The San Diego Press Club’s Excellence in Journalism
Awards gala, an annual event put on by one of the largest and most respected
Press Clubs in the nation, is always a fun and fine time to celebrate the work of so
many of my gifted journalism colleagues.
But last night's event took on a different tone and feel. It was in a very real sense a celebration, and a call to arms.
In a moment in time when journalism and freedom of the press are under siege, the collective resolve among my fellow journalists last night to
fight back against those who would abolish the First Amendment was
not only palpable, it was profound.
The pride we take in our profession, and our united
determination to protect it from corrupt, narcissistic scoundrels and fake
patriots, were the evening's resounding themes.
No names were mentioned. But it was painfully obvious who was on the minds of just about everyone in attendance. Fake news, my foot.
Awards were handed enthusiastically to a long and
impressive list of professional print and broadcast reporters and editors here in San Diego.
These are my co-workers and friends, and none of them has ever written a fake news story in his or her life.
These are men and women with integrity, courage,
compassion, righteous anger and a ton of talent. And I was proud to be among the winners.
We took home 13 writing awards last night, including five first-place
awards and the “Wildcard" nod for my San Diego Magazine story on San Diego veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. These veterans have been unable to get their disability benefits from San Diego Veterans Affairs
(VA).
I told the audience gathered at the gala that
I've been proudly covering veterans for 25 years, and said my story led to one veteran getting his disability benefits after years of trying.
I added that while
reporters are generally not supposed to call themselves “advocates,” I said,
“Screw it. I’m proud to be an advocate for our veterans.”
It was just that kind of night. A night when we said how we really feel. A night that reminded us why we became journalists in the first place.
I was rewarded for my work in Healthline
(four awards), Yahoo News (two awards), Yahoo Finance (one
award), San Diego Magazine (two awards), and this national news blog, The
Reno Dispatch (four awards).
It was a celebration of a noble profession that has been slammed of late by ignorant, anti-American reactionaries who wouldn't know a fact if it bit them in the ass.
Sure, there are sleazy tabloid journalists out there, and
there is indeed fake news and there are too many bogus news sources. But not the kind of fake news we hear about from leaders who just can;t take the criticism. Most reporters and editors working in the United States in 2017 remain hard-working, ethical, responsible journalists.
I proudly spent the evening with hundreds of them.
The gala was a nice opportunity for all of us to speak out against the madness
of those who would take away America's press freedoms, which are the
cornerstone of this democracy.
Here's some of my work that the Press Club judges last night deemed
worthy of merit:
First Place Awards
"Wildcard" Category
Impact Reporting:
Investigative, Enterprise, or Public Service/Community Advocacy reporting that
resulted in a demonstrable, measurable, effect or result:
How Agent Orange is Still Devastating San
Diegans
San Diego Magazine
Magazine Category
Best Column
Bi-monthly column about and for San Diego's
veterans
San Diego Magazine
Online and Daily Newspapers Category
Education
Jamie Reno and Michael Isikoff
Trump U. lawsuit trails the president-elect right to the White House door
Yahoo NewsGeneral News
How Deep Do the Medicaid Cuts Go in
Republican Health Plan?
Healthline
Science/Technology/Biotech
Rock star cancer treatment is being
scrutinized after clinical trial deaths
Yahoo Finance
Essay/Commentary/Opinion
A cancer patient wonders: “Will the
government still have my back?”
Yahoo News
Second Place Awards
Online and Daily Newspapers Category
Feature Story, Serious Subject
Cancer Clinical Trial Does Wonders for
Ground Zero Rescue Worker
Healthline
Environment
President Trump’s Policies Could Harm Your
Healt
Healthline
Election Coverage
Sure Takes a Lot to Offend Mike Pence
The Reno Dispatch
Reviews, Live Performance
David Crosby Inspires, Disappoints, at
Humphrey’s by the Bay
The Reno Dispatch
Sports
Who’s Better, Philip Rivers or Dan Fouts?
Finally, We Have the Answer
The Reno Dispatch
Third Place Awards
Online and Daily Newspapers Category
Series
American Heroes: Women Veterans Face Mental
Health Crisis (three-part series)
Healthline
Travel - Domestic
After the Flowers? The Stunning
Anza-Borrego Desert is Actually Best Enjoyed After the Wildflowers Are Gone
The Reno Dispatch
I was diagnosed as HEPATITIS B carrier in 2013 with fibrosis of the
ReplyDeleteliver already present. I started on antiviral medications which
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ULTIMATE LIFE CLINIC (www.ultimatelifeclinic.com) in March, 2020. Their
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the 6 months long treatment and tested negative to the virus. Amazing
treatment! This treatment is a breakthrough for all HBV carriers.