The American Jewish Press Association last week honored three reporters from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency with Simon Rockower Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism.
David Landau and Deborah Kazis came in second place for the Boris Smolar Award for Excellence in International news or Feature Reporting for their series “Far From Moscow.”
Debra Nussbam Cohen also won a second-place award in the category of Excellence in Feature Writing for her article “Crisis of Faith,” written for the B’nai B’rith International Jewish Monthly.
The purpose of the annual contest, which honors articles, features, cartoons and production, is to provide incentive to member publications to promote and improve the quality of Jewish journalism.
The following are first-place winners in each of the categories:
Excellence in Editorial Writing: Lawrence Brook, The Southern Shofar, Birmingham, Ala., “The Inaugural Dilemma.”
The Louis Rapoport Award for Excellence in Commentary: Newspaper with more than 15,000 circulation and magazines – Rabbi Steven Leder, The jewish Journal, Los Angeles, “The Real Abomination.” Newspaper with less than 15,000 circulation – Paul Haist, The Jewish Review, Portland, Ore., “Letting God Off the Hook.”
Excellence in Investigative Reporting: Newspapers with more than 15,000 circulation – Lawrence Cohler, The Jewish Week, New York, “Dov Hikind’s Favorite Charity.” Newspapers with less than 15,000 circulation – Andrea Jacobs, Intermountain Jewish News, Denver, “Messianic Controversy.”
Excellence in Comprehensive Coverage: Newspapers with more than 15,000 circulation – Julie Gruenbaum Fax, The Jewish Week, New York, “New Tactic in `Get’ Wars Decried.” Newspaper with less than 15,000 circulation – Florence Eckstein, Vicki Cabot, Stefanie Pearson, Pauline Yearwood and Ross Brand, Jewish News of Greater Phoenix, “Stewarding God’s Green Earth.”
Excellence in Spot News Reporting: Newspapers with more than 15,000 circulation – Stewart Ain, The Jewish Week, New York, “The Brings It Much Closer to Home.” Newspapers with less than 15,000 circulation – Andrea Jacobs, Intermountain Jewish News, Denver, “Hispano Crypto-Jewish Resources Center.”
The Boris Smolar Award for Excellence in International News or Feature Reporting: Newspapers with more than 15,000 circulation – Leora Frucht, The Canadian Jewish News, Toronto, “Call Us If You Need Help.” Newspapers with less than 15,000 circulation – Larry Derfner, Atlanta Jewish Times, “Israel’s New Horizon.” Magazines – Yossi Melmam, Moment, Washington, “Kibbutz: Is the Dream Dead?”
Excellence in Feature Writing: Newspapers with more than 15,000 circulation – Michael Davis, Baltimore Jewish Times, “A Test of My Faith.” Newspapers with less than 15,000 circulation – Neil Rubin, Atlanta Jewish Times, “Mr. Speaker and the Jews.” Magazines – Deborah Kaye, B’nai B’rith International Jewish Monthly, Washington, “When Alzheimer’s Strikes.”
Excellence in Arts and Criticism News and Features: Newspapers with more than 15,000 circulation – Judithl Oppenheimer, Baltimore Jewish Times, “Triumph and Loss.” Newspapers with less than 15,000 circulation – Emily D. Soloff, Chicago Jewish News, “To Be or Not to Be.” Magazines – Rochelle Furstenberg, Moment, Washington, “Israel Novelists Beyond National Struggles.”
The David Frank Award for Excellence in Personality Profiles: Newspapers with more than 15,000 circulation and magazines – Joan Oleck, Moment, Washington, “The Double Life of Peter Malkin.” Newspapers with less than 15,000 circulation – Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, Intermountion Jewish News, Denver, “We Were The World.”
Excellence in Overall Graphic Design: Newspapers with more than 15,000 circulation – no first-place award; second place was tie between MetroWest Jewish News, Whippany, N.J., and The Jewish Week, New York. Newspapers with less than 15,000 circulation – Chicago Jewish News, Magazines – Moment, Washington.
Excellence in Special Sections or Supplements: Newspapers with more than 15,000 circulation – David Bittner, Jewish Journal, Florida, “Jerusalem 3000.” Newspapers with less than 15,000 circulation – Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, Intermountain Jewish News, Denver, “The Life and Death of Yitzhak Rabin.” Magazines – Carla Schwartz, Detroit Jewish News, “Style.”
Excellence in Special Projects – Community Guidebooks: Newspapers with more than 15,000 circulation – Jewish Bulletin of Northern California, San Francisco, “Resource, A Guide to Jewish Life in the Bay Area.” Newspapers with less than 15,000 circulation – Chicago Jewish News.
Excellence in Photography: Newspapers – Glenn Triest, Detroit Jewish News, “A Torah Comes Home.” Magazines – Edward Serotta, Hadassah Magazine, New York, “Survival in Sarajevo.”
The North Bee Award for Excellence in Editorial Cartooning or Illustrating: Newspapers – Abba and Moshe Spero, Cleveland Jewish News, Magazines – Reform Judaism, New York.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
