Some Reason Love in a Best-of Journalism List

Matt Welch | February 24, 2010

Over at True/Slant, Conor Friedersdorf uncorks a pretty good list of "The Best of Journalism (2009)," something that voracious media consumers oughtta do more of. On it are plenty of pieces that were linked here throughout the year, plus Nancy Rommelmann's great "Anatomy of a Child Pornographer" story in our July issue. Also making an appearance is Reason Contributing Editor Kerry Howley, for her entertaining profile of Kathleen Parker in The American Prospect. Full list here.

All of which got me thinking–what were your favorite Reason (and non-Reason) pieces in 2009? Here's a cover gallery from the year to jog your memory; though obviously feel free to nominate an online story, blog post, or ReasonTV video. Not necessarily looking for flattery here, just wondering what stuck in your memory.

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robc|2.24.10 @ 9:42AM|#

No Balko?

Im still wondering why he doesnt have a Pulitzer yet.

BakedPenguin|2.24.10 @ 11:10AM|#

Because he hasn't plagarized anyone yet?

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 11:15AM|#

Balko is one of the few journalists left (that I'm aware of) still doing quality investigative journalism. The man deserves so much more recognition than he gets.

|2.24.10 @ 1:20PM|#

I throw my vote in Radley's general direction as well.

TommyK|2.24.10 @ 2:02PM|#

Agreed. Radley’s work is eye-opening and important on the big issue level as well as significant to all the individuals who have experienced the injustices he exposes.

C-man|2.24.10 @ 9:44AM|#

The articles have sucked since Postrel left...

C-man|2.24.10 @ 9:45AM|#

But I did like the article that Nick's jacket wrote.

Cliché Bandit|2.24.10 @ 11:35AM|#

mmmmmm Beeer!

DIRNK!

Xeones|2.24.10 @ 9:49AM|#

Fool! All reason articles come from the inconceivable mind and squamous, rugose tentacles of The Jacket!

C-man|2.24.10 @ 9:49AM|#

And you guys and gals have the best alt-text in the business. There should definitely be an award for that.

|2.24.10 @ 11:27AM|#

I consider Matt Welch a master of the alt-text art second only to Randall Munroe.

Slut Bunwalla|2.24.10 @ 1:59PM|#

Chris Onstad tops them both.

Citizen Nothing|2.24.10 @ 9:58AM|#

I'm nominating SugarFree's work on Steve Smith.

|2.24.10 @ 10:41AM|#

You are a gentleman and scholar.

BakedPenguin|2.24.10 @ 10:53AM|#

Yeah, but he missed the story about how a band from Canada detailed their horrifying experiences with Steven Smith.

"As I was saying
I know that I've been one of the few who walked away from you
Steven Smith , we all lose
One look at you
And they’re suddenly covered in shrapnel too
It’s true, most die in your bedroom..."

etc. Thankfully, they survived, but the drinking they did to deal with their pain eventually broke up the band.

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 11:05AM|#

That is an amazing "coincidence" that some band would write those lyrics, BP.

BakedPenguin|2.24.10 @ 11:08AM|#

I wasn't joking about their drinking breaking up the band, either. Check the Wiki article for the band...

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 11:11AM|#

For some reason that link's not working for me. What band is it?

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 11:12AM|#

I came back into this thread to say that I kind of miss having the real Steve Smith around, if only because I wonder what he thinks of the alt.Bigfoot.SteveSmith.sockpuppets.

BakedPenguin|2.24.10 @ 11:15AM|#

The Organ.

BakedPenguin|2.24.10 @ 11:16AM|#

SF'd the link. Try this one.

BakedPenguin|2.24.10 @ 11:17AM|#

This one.

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 11:20AM|#

I listened to some clips. I love that band's sound and am alarmed that I haven't heard their music before. Another band I recently discovered with that quality (although a different sound) is Camel. You're doing great things for music awareness, BP.

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 11:22AM|#

That YouTube clip put it over the top. I'm in love with these women.

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 11:24AM|#

I would like to apologize to Matt Welch for half of the comments section being about Steve Smith and this totally awesome band, though.

BakedPenguin|2.24.10 @ 11:26AM|#

I'm in love with these women.

I downloaded about half their album from amazon after hearing "Steven Smith" and "Hearts Sinking".

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 11:30AM|#

I'm about to get on iTunes and go to town myself.

BakedPenguin|2.24.10 @ 11:24AM|#

I hadn't heard of them until recently either, and was really surprised. One thing the wiki article mentioned is that their Canadian label gave them a hard time aboot trying to get a US label, which delayed their progress significantly.

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 11:25AM|#

Their Canadian label should be charged with crimes against music appreciation.

BakedPenguin|2.24.10 @ 11:31AM|#

Shit. "Sinking Hearts".

Also, add my apologies to Mr. Welch, and next time I go to Amazon, I promise to pick up Myth of a Maverick, along with Saying Yes.

The latter because Sullum is my personal favorite writer, which I think relates to this post somehow.

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 11:31AM|#

Although I forgive them because they put this band on in the first place.

|2.24.10 @ 11:22AM|#

That is fucking awesome.

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 11:28AM|#

I agree wholeheartedly.

|2.24.10 @ 11:39AM|#

Maybe Steve will namecheck the band in his inexplicably popular twitter feed.

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 11:45AM|#

Oh, you gotta link to Steve Smith's Twitter feed. You can't tease me like that.

|2.24.10 @ 12:01PM|#

https://twitter.com/STEVESMITHGRR

He has no friends yet and is very sad.

C-man|2.24.10 @ 12:21PM|#

Please keep the STEVE SMITH Twitter going. I look forward to endless enjoyment while I put off work.

|2.24.10 @ 12:26PM|#

Bring it up with Steve. But I wouldn't suggest doing it at night, or when he's hungry or when he's, uh, the other kind of "hungry."

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 12:57PM|#

Heh heh, awesome Twitter, man. I might have to follow that one.

Xeones|2.24.10 @ 10:11AM|#

This isn't the AVN Awards, Citizen, so nothing by SugarFree is eligible.

|2.24.10 @ 10:18AM|#

The one that stuck for me was the Reason.tv bit on UPS vs. FedEx. It was not only well done, but a great example of "incrementalism" - knocking off small tactical issues that can resonate. Most people are all too aware of what they don't know. This leads them to be (rightly) skeptical of any grand sweeping philosophical debates. Well done!

The Art-P.O.G.|2.24.10 @ 10:55AM|#

I enjoyed that piece on reason.tv about "Is your iPod Unpatriotic?" There's a lot of quality stuff, but I'd say my favorites are usually Radley Balko, Damon W. Root and Tim Cavanaugh.
That piece Gillespie wrote on Veteran's Day about his father's service in WWII and thoughts about war was really touching, though.

|2.24.10 @ 11:09AM|#

I'll never forget Balko's coverage of the Ryan Frederick case. Never.

BakedPenguin|2.24.10 @ 11:11AM|#

Agreed.

Cliché Bandit|2.24.10 @ 11:39AM|#

second.

C-man|2.24.10 @ 12:20PM|#

thirded.

C-man|2.24.10 @ 12:19PM|#

|2.24.10 @ 12:24PM|#

Best journalism of 2009? Easy. It's MY FUCKING WORK, BITCHES:
Check it out right here.
http://tinyurl.com/Jamie-Kelly-s-Latest-Stories

Attorney|2.24.10 @ 12:59PM|#

feel free to nominate an online story, blog post, or ReasonTV video. Not necessarily looking for flattery here, just wondering what stuck in your memory

To be totally honest, what has stuck out most in my memory was the viedo that Nick narrated with a Don-Draper-like figure tumbling off a cliff into a bottomless pit of debt.

TommyK|2.24.10 @ 2:04PM|#

Matt Welch’s column on the transformation of the Southern California economy after the aerospace industry was a point that needs to be made over and over when politicians are caving to industries asking for bailouts/protectionism.

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