Spot News

Vol. 11, No. 6 GOLDEN PRESS CARD EXTRA EDITION 2006

A publication of the East Tennessee Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists Visit us on the web at www.discoverET.org/etspj

The Knoxville News Sentinels Mellon wins Golden Press Card

By Jean Ash ETSPJ Communications Coordinator

ricka Mellons feature, Nursing on the Edge, is this years winner of the Golden Press Card Award and a check for $100 from ETSPJ. The story also won the Award of Excellence in the large circulation newspaper feature category. The judges called it thorough, thought provoking and well-written....An important piece because it addresses a disturbing problem/trend in an evenhanded manner. Mellons story was about registered nurses in Knox County schools, and how in all INSIDE: but nine of 76 schools a nurse visits just A complete one day a week to care for anything list of from a sore throat to a broken bone. winners The extensive feature found that the situation is not likely to change because of in all financial considerations. categories. Don Dare and Jason Hensley of WATE-TV won the Horace V. Wells, Jr. Community Service Award with Health Scare. This investigation exposed how sales agents for one of the nations largest health care providers, Humana Inc., broke Medicare and Medicaid standards in their presentations to potential customers. As a result, the company ordered a halt

to sales in Tennessee while it implemented new guidelines to its sales force. The judges from the Connecticut Pro Chapter said, [The piece] does an important service for a most vulnerable segment of society senior citizens. The winners, selected from a record-setting number of entries, received plaques and certificates at the Golden Press Card Award Banquet May 12 at the University Club. Featured speaker Dave Carlson, national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, told the more than 100 attendees that each should accept personal responsibility for improving the credibility of his or her news organization. With the bottom-line mentality of publicly traded, corporate owners these days, Carlson said that individual journalists may feel powerless to influence the kinds of news practices that cause audiences to distrust the media. But he urged journalists to work one story at a time toward the highest ethical standards of journalism. Carlson also promoted the work of the national Society of Professional Journalists, pointing out that the organization has been at the forefront of providing legal help for journalists and for fighting the ongoing battle for public access to government records and meetings.

Rehearsals are every Sunday afternoon at 3 and every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at The Knoxville News Sentinel. If you wish to bring dinner befor the Thursday night rehearsal, the door will be open at 6. Rehearsal begins promptly at 6:30.

Follies rehearsal schedule

Please help solicit auction items for Follies

Georgiana Vines and Robb Atkinson are seeking items for the Front Page Follies auction on June 17 and could use everyones help. If you or someone you know can donate something that would add to the ETSPJ coffers, please contact Georgiana at <[email protected]>. Among the popular silent auction items at previous Follies were art work, autographed sports memorabilia, spa packages, and concert or theater tickets. Receiving high bids at the live auction were golf or dinner outings with local celebrities,resort vacations, and restaurant dinners.

Front Page Follies

Annual East Tennessee SPJ contest winners for 2005 work

Deadline/Spot News Reporting
Over 25,000 circulation:
News Sentinel, Nursing on the Edge Award of Merit: Frank Munger, The Knoxville News Sentinel, When Oak Ridge Changed the World Award of Excellence: The Knoxville News Sentinel, Tom Chester, Scott Barker, Lola Alapo, John Huotari J. J. Stambaugh, Laura Ayo, Jim Balloch, John North, R. Daniel Proctor, Joe Howell, Clay Owen, Roane County Shooting We willbring them to justice Award of Merit: Laura Houston, Dick Cook, Herman Wang, and Ashley Rowland, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Guard Gunned Down Award of Excellence: Bonny Millard and Anna Irwin, The Daily Times, Deputies called to WBHS: Racial threats prompt school to call officers Award of Excellence: Susan Sharp, LaFollette Press, Pop, popA series of shots was heard Award of Merit: Michael R. Moser, Crossville Chronicle, Suspects indicted in boys rape

under 25,000 circulation

Third Place: Randy Kenner, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Music Makers Award of Excellence: Steve Wildsmith, The Daily Times, Straight Shooter Award of Merit: Thomas Fraser, The Daily Times, Beloved pony passes on Award of Excellence: Lance Coleman, Blount Today, Champion faces final challenge Award of Merit: Krista Richmond, Crossville Chronicle, One step at a time

Under 25,000 circulation

Non-Daily

Non-Daily

General Reporting

Series/Package/Project Writing
over 25,000 circulation:

Third Place: Jim Dossett, LaFollette Press, Family pet rescues man from bull attack

over 25,000 circulation:

Award of Excellence: The Knoxville News Sentinel, Team coverage, Tom Chester, Scott Barker, Lola Alapo, John Huotari, J.J. Stambaugh, Laura Ayo, Jim Balloch, John North, R. Daniel Proctor, Joe Howell and Clay Owen, Roane County Shooting Award of Merit: Scott Barker, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Coals Return

Award of Excellence: Kristi Nelson and Chandra Harris, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Living Positive: HIV/AIDS in East Tennessee Award of Merit: Chris Joyner and Michael Weber, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Caring for Vets Third Place: Chattanooga Times Free Press, Team coverage, Clint Cooper, Jan Galetta, Dave Flessnor, M. Trevor Higgins, Angie Herrington, Ashley Rowland, Dorie Turner, Riverfront Renaissance Award of Excellence: Bonny C. Millard, The Daily Times, A look ahead at the school year Award of Excellence: LaFollette Press, Team coverage, Susan Sharp, Dwane Wilder, Jim Dossett, Jason Davis, Jennifer Caldwell, Tragedy at Campbell High

under 25,000 circulation

Third Place: Kristi L. Nelson, The Knoxville News Sentinel, TennCare Turmoil Award of Excellence: Darren Dunlap, The Daily Times, Defendant doesnt recall fatal shooting Award of Merit: Lesli Bales-Sherrod, The Daily Times, Questions asked about Woodruffs absence

under 25,000 circulation Non-Daily

Non-Daily

Award of Excellence: Jim Dossett, LaFollette Press, Seale: If we couldve saved Ken

Investigative Reporting
over 25,000 circulation:

Feature Reporting

Award of Merit: Michael R. Mosser, Crossville Chronicle, Loopers legal fishing trip called pathetic

over 25,000 circulation

2 -- SPOT NEWS

Award of Excellence: Chattanooga Time Free Press, Team coverage, Ashley Rowland, Dave Flessner, Michael Weber, Brian Lazenby, Candice Combs, Beverly Carroll, Andy Sher, Ian Berry, and Chris Joyner, Tennessee Waltz Award of Merit: J.J. Stambaugh, The Knoxville News

Award of Excellence: Ericka Mellon, The Knoxville

Sentinel, Cocke County Confidential

Sports Reporting

Third Place: Michael Weber and Chris Joyner, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Caring for Vets

News Sentinel, His days had almost played out, An issue whose time had come, Not your everyday beauty shop Award of Merit: David Magee, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Olds 442

over 25,000 circulation:

Award of Excellence: Chattanooga Times Free Press, Team coverage (Darren Epps, Ron Bush, Brad Shepard, David Paschall, Stephen Hargis), National Signing Day Award of Merit: Jesse Smithey, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Winning signals Third Place: Chattanooga Times Free Press, Team coverage (Mark Wiedmer, David Uchiyama, Wesley Rucker, Brad Shepard), Tourney Time/Madness 2005 Award of Excellence: John Brice, The Daily Times, Dishing up victory: MHS coaches eat their way to success Award of Excellence: Stefan Cooper, Blount Today, One Last Look Award of Merit: Stefan Cooper, Blount Today, Playing through the storm Third Place: Stefan Cooper, Blount Today, Rim Music: Future Lady Vol Cait McMahan marches to her own beat

Under 25,000 circulation

Third Place: Mark Kennedy, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Confessions of a soccer dad Award of Excellence: Steve Wildsmith, The Daily Times, Paying respects in New York, Returning home, Letters to Ezra: Together we can Award of Merit: Kara Covington, The Daily Times, Study our past; discover potential of womens futures Award of Excellence: Jason Davis, LaFollette Press, Good thing my old friends dont see me now, Fourlegged friend gets foul fumigation, Remembering a man of integrity Award of Merit: Dwane Wilder, LaFollette Press, Loss of family cat is loss of a friend, Vacations make a good source for laughs, Forty the new 20? Not with teenage daughters at home Third Place: Jim Dossett, LaFollette Press, Scoping out the colonoscopy assembly line, Sheep herders affair provokes controversy, Its 10 p.m. Do you know where your chicken is?

under 25,000 circulation

Non-Daily

Non-Daily

Editorial Writing

over 25,000 circulation:

Reviews/Criticism, Newspapers
Over 25,000 circulation:

Award of Excellence: Wes Hasden, Chattanooga Times Free Press, An Apology for Lynching Award of Merit: Hoyt Canady, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Ethics Reform

Non-Daily

Third Place: Lee Anderson, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Dear Gen. Washington Award of Excellence: Jim Dossett, LaFollette Press, Job slashing causes deep wounds, Rock woman symbolizes a burdened county, Seale, others brought new tone to CCHS Award of Merit: Jason Davis, LaFollette Press, Church sign goes too far for some, LHA Board travel raises thoughts, questions

Under 25,000 circulation

Award of Excellence: M. Trevor Higgins, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Variety spices life at festival, Drive-By Truckers rock is all about the message, Musicians find comfort from an ill wind on the road Award of Excellence: Steve Wildsmith, The Daily Times, King of the World, Back in Black, and Spielberg Creates Worldly drama Award of Excellence: WNOX Radio News Department, Dave Foulk, Catherine Howell, Christine Jessel, Channing Smith, WNOX-FM News Team Reports Award of Merit: Ann Lloyd, WUOT-FM, Mold in Morristown Schools Third Place: Matt Shafer Powell, WUOT-FM, Tennessee Theatre Re-opens

Radio News Reporting

Personal Columns

over 25,000 circulation:

Award of Excellence: Sam Venable, The Knoxville

3 -- SPOT NEWS

Television News Reporting

Radio Documentary/Public Affairs Rpt.

Award of Excellence: (TIE) WNOX-FM Radio News Department, Dave Foulk, Catherine Howell, Christine Jessel, Channing Smith, John Crooks, Tennessee Burning and Matt Shafer Powell; WUOT-FM, Oak Ridge: In the Shadow of the Atom

Award of Excellence: WBIR-TV 10 News Team, Campbell County Principal Shooting Award of Merit: Stacy McCloud & Daniel Beckner, WVLT-TV, Tenncare Death

Organizational Communications News Rpt. Radio Feature Reporting

Third Place: Kim Bedford & Daniel Beckner, WVLTTV, Fighting for Life Award of Excellence: Chuck Denney and Doug Edlund, UT Institute of Agriculture, Operation Military Kids Award of Excellence: Matt Shafer Powell, WUOT-FM, Lost to War Award of Merit: Matt Shafer Powell, WUOT-FM, The Body Farm Third Place: Christine Jessel, WNOX-FM, TAPS Honorable Mention: Ann Lloyd, WUOT-FM, Bat Boy the Musical Award of Excellence: Bill Williams, Brian New and Brian Holt, WBIR-TV, Pride of the Southland Band Award of Merit: Don Dare, Jason Hensley and Jim Farquhar, WATE-TV, A Daughter Remembers

Television Documentary/Public Affairs Rpt.

Award of Merit: Matt Shafer Powell, WUOT-FM, Lost to War Award of Excellence: WBIR-TV, Ted Hall, Jim Martin, Jacob Nagel, Tonja Burk, The Bentons: Terror and Forgiveness Award of Merit: WBIR-TV 10 News Team, Rebuilding the Bay: Continuing Coverage Award of Excellence: Donna A. Cruze, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Cockadoodle fly?, Power steering, and Scientist draws new battle vines in kudzu conflict Award of Merit: Ruth H. Dickson, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Just Wing It, Curbside Enthusiasm, Do the Mashed Potato

Headline Writing

TV Feature Reporting

Page One Design

Organizational Communications Feature Rpt. Radio Investigative Reporting TV Investigative Reporting

Third Place: Stacy McCloud and Daniel Beckner, WVLT-TV, Called to Serve

Over 25,000 circulation:

Award of Excellence: Lin Parker and Rick Moore, Path of Devastation, A Changed World, and Blurring Dividing Lines Award of Merit: Jennifer Dedman, The Knoxville News Sentinel, His Journey Ends, Stung, Rape, ticketfixing Award of Excellence: David Goddard and Richard Dodson, The Daily Times Award of Excellence: Linn Hudson, LaFollette Press

Award of Excellence: Chuck Denney and Doug Edlund, UT Institute of Agriculture, Pearl Farm Award of Excellence: Ann Lloyd, WUOT-FM, Mold in Morristown Schools Award of Excellence: WATE-TV Team Investigation, Don Dare, Mark Mowbray, Nicole Rogers, Dave Wignall, Rebecca Williams, Busted for Betting Award of Merit: Stacy McCloud & Daniel Beckner, WVLT-TV, Meth and Skin Award of Excellence: Mark Packer, WVLT-TV, Steve Caldwell away from the game Award of Merit: Mark Packer, WVLT-TV, Johnny Long summer workouts Third Place: Josh Roe, WBIR-TV, Bruce Pearl: A Day in the Life

Under 25,000 circulation Non-Daily

Inside Page Design

Over 25,000 circulation:

Broadcast Sports Reporting

Award of Excellence: Christina Southern, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Bread of our lives, Apples, and Preview 05 Award of Merit: Ruth H. Dickson, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Kitchen Confidential, Meals in Monroe, O is for Olive Third Place: Lin C. Parker, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Year in Review, Hometown Vacation

4 -- SPOT NEWS

Under 25,000 circulation Non-Daily

Primer, Riverbend XXV

Deadline Photography
Over 25,000 circulation:
Award of Excellence: Lido Vizzutti, Chattanooga Times Free Press, 278th Comes Home Award of Merit: Kathleen Greeson, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Goodbye Chalmette

Award of Excellence: Kara Covington, The Daily Times Award of Excellence: Krista Richmond, Crossville Chronicle, Ghosts and Goblins, Amy Grant, Red Hatters

Informational Graphic

Over 25,000 circulation:

Under 25,000 circulation Non-Daily

Third Place: Joe Howell, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Marines Return Award of Excellence: Joy Kimbrough, The Daily Times, Welcome Home Award of Excellence: Dwane Wilder, LaFollette Press, Pinched Hitter Award of Merit: Susan Sharp, LaFollette Press, We are picking up the pieces Award of Excellence: Steve Coy, WVLT-TV, Protecting Kids Award of Merit: Stacy McCloud & Daniel Beckner, WVLT-TV, Surprise Haircut

Award of Excellence: Beck Towery, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Lobbyist Circle Award of Merit: R. Daniel Proctor, The Knoxville News Sentinel, A look inside a restored gem

Art Illustration

Third Place: Beck Towery, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Ocean Journey

Over 25,000 circulation:

Television

Award of Excellence: Laura E. Walker, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Geisha Gala Award of Merit: Don Wood, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Bellsouth lobbying for an edge

Photo Illustration

Third Place: Beck Towery, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Bankruptcy Award of Excellence: Angela Lewis, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Cell phone dead spots Award of Merit: The Knoxville News Sentinel, Joe Howell, Amanda Martin, Rey Pineda, and Michael Apuan, Curtain Up Third Place: Rey Pineda, I, Robin

Feature Photography
Over 25,000 circulation:

Third Place: WBIR-TV 10 News Photography Staff, Campbell County Principal Shooting: Latest

Award of Excellence: Joe Howell, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Picture This Award of Merit: Marcella Colburn, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Press on, J.T. Third Place: Kathleen Greeson, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Evening Glow

Ed Hooper, president Jean Ash, secretary, Front Page Follies chair, communications coordinator Adina Chumley, Golden Press Card co-chair Lisa Hood Skinner, Golden Press Card co-chair Dan Foley, treasurer Dorothy Bowles, immediate past president, Spot News editor Christine Jessel, membership co-chair Mia Rhodarmer, membership co-chair

ETSPJ Officers and Board of Directors

Robb Atkinson Steve Row Randy Tedford Georgiana Vines

Letters to the Editor Policy: The board encourages letters to the editor of Spot News. Like letters policies at most newspapers, we ask that letters be limited to 200 words or less. Letters will be subject to editing for space and content. Send e-mail to [email protected]
SPOT NEWS -- 5

Under 25,000 circulation Non-Daily

Award of Excellence: Daryl Sullivan, The Daily Times, Chair caning class Award of Excellence: Dwane Wilder, LaFollette Press, Student praying at makeshift memorial Award of Merit: Jason Davis, LaFollette Press, Homecoming for the heroes

Writing for Other Media,

Award of Excellence: Susan G. Barnes, Tennessee Alumnus Magazine, The Devil We Know Award of Merit: Ann Hinch, freelance writer, Marketplace Magazine, Kentucky farmer adds biodiesel production to his operation

Television

Third Place: Susan Sharp, LaFollette Press, Staying ready to respond Award of Excellence: Brian New, Brian Holt, WBIR-TV, Pride of the Southland Band Award of Merit: Daniel Beckner, WVLT-TV, Called to Serve

Visuals for Other Media

Third Place: Steve Row, freelance writer, CityView Magazine, Literary Luminary Award of Excellence: The Knoxville News Sentinel Team (Jigsha Desai, Lauren Spuhler, Randy Kenner, and J. Miles Cary), Making the Band Inside UT Band Camp Award of Excellence: WBIR-TV 10 News Team, WBIR.com Award of Merit: Mark Kennedy, Chattanooga Times Free Press, tfponline.com Third Place: The Knoxville News Sentinel, Jack Lail, Jigsha Desai, Lauren Spuhler, Erin Chapin, knoxnews.com

World Wide Web

Editorial Cartoon

Third Place: Steve Coy, WVLT-TV, Memorial Day

Over 25,000 circulation:

Award of Excellence: Bruce Plante, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tennessee Waltz

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