Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Competition 2006

News Type: Event — Sun Jun 3, 2007 4:41 AM EDT

us-news, newsvine, shriners, society-of-professional-journalists

"by Sandy Frost" and Newsvine.com were honored by the Society of Professional Journalists at their annual Excellence in Journalism awards banquet held last Saturday night at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington. The results are:

Online Media, Special Report/Enterprise (Original)

1. Glenn Nelson, Hoopgurlz.com, "Chief Sealth Recruiting Scandal"

2. Tom Brown, The Seattle Times, "Where the nukes are - 20 miles from downtown."

3. Carlos Virgen, Josh Gesler, Walla Walla Union Bulliten "Veterans Day Interviews."

HM Sandy Frost, Newsvine.com, "Shriners Investigation."

HM Mike Kane, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "Jonah's Boat."

HM Herb Weisbaum, MSNBC.com, "What Ever Happened to Customer Service?"

The last time I was at a Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi (SPJ/SDX) awards banquet was 30 years ago. It was held in Seattle's Olympic Hotel and I accepted a first place award as editor-in-chief of the Yakima Valley College "Galaxy." My other SPJ/SDX award was second place in Public Affairs Features, for "John Dean Speaks Out."

Coincidentally, tonight the "Roosevelt News" was named the region's best high school newspaper. In 1971, I was the first junior in Roosevelt High School's 75 year history to be named Editor-in-Chief.

Thirty six years later, I was awarded an Honorable Mention for my "Shriner's Investigation" here at Newsvine.com.

We are among such lofty winners as the Seattle Times and placed before such media giants as the Seattle P-I and MSNBC.com.

I don't have the resources these guys have, yet I now stand shoulder to shoulder with them as peers of journalistic excellence. On the other hand, they probably can't do phone interviews, laundry, write and cook, all at the same time.

The SPJ contest, more formally called the Region X Mark of Excellence Competition, included over three thousand of entries from Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Started in 1932, the SPJ's Sigma Delta Chi Award is one of the most prestigious national awards program for professional journalists and is the second oldest national journalism awards program in the United States after the Pulitzer Prizes.

This is my third SPJ/SDX award, as judged by editors and reporters nationwide. Their high standards substantiate the quality and authority of my online news reporting.

More articles and projects are being planned, but for now, I'd like to thank those who have honored me with their trust and support. The best part of the banquet, besides the salmon, was having my husband and daughters with me.

I share this award with all of you.

Sandy

32 Votes
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Sandy Frost's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Mediavine, Newsviners' Picks, Sweeter Fennel, Writers Without Boundaries
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7.8

{"commentId":753994,"authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

Viki Babbles Gonia

Congratulations, Sandy! Great job.

{"commentId":753994,"threadId":"109959","contentId":"753314","authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

8 votes

#1 - Sun Jun 3, 2007 10:46 AM EDT

{"commentId":754547,"authorDomain":"Ardith"}

ArdithDeleted

{"commentId":754567,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Wow. Very impressive. I'm clipping this to Newsviners Picks

{"commentId":754567,"threadId":"109959","contentId":"753314","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

6 votes

#3 - Sun Jun 3, 2007 3:16 PM EDT

{"commentId":754944,"authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

Raat ki Raani

This is what Citizen Journalism is about. Congrats Sandy. I hope Ardith's nomination for a RAV for you is successful. Enjoy your moment.

{"commentId":754944,"threadId":"109959","contentId":"753314","authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

7 votes

#3.1 - Sun Jun 3, 2007 6:32 PM EDT

{"commentId":755280,"authorDomain":"marilynl"}

Marilyn L

Congratulations, Sandy. Well deserved recognition for your reporting.

{"commentId":755280,"threadId":"109959","contentId":"753314","authorDomain":"marilynl"}

8 votes

#4 - Sun Jun 3, 2007 9:17 PM EDT

{"commentId":755312,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Synthesis

Congratulation, and good work, Sandy. You do us all proud. Keep it up!

I read the article(s) in question when you posted them, and I have to congratulate the Society for its acumen, as well.

{"commentId":755312,"threadId":"109959","contentId":"753314","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

5 votes

#5 - Sun Jun 3, 2007 9:34 PM EDT

{"commentId":755495,"authorDomain":"ZenAid"}

ZenAid

Congratulations, Sandy. I hadn't read your reports on the Shriners and, from the few votes they received, I assume few on Newsvine did. It's a testament to your persistence that you filed reports for a whole year in the face of this indifference. I hope this award encourages everyone to read your reports, and that it results in you getting RAV.

{"commentId":755495,"threadId":"109959","contentId":"753314","authorDomain":"ZenAid"}

6 votes

#6 - Sun Jun 3, 2007 11:58 PM EDT

{"commentId":755529,"authorDomain":"SandyFrost"}

Sandy Frost

Gosh. Take a day away with the family and look what happens! All of your kind words are appreciated. I do think that this might be Newsvine's first award as well; the award was to acknowledge both "by Sandy Frost" and Newsvine.com. Now Newsvine joins the Pacific Northwest's best and, as I wrote in my announcement, placed in front of the Seattle PI and MSNBC.com. I know my stories didn't get many votes and that is ok. Other media have run them such as Opednews.com and Rense.com, a site that gets over 10 million hits a month.
This award is for all of us who have that hunger to know things before anyone else does, then write about it.
If you have it, you know what it's like.
Well, back to work.
Thanks again,
Sandy

{"commentId":755529,"threadId":"109959","contentId":"753314","authorDomain":"SandyFrost"}

9 votes

#7 - Mon Jun 4, 2007 12:32 AM EDT

{"commentId":756326,"authorDomain":"kindstrand"}

Bo Kindstrand

I´m impressed but not surprised. Hartley congrats from me to you.

/Bo

{"commentId":756326,"threadId":"109959","contentId":"753314","authorDomain":"kindstrand"}

4 votes

#8 - Mon Jun 4, 2007 11:39 AM EDT

{"commentId":779630,"authorDomain":"redruby"}

Redruby

Excellent work, Sandy. Congratulations on your investigative reporting and your perseverance here at newsvine despite poor readership. What a scandalous story you've uncovered. Well done.

btw...have you seen the Roosevelt remodel?

{"commentId":779630,"threadId":"109959","contentId":"753314","authorDomain":"redruby"}

6 votes

#9 - Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":779916,"authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

Synthesis

Redruby, I think your point about the poor readership issue is well taken. I think the material that Sandy has been working on is extremely good, but not necessarily the stuff that watchlist adds are made of. (No mention of Newsvine, sex or G.W. Bush).

This is the kind of original, professional, user-generated material, though, that makes Newsvine the special place that it is, and we all need to encourage it. I'm thinking of -- for example -- all of us in this thread doing our bit by adding to our watchlist right now, clipping this material and nominating it to Mykola's Newsvine Blitz group.

I had some wonderful mentorship when I started on the 'Vine (Sandy, not to say that you're just starting, but my point is that I appreciated some help in getting page views), and I think it would be very appropriate if we used whatever influence each of us might have to increase the status and profile of Sandy's articles. Starting now with some votes.

{"commentId":779916,"threadId":"109959","contentId":"753314","authorDomain":"PrimarySources"}

7 votes

#9.1 - Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:06 PM EDT

{"commentId":779984,"authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

Viki Babbles Gonia

Great, great points, Synthesis!

{"commentId":779984,"threadId":"109959","contentId":"753314","authorDomain":"vikibabbles"}

1 vote

#9.2 - Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":779652,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

Pamela Drew

Congrats on the recognition, and thanks so much for being here, sharing the true grit reporting and the glorious notice. Awesome!

{"commentId":779652,"threadId":"109959","contentId":"753314","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

4 votes

#10 - Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:12 PM EDT

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SANDY FROST

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Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Competition 2006

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