Contact:
Heather Porter, Programs Coordinator, 317/927-8000 ext. 204 or hporter@spj.org

Beth King, Communications Manager, 317/927-8000 ext. 211 or bking@spj.org

Indianapolis—The Society of Professional Journalists announced today the recipients of the 2005 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in journalism.

This year’s winners were chosen from more than 1,200 entries in 49 categories including print, radio, television and online.

The Sigma Delta Chi Awards date back to 1932, when the Society first honored six individuals for contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939, when the organization awarded the first Distinguished Service Awards. These awards later became the Sigma Delta Chi Awards.

The awards, which recognize work published in 2005, will be presented July 14 during the annual Sigma Delta Chi banquet at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

"The kind of quality journalism that this year's Sigma Delta Chi Award winners have done makes me proud to be a journalist," said David Carlson, the president of the Society. "It shows how hard the news media work to inform their communities and ensure the public has a greater understanding of the world around them. It will be a pleasure to present the awards this summer in Washington."

For more information about the awards presentation or this year’s recipients, contact Heather Porter at 317/927-8000 ext. 204 or hporter@spj.org.

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 stimulating 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.

2005 Sigma Delta Chi Winners:

Newspaper/Wire Services

Deadline Reporting (circulation of 100,000 or greater)
“The Lefkow Killings,” Staff of the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, Ill.

Deadline Reporting (circulation of less than 100,000)
No award presented

Non-Deadline Reporting (circulation of 100,000 or greater)
“On Their Own,” Liz Bowie and Andre Chung of The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore, Md.

Non-Deadline Reporting (circulation of less than 100,000)
“The Speculators,” Mark Flatten, Emily Gersema and Craig Anderson of the East Valley Tribune, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Investigative Reporting (circulation of 100,000 or greater)
“Toxic Legacy,” Staff of The Record, Hackensack, N.J.

Investigative Reporting (circulation of less than 100,000)
“Crime and Science: The Weight of Evidence,” Phoebe Zerwick of the Winston-Salem Journal, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Feature Writing (circulation of 100,000 or greater)
“Anatomy of an Accident,” Jeff Kunerth of the Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Fla.

Feature Writing (circulation of less than 100,000)
“Inner Woman Emerges,” Danielle Deaver of the Winston-Salem Journal, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Editorial Writing
“Oregon’s Forgotten Hospital,” Rick Attig and Doug Bates of The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.

Washington Correspondence
“Discharged and Dishonored,” Chris Adams and Alison Young of Knight Ridder, Washington, D.C.

Foreign Correspondence
“Rule by Law,” Joseph Kahn and Jim Yardley of The New York Times, New York, N.Y.

General Column Writing
“Portfolio,” Steve Duin of The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.

Sports Column Writing
“Sports Columns,” Tim Dahlberg of The Associated Press, New York, N.Y.

Public Service Circulation (circulation of 100,000 or greater)
“Guardians for Profit,” Staff of the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.

Public Service Circulation (circulation of less than 100,000)
“Brothers Keeper: West Virginia’s Mental Health Crisis,” Staff of The Charleston Gazette, Charleston, W. Va.

Magazines

Magazine Writing
"Family Vacation,” Michael Leahy of The Washington Post Magazine, Washington, D.C.

Public Service in Magazine Journalism
“Poverty, Race and Katrina,” Staff of Newsweek, New York, N.Y.

Magazine Investigative Reporting
“America’s Interrogation of Terrorists,” Staff of TIME Magazine, New York, N.Y.

Arts/Graphics

Photography Spot News
"Katrina,” Staff of The Associated Press, New York, N.Y.

Photography Features
"Born to Die,” Karen Pulfer Focht of The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.

Photography Sports
"Dumped,” Dan Hubbell of Sports Illustrated, New York, N.Y.

Photo Illustration
"The Omnipresent Damon,” Bruce Ely of The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.

Editorial Cartooning
"2005 Cartoons,” Mike Luckovich of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, Ga.

Informational Graphics
"Change at the Vatican,” Staff of the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.

Radio

Breaking News Reporting
“Hurricane Katrina,” Staff of CBS Radio News, New York, N.Y.

Investigative Reporting
“Juvenile Detention Center Conditions Through the Eyes of Youth,” Linda Paul, Cate Cahan and Sonari Glinton of Chicago Public Radio/WBEZ-FM, Chicago, Ill.

Feature Reporting
“The Lord God Bird,” Dan Collison, Elizabeth Meister and Sufjan Stevens of Long Haul Productions/National Public Radio, Three Oaks, Mich.

Documentaries
"Countdown Discovery,” Pat Duggins, Judith Smelser and Richard Paul of WMFE-FM, Orlando, Fla.

Public Service in Radio Journalism
"Feet in Two Worlds: Immigrants in a Global City,” WNYC, New York Public Radio; Minnesota Public Radio, The Center for New York City Affairs at Milano, The New School for Management and Urban Policy; John Rudolph, New York, N.Y.

Television

Breaking News Coverage (Network/Top 25 Markets)
“After Katrina: A Disaster Unfolds,” Staff of NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, New York, N.Y.

Breaking News Coverage (all other markets)
No award presented

Investigative Reporting (Network/Top 25 Markets)
“Trouble on the Tarmac,” Susannah Frame, Eric Olson and Kellie Cheadle of KING-TV, Seattle, Wash.

Investigative Reporting (all other markets)
“Charter School Investigations,” Jeff Hirsh, Jeff Barnhill, Eric Gerhardt and Dan Hurley of WKRC-TV, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Feature Reporting (Network/Top 25 Markets)
“A Lesson Before Dying,” Steve Robinson, Mark Nelson, Elizabeth Cohen and Jennifer Pifer of CNN, Atlanta, Ga.

Feature Reporting (all other markets)
“Domestic Violence: When Love Hurts,” Juri Tatsuuma, Eric Leeds and Paul Simone of News 12 Westchester, Yonkers, N.Y.

Documentaries (Network/Top 25 Markets)
“Rescued from the Shadows,” Staff of 48 Hours, New York, N.Y.

Documentaries (all other markets)
“Making Schools Work,” Hedrick Smith, Rick Young and Sarah Colt of South Carolina Educational Television, Columbia, S.C.

Public Service in Television Journalism (Network/Top 25 Markets)
“Wednesday’s Child,” Staff of KTTV FOX 11, Los Angeles, Calif.

Public Service in Television Journalism (all other markets)
“The Troubled Ten,” Staff of WBTV, Charlotte, N.C.

Newsletters

Public Service in Newsletter Journalism
"Impostors could be targeting hospitals,” Staff of Thomson American Health Consultants, Atlanta, Ga.

Research

Research about Journalism
“Accuracy Matters,” Scott R. Maier of the University of Oregon and Philip Meyer of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Eugene, Ore., and Chapel Hill, N.C.

Online Reporting

Deadline Reporting (affiliated)
“Joseph P. Smith Trial Coverage,” Staff of heraldtribune.com, Sarasota, Fla.

Deadline Reporting (independent)
"Scientists in Desperate Race with Bird Flu,” Daniel DeNoon, Sean Swint and Brunilda Nazario of WebMD, Atlanta, Ga.

Non-Deadline Reporting (affiliated)
“Final Salute,” Forrest Stewart, Sonya Doctorian, Todd Heisler and Jim Sheeler of the Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colo.

Non-Deadline Reporting (independent)
“Anorexia: Crossing the Thin Line,” Jayne Garrison, Gina Shaw, Charlotte Grayson and Marjorie Martin of WebMD, Atlanta, Ga.

Investigative Reporting (affiliated)
“Selling Drug Secrets,” Luke Timmerman, David Heath, Tracy Cutchlow and Ping Yeh of Seattletimes.com, Seattle, Wash.

Investigative Reporting (independent)
no award presented

Public Service in Online Journalism (affiliated)
“Online Coverage of Hurricane Katrina,” Staff of the Sun Herald, Gulfport, Miss.

Public Service in Online Journalism (independent)
“Well Connected in the States,” Staff, The Center for Public Integrity, Washington, D.C.

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