.

Editorial
“Collection of Editorials,” Paul Greenberg, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Ark.
“Global Georgia Editorial Series,” Jay Bookman, That Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, Ga.
“Collections of Editorials,” Mac Thrower, The Paducah Sun, Paducah, Ky.

Humorous Commentary
“Commentary Collection,” Brian Gleason, Charlotte Sun, Charlotte, N.C.
“Collection of Columns,” Tommy Tomlinson, The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, N.C.
“Commentary Collection,” Wendi C. Thomas, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.

Serious Commentary
“Collection of Columns,” Paul Greenberg, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Ark.
“Kathleen Parker’s Columns,” Kathleen Parker, Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Fla.
“Collection of Columns,” Carl Hiaasen, The Miami Herald, Miami, Fla.

Photography
“50 Years of Rock,” Alan Spearman, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.
“Prisoners of the Mind,” Nuri Vallbona, the Miami Herald, Miami, Fla.
“Mean Season,” Greg Lovett, The Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Editorial Cartoon
“2004 Editorial Cartoons,” Jeff Parker, Florida Today, Melbourne, Fla.
“Editorial Cartoons,” Jake Fuller, Gainsville Sun, Gainesville, Fla.
“2004 Editorial Cartoons,” Robert L. Ariail, The State, Columbia, S.C.

Print (Weekly/Monthly) Finalists

Deadline Reporting
No Finalists Named

Non-Deadline Reporting
“Trapped,” Alyssa Abkowitz, Creative Loafing, Atlanta, Ga.
“The deadliest day,” Eric Alan Barton, New Times Broward/Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Feature
“Hardcore and bleeding: Virtual love and actual loss in Miami,” Bill Jensen, Miami New Times, Miami, Fla.
“Crashing glass,” Jeff Stratton, New Times Broward/Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
“D.O.A. Delivery,” Jeff Stratton, New Times Broward/Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Sports Reporting
“The comeback kid,” Eric Alan Barton, New Times Broward/Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
“Shadow box,” Sam Eifling, New Times Broward/Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
“King’s tarnished crown,” Trevor Aaronson, New Times Broward/Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Sports Commentary
“Big name boxers may be jinxed fighting in Memphis,” Michael Sheffield, Memphis Business Journals, Memphis, Tenn.
“Double Header: Disney plays ball with ESPN,” Christine Selvaggi Baumann, Orlando Business Journal, Orlando, Fla.

Business Reporting
“Investment Conflict on Wall Street,” Adam Levy, Bloomberg News, Atlanta, Ga.
“The real problem,” Dean Foust, BusinessWeek Magazine, Atlanta, Ga.
“Cows to Cuba,” Kirk Nielsen, Miami New Times, Miami, Fla.

Investigative Reporting
“Devil or Angel,” Tristran Korten, Miami New Times, Miami, Fla.
“A disaster waiting to happen,” Jon Elliston and Barbara Solow, The Independent Weekly, Durham, N.C.
“Communing with the council,” Heidi Beirich & Bob Moser, The Intelligence Report, Montgomery, Ala.

Criticism
“Various Columns,” Brett Sokol, Miami New Times, Miami, Fla.
“Various Columns,” Michael Mills, New Times Broward/Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Editorial
“Collection of Editorials,” Tara Servatius, Creative Loafing, Charlotte, N.C.
“Editorial Collection,” Terry Hollahan and Scott Shepard, Memphis Business Journal, Memphis, Tenn.
“Collection of Editorials,” Ken Cogburn, Orlando Business Journal, Orlando, Fla.

Humorous Commentary
“Room for Improvement,” Tim Nicholas, the Clinton News, Clinton, Miss.
"Collection of Columns," Susan Lundine, Orlando Business Journal, Orlando, Fla.
“Attention Derelicts: Ginger wants her books back,” Scott Wright, The Post, Centre, Ala.

Serious Commentary
“Fish wrapper,” John F. Sugg, Creative Loafing, Atlanta, Ga.
“Collection of Columns,” Brett Sokol, Miami New Times, Miami, Fla.
“Half Baked,” Chuck Strouse, New Times Browed/Palm Beach, Miami, Fla.

Photography
No finalists named

Editorial Cartoon
No finalists named

Television

General News Reporting
“Storm Chasers 2004,” Action News Team, WFTS-TV, Tampa, Fla.
“The Heritage,” News team, WLTX-TV, Columbia, S.C

Feature Reporting
“Remembering Jack Leigh,” Hamilton Northcutt, Mitchell Zastrow, Charlene Fisk and Jennifer Houston, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Atlanta, Ga.
“Tommy’s Story,” Stacie Scheible and Jim Webb, WFLA-TV/News Channel 8, Tampa, Fla.
“Living Beyond Breast Cancer,” Laurie Stein, Shannon High-Bassalik and Jeremy Fisher, WFOR-TV, Miami, Fla.

Sports Reporting
“Miracle Baseball,” Ben Roberts and Robert Bramblett, WALB-TV, Albany, Ga.

Sports Commentary
No finalists named

Business Reporting
“Secrets Under the Hood,” Todd Ulrich and Gerry Mendiburt, WFTV, Orlando, Fla.

Investigative Reporting
“Alarming Failure,” Mike Mason, Matt McGlashen and Aaron Wische, WFTS-TV/ABC Action News, Tampa, Fla.
“The Heritage,” Staff, WLTX-TV, Columbia, S.C.
“911 Disconnect,” Patricia Andreu, Scott Zamost, Pedro Cancio and Ed Garcia, WTVJ-TV/NBC 6, Miramar, Fla.

Documentary
“Flight of Glacier Girl,” Larry Foley, Arkansas Educational Television Network, Conway, Ark.
“This Old Movie Palace: Fixing the Fox,” Staff, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Atlanta, Ga.
“Living Beyond Breast Cancer,” Laurie Stein, Shannon High-Bassalik and Jeremy Fisher, WFOR-TV, Miami, Fla.

Photography
“Steve Daniels Composite,” Steve Daniels, WLTX-TV Columbia, S.C.

Radio

General News Reporting
“Greensboro Murders,” Jessica Jones, WUNC-FM, Chapel Hill, N.C.
“Haywood Floods,” Laura Leslie, WUNC-FM, Chapel Hill, N.C.
“Hurricane Charley Hits Punta Gorda,” Bobbie O’Brien, WUSF 89.7, Tampa, Fla.

Feature
“Pillowtex Workers: One Year Later,” Jaime Bedrin and Scott Jagow, WFAE 90.7 FM, Charlotte, N.C.
“Answering the Call: Diary of a National Guardsman,” Stephanie Martin, WFDD 88.5 FM, Winston-Salem, N.C.
“Singing Fish,” Bobbie O’Brien, WUSF 89.7, Tampa, Fla.

Sports Reporting
“Panthers Head to Houston,” Jaime Bedrin, Scott Jagow, Amy Quinton and Mark Rumsey, WFAE 90.7 FM, Charlotte, N.C.
“Quail Hunting,” James Todd, WUNC-FM, Chapel Hill, N.C.
“Hockey Culture,” Bobbie O’Brien, WUSF 89.7, Tampa, Fla.

Sports Commentary
No finalists named

Business Reporting
“Business Incentives,” Scott Jagow, WFAE 90.7 FM, Charlotte, N.C.
“Kingsdown,” Leoneda Inge, WUNC-FM, Chapel Hill, N.C.
“Middle Eastern Business Women,” Leoneda Inge, WUNC-FM, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Investigative
“Juveniles at Lee Arrendale Prison,” Susanna Capelouto, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Atlanta, Ga.
“Touched by War,” Staff, WUNC-FM, Chapel Hill, N.C.
“No 12th Grade,” Bobbie O’Brien, WUSF 89.7, Charlotte, N.C.

Documentary
“Trust Matters,” News Team, WFAE 90.7 FM, Charlotte, N.C.
“Columbia Remembered…Atlantis, Go for Launch,” Pat Duggins, Scott Kim and Bud Lowell, WMFE-FM, Orlando, Fla.

Online

General News Reporting
“Baghdad Blog,” Amy Schlesing, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Ark.
“Hurricane 2004,” TBO.com Staff, Tampa Bay Online, Tampa, Fla.
“50 Years of Rock,” Staff, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.

For more information
Contact the Society of Professional Journalists at: 317-927-8000 or awards@spj.org