reason Hauls Down 11* L.A. Press Club Awards

Last night, reason won three first place awards, five seconds, and three honorable mentions at the 50th annual Southern California Journalism Awards. The winners were:

Kerry Howley, Best Magazine News/Investigative Article, for "Who Owns Your Body Parts?" Judges' comments: "This story's terrific lead drew you in with a revelation on how lucrative this business is. It fits the definition of a good expose."

Jacob Sullum, Best Magazine Feature/Commentary, for "Thank Deng Xiapoing for Little Girls." Judges' comments: "This engaging story mixes comprehensive, well-researched material with the author's personal experiences and perspective."

Nick Gillespie and staff, Best News Organization Website, for reason.com. Comments: "The true marks of a successful website are graphics and functions that pull you in, then content that doesn't easily let you go. Whenever we started to exit, something else would catch our eyes."

Second places: Radley Balko, Magazine News/Investigative, for "CSI: Mississippi." Brian Doherty, Magazine Entertainment Feature, for "Robert Heinlein at 100." Drew Carey, Multimedia Package, for "Medical Marijuana." Nick Gillespie, Online Design/Layout, for reason.com. Nick Gillespie and staff, Group Weblog, for Hit & Run.

Honorable mention (that's L.A. Press Clubese for "third place"): Amy Sturgis, Magazine Entertainment Review/Criticism/Column, for "Florida's Forgotten Rebels." Ronald Bailey, Online Column, for "The Secrets of Intangible Wealth." And Matt Welch, Magazine Feature/Commentary, for "Be Afraid of President McCain."

You can get all this terrific, award-winning journalism mailed to your doorstep 11 times a year for the ridiculously low price of $19.97. Or, if you subscribe already, you can send out a gift subscription to loved ones and antagonists alike, to blow their minds. What are you waiting for?

* Was originally "13." No wonder we did not place in "editor's math skills."

Comments

[JohnD]

Press Club awards are meaningless. You people all get together and decide how great you are.
The only thing meaningful is how many people are willing to spend money to read what you write.

I occasionally read the on line Reason, but I wouldn't spend a dime for your mag.
Mosty of you are morons.

[JMR]

Just curious (and maybe a bit biased, like "mosty morons" around here) but...What story beat Balko's??
JMR

[Pablo Escobar]

I agree to subscribe to your magazine... but only if you promise to run a hot libertarian chick as the regular page 5 centrefold.

[Matt Welch]

What story beat Balko's?

Howley's!

[bah]

Welch wuz robbed! Among the politicos, that McCain piece is being passed around like a sticky Hustler in a 1980s tree-house...

[Happy Jack]

Mosty of you are morons.

Does that mean that the leasty are literate?

[Fluffy]

Mosty they come at night. Mosty.

[dhex, neologician to the super]

dude, just save time and just write "morosties."

usage:

"aw man i was going to take cindy from work to applebee's for a "date" but it was choked up with morosties so we went to olive garden instead."

[J sub D]

Congratulations to all those honored by their peers.

To JohnD, H&R's village idiot:

As in most professional endeavors, awards and recognition from those in the profession are the most valued and difficult to earn. Look at major league baseball's all star system before and after fan balloting for an example.

Along the lines of peer recognition, who would like to second my nomination for JohnD as the H&R village idiot? I know the competition is fierce, but I believe a strong case can be made.

[regularron]

Well from a long time Reason Magazine reader, Congrades to my favorite magazine. It's nice to see a magazine that I read get the recognition it deserves.

[GG]

You can get all this terrific, award-winning journalism mailed to your doorstep 11 times a year for the ridiculously low price of $19.97. Or, if you subscribe already, you can send out a gift subscription to loved ones and antagonists alike, to blow their minds. What are you waiting for?

That right there is some killer ad copy! They don't call you "Mad Men Matt" just for your fabulously retro sense of style.

I'm buying a gift subscription for my kid's econ/history teacher. I'm hoping he'll send his students home with the occasional article from reason instead of his typical NYT op-eds and "bipartisan" Centers for American Progress pieces.

Congrats on the awards! Jacob's "Thank Deng Xiapoing for Little Girls" brought tears to my eyes.

[VikingMoose]

congratulations to the reason team!

[LongTimeReader]

Am I the only one who had trouble counting those awards and ending up with the number "13"?

Still, kudos on the 11, reason gang.

[Obama]

This is obvious conservative bias.

[Creepy McPervert]

Kerry Howley is always a good expose.

[Matt Welch]

Am I the only one who had trouble counting those awards and ending up with the number "13"?

Doh! Fixed, thanks.

[Jennifer]

Congratulations to everybody!

[TallDave]

Yeah, the Deng article was great.

[TallDave]

And that Drew Carey MM video is a classic.

[TallDave]

That Ron Bailey piece on intangible capital is very good too, very reminiscent of DeSoto's "The Mystery of Capital."

Huh, I've missed some really good Reason articles. Nice of you guys to round them all up here.

[TallDave]

As the 1950s ended, Heinlein wrote a final boys' novel, Starship Troopers. Scribner's rejected it, finding it inappropriate for its intended youth market. It tells the story of a young man who finds his place in the world by joining the Mobile Infantry, going through the travails of training, and eventually fighting a war against sinister, implacable alien bugs whose ant-like lack of individuality was an unmistakable metaphor for communism.

Heh, that metaphor never occurred to me, probably because I read it in the 1990s.

[Jonathan Hohensee]

Reason is Nick Gillespie's best work since Teen Machine, easily.

[Naga Sadow]

Congrats! I've been a Reason reader since I was 19, and it's good to see you guys getting recognized for your hard work and skills.

[C:\\Pot>]

Tall Dave,

Maybe you're just a closeted collectivist yourself.

[h-dawg]

GG is onto something. I'm looking up the address of my son's history teacher who I think considers the NYT a source of right wing propaganda.

[GG]

It's for The Children?!

(That teacher I mentioned also schools the kids on government.)

[stephen the goldberger]

Congrats, well deserved!

[Ali]

I am actually impressed by the award for reason.com. I anticipated that because of the increased amount of trolling recently (think Dondero, Neil, et al.) that reason's blog would fall behind a little.

[Citizen Nothing]

Reason rocks.
And Carey takes silver in the SCJA? Wow. He's finally made it!
As far as JohnD goes, his trolling is far too banal to win first prize as H&R village idiot. At best he is an honorable mention. Better luck next year, JohnD!

[Private Hudson]

Mosty they come at night. Mosty.

Howley's!

Well why don't you put her in charge!?!

[Mo]

JohnD,

Coming to the web site provides revenue for reason. So despite your snark you're a source of revenue for the magazine.

[Citizen Nothing]

I was going to put together a whole list of H&R commentor awards; Best troll/sock puppet (take a bow, cesar/neil); Best neoconlib (I'm lookin' at you, Montag); Best (and only) libertarian southern baptist in the northern hemisphere (bless you, brotherben); Best demodude who we'd do were we a demochick (you got it, joe, kiss kiss); Favorite demigod (the Urk*b*ld wins gold, silver and bronze and the award is retired. Ahhh, my taint feels so supple!); Best Lester Bangs wannabe (oh, yeah, Art-P.O.G., it's your year! Rock 'N Roll!!!!); Best quasi-objectivist in the Central Ohio region (take a bow, Ayn Randian); Et cetera, et cetera. But I've spent far too much of the day staring out at Lake Michigan imbibing Beam-and-Cokes on somebody else's dime. (Lordamercy. A travel writer's work never ends.)
So somebody take over for me, will ya?

[JLM]

Congrats. It's great to see Reason getting some recognition. Y'all deserve it.

[Pig Mannix]

Congrats Reason!

[Somewhat Drunken Minion of URK]

FOOLS. CITIZEN NOTHING WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO ACHIEVE NOTHING. CITIZEN.

[brotherben]

Citizen nothing,
Thanks for the nod. but

I thought Alabama is in the southeastern hemisphere?

[brotherben]

oh, and you magazine folks.

CONGRATULATIONS!

[Ayn_Randian]

Best quasi-objectivist in the Central Ohio region (take a bow, Ayn Randian); Et cetera, et cetera

I'm so overwhelmed...

And this is going to be a repeated joke, but:

I'd like to thank my parents, Ayn Rand and God.

[Warren]

Congratulations to all.
I must say though, Radley Balko is the finest investigative reporter ever. Kerry's article was excellent, but I think she was awarded extra points for being hot.

[Ayn_Randian]

I forgot, I have to credit Shem for that joke.

Kerry's article was excellent, but I think she was awarded extra points for being hot.

hm, perhaps we need affirmative action for the "attractiveness challenged"?

I demand a grant!

[NP]

Guess this is a little on the late side, but...

Congrats to the Reason staff.

(I initially thought this was a list of nominations.)

[Warren]

BTW,
We was robbed!
Giving second place to Nick Gillespie and staff, Group Weblog, for Hit & Run, is bullshit. It's us Hit & Run commeters that make this Group Weblog great.

[Ayn_Randian]

Press Club awards are meaningless. You people all get together and decide how great you are.
The only thing meaningful is how many people are willing to spend money to read what you write.

Ha, by that standard, the Bible is the best fucking thing ever written. Which clues me in to how much of small-minded tool you are (Sales = Teh Best!) Please.

Mosty of you are morons.

Ouch, kid. Recommend you look up joez law and get back to me with a 1000 word essay (multiple syllables, plz. KTHXBAI).

[Reinmoose]

Congratulations Reason Staff! You all do a lot of hard work and I bet it's nice to get recognized for it every once in a while.

*glares at wife*
(J/K, I'm not married)

[J sub D]

We was robbed!
Giving second place to Nick Gillespie and staff, Group Weblog, for Hit & Run, is bullshit. It's us Hit & Run commeters that make this Group Weblog great.

With the notable exceptions of you, me and a few others. 😉

[Warren]

J sub D,
That should have gone without saying.

[Citizen Nothins]

For some reason, being hot has never helped me in journalism, or even swimsuit, competitions.
Mosty.

[Citizen Nothins]

Did I mention I'm off the Beam and Coke and now am almost a full bottle into a Leelanau Peninsula "semi-dry white table wine"?
WTF? The label doesn't even say what the varietals are. Leelanau Cellars "Spring Splendor"! For the love of Christ, somebody get The Wine Commonsewer on the horn and ask for the antidote!

[ed]

The only thing meaningful is how many people are willing to spend money to read what you write.

Ha, by that standard, the Bible is the best fucking thing ever written.

People actually buy the Bible?
Who knew?

[Citizen Nothins]

There should probably be some kind of breathalyzer keyboard lock on my laptop.

Oh. My. God.

Did I type that out loud? Did I just summon the Cosmotarian Overloard?

[Episiarch]

For some reason, being hot has never helped me in journalism, or even swimsuit, competitions.

It's always worked for me. Maybe you're actually pig and don't realize it, you lush?

[Cab]

Just last night I was telling my wife about the article Jacob wrote, "Thank Deng Xiapoing for Little Girls." I told her I would never forget the last line, then quoted it. She said, "Wow, you read constantly, it must have been a good article for you to remember specific lines from that long ago."

It was. Congrats, you guys deserve the kudos.

[Citizen Nothins]

I remember the Venice Beach competition in 92, Epi, when you wore that baby blue number. God, you were an Adonis, then. What happened to you?

[Citizen Nothinshg]

And wasn't SugarFree in that same contest? I seem to recall something with spangles...

[Episiarch]

God, you were an Adonis, then. What happened to you?

Cocaine is a hell of a drug. Besides, who mourns for Adonis? Not me.

Don't let yourself go like this, man. If you're going to drink, for god's sake don't eat.

Edina: "When did you eat last?"
Patsy: "1978."

[Episiarch]

NutraSweet only wears thongs with glitter, not spangles.

[Citizen Nothinshgo]

Fuck.
Is anybody in the Petoskey or Charlovoix area?. I need more wine but I really think I probably shoulden't drive.

[Citizen Nothinshgo]

Glitter. Right. That always throws me.

[Episiarch]

You must have some Listerene lying around somewhere, right? Minty fresh!

[Citizen Nothinsg]

I got some Meijer "Fresh Scent" stick deodorant. Will that work?

[Episiarch]

Throw it in the blender and find out. Don't forget the ice, though.

[Citizen Nothing]

No blender here, so I'm headed out to the Quicky Mart. I only pray to Jesus that if the cops get me, Balko hears about it.

[Episiarch]

The faster you drive, the less time you're on the road, and therefore are in less danger of encountering the fuzz. Also, shortcuts through people's yards can help.

[TallDave]

Maybe you're just a closeted collectivist yourself.

Hmmm, well, I did like that Simpsons episode where the space ants were going to be welcomed as our new overlords. Maybe I'm a subconscious Stalinist.

[Ren? Magritte]

Nick Gillespie and staff, Group Weblog, for Hit & Run.

I appreciated the link in this sentence.

[Sergey Brin]

Even though it didn't win, this site is still first in our hearts.

And first in google.

Navel Gazing is only 7th. :-P.

[Citizen Nothing]

Thanks for nothing, H&Rers. I'm back with my own bottle of wine. (Fuck you, Dept. of Justice.)
But the mumbling, tub-of-goo pussy-whipped manager and the Faulknerian man-child assistant manager at the North Petoskey Mobil Quick Stop send their regards.

[Mr. Nice Guy]

I know you're not supposed to drink and drive, but sometimes you just gotta get the kids to school.

[Rick Barton]

Kudos, Reason folks! You guys deserve the accolades. Reason is bitchen stellar-a real cornucopia for the mind.

Almost sans exception, everyone I turn on to Reason is delighted.

[robc]

Best (and only) libertarian southern baptist in the northern hemisphere (bless you, brotherben)

I dont have any problem with brotherben winning "best", but Id like a runnerup prize please, thanks much.

[robc]

Mosty of you are morons.

Ouch, kid. Recommend you look up joez law

I agree, everyone knows its spelled "moran".

[Mr anonymous]

Drew Carey, Multimedia Package, for "Medical Marijuana."

Why Reason insists on advocating "medicinal marijuana" on the eve of Obama's-Gonna-Raise-Taxes-To-Buy-Everybody-Health-Care Day is a mystery to me.

[Citizen Nothing]

What the Kochtopus wills, we do not question.

[Citizen Nothing]

I'm hoping to bid for the pay-per-view rights to the Kochtopus/Urk*b*ld deathmatch. I figure it's easy money. Who wants in?

[The Kochtopus]

Everything has proceeded as I have foreseen!

*maniacal laughter*

[Ayn_Randian]

I've got the Kochtopus in five. Double or nothin' on a TKO.

[Naga Sadow]

I'm gonna need some more background on this Kochtopus before I make my wager. Link please!

[Providers for Triskelion]

50 qualtoos on the Kochtopus!

(wait, who is this Sulu? Have we erred?)

[apaulled]

Looks like betraying Ron Paul has its rewards. Enjoy it while it lasts, sheepies, it won't be long before the press club hands out awards to the magazines that trash you guys.

I would call reason a treacherous rag, but a rag at least soaks up some of the stain. This site is like a plastic rag that just smears.

[Virgil]

"it won't be long before the press club hands out awards to the magazines that trash you guys."

Don't worry, apaulled, it also won't be long before they hand out your meds. Maybe at some point, with enough therapy, you'll realize just how full of shit you are (not about Paul, but about Reason).

[C:\\Pot>]

The only part of a magazine that soaks up spills are the annoying little paper inserts. Everything else is too glossy.

[Amy Alkon]

My boyfriend and I sat with Brian and Angela at the awards. We missed ya, Matt and Emmanuelle! (I actually won for my column, which the judges found to be libertarian. I guess it comes through even in love/sex/dating advice.)

Anyway, the super-super-cool thing about the reason.com award is that reason beat latimes.com, the site the LATimes is just THROWING money at. Yaaaaay!

What else? Harry Shearer was the emcee, and rightly slapped around all the media people who treated the death of Tim Russert like the death of Martin Luther King.

[Kwix]

It was better when Virginia Postrel was here.

DRINK!!

[Taktix®]

Congrats reasonators!

I'll be expecting my cut of the prize money shortly, as the blog award was clearly clinched by the cunning, combative commentary culled carefully and collectedly by none other than myself.

Cool!

[SugarFree]

NutraSweet only wears thongs with glitter, not spangles.

Had to give up the thongs. I'd forget they were on while taking a dump and split turds in half.

but only if you promise to run a hot libertarian chick as the regular page 5 centrefold

And what do you suggest they do after those first three months? I guess they could run a JohnD spread where he tries to tongue his mosty balls.

[dhex]

Looks like betraying Ron Paul has its rewards.

listen, in order to sleep at night i gotta believe you guys are joking about this whole martyrdom thing. tiny media profiles don't get larger by "beating up" - which some might term "asking reasonable questions" - marginal figures. seeing as reason's current EIC has a book-long hit job on mccain, etc etc and so forth.

my nightmares are too fleet-footed otherwise.

[thoreau]

Congratulations to everyone at a magazine called Reason!

Drink!

[Matt Welch]

Looks like betraying Ron Paul has its rewards.

None of the submitted material had anything to do with Ron Paul. All of the work dated from 2007. The awards are judged by regional press clubs, not Jamie Kirchick.

[Rimfax]

Of the four non-corporate magazine categories, Reason got 6 of 12 possible awards. Not bad. The other magazine winners were Tu Ciudad Magazine, People Magazine, Poets & Writers Magazine, and Bloomberg News.

[Sean]

I have to thank Kerry Howley for putting out that piece, cause I bought LifeCell stock after that article ran at about 28 bucks.

Sold it after a buyout for $50/share.

Thanks Kerry!