Reason Nominated for Four Southern California Journalism Awards

I am happy to announce that Reason has been nominated for four Southern California Journalism Awards by the Los Angeles Press Club [PDF] covering works published between San Diego and Santa Barbara in 2009. And the nominations are:

* Best Website, News Organization

* Best Group Weblog

* Best Online New Story, Feature, Series or Package
Radley Balko, for "Manufacturing Guilt?"

* Best Magazine News/Investigative Story
Radley Balko, for "Forensics Fraud?"

Winners announced June 27. See our previous L.A. Press Club hauls from 2008, 2007, and beyond.

Comments

[R C Dean]

Let me just take this primo top-o-thread real estate to say how much I appreciate the Ideeli and Conservative T-Shirts ads.

Thanks, Hit 'n' Run auto-ad-generator!

[Tim]

That's some nice Boolean logic at work there- or is it Bootie-n logic?

[Clich? Bandit]

Big awesome second...but I cant seem to focus on the shirts they are selling...wierd.

[John]

http://www.city-journal.org/2010/bc0507df.html

Threadjack. If you want to read some major league stupid, check out this review of a book by a tenured professor of religious studies who is trying to rehabilitate the image of Jim Jones and the People's Temple. No kidding.

[The Gobbler]

So he drank the kool-aid?

[John]

it is a she. And apparently so. Check this out

n her topsy-turvy narrative, Moore seems most concerned with refuting these lonely critics. She calls the relatives of Jonestown members who exposed oppression within the Temple "apostates" and "defectors," faulting them for failing to "consider the effect these actions might have upon residents of Jonestown." The slain Congressman Ryan didn't provide adequate notice for his trip and embarrassed the Temple by bringing an entourage of journalists, Moore claims. "Violence erupted because Jonestown residents believed that Ryan jeopardized their ultimate concern, which was to be in solidarity with all oppressed peoples, but especially with African Americans. He represented the power of the state and its ability to destroy the community."

That is bringing the crazy there.

[Rabbit Scribe]

Two of her sisters, well advanced in the cult's hiearchy, died at Jonestown, so you have to sort of forgive her, I suppose. But still, wow...

[heller]

Forgive her for defending the cult that killed two of her sisters? Hmmm.

[Jeff P]

The idea of Southern California being able to recognize quality in anything is pretty laughable.

[Tim]

Really, do they respect you or are you just there to meet some bullshit diversity requirement?

[Fist of Etiquette]

I nominate Reason for Best Weblog Commenters Ever. Congratulations on that and the other four nominations.

[capitol l]

Seconded, what other blog can claim the sheer epicness of the ongoing STEVESMITH saga?

[John]

And such a cast of characters. Organic Girl, Lonewacko, Shike. We know how to bring the crazy around here.

[capitol l]

Don't forget, John, if any of the "sane" people around here were to post at Slate, or Salon, then we'd be the crazies.

I like that at Reason, "crazy libertarian" is the default position.

[John]

I don't mind the crazies. I was actually sorry to see Lonewacko go. And organic girl is always entertaining.

[The Gobbler]

Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko! Free Lonewacko!

[John]

I like that as a handle. Free LoneWacko!!

[Libertymike]

As a group, we should be proud. After all, its us that garnered the nomination.

[Tim]

All those years of saving your urine in jars have finally paid off for you Matt.

[Pip]

Just when you thought it was safe to start expressing your right to free speech, Democrats in Congress are gearing up for a vote on a new piece of legislation to blatantly undermine the First Amendment. Known as the DISCLOSE Act (HR 5175), this bill ? written by the head of the Democrats' congressional campaign committee ? is their response to the recent Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. In short, the Supreme Court found that the government could not restrict the free speech rights of individuals or other entities wishing to participate in the political dialogue.

It is hard to see how establishing a level playing field for free speech ? as our Founding Fathers did by making it a right under the Constitution and which the Supreme Court upheld ? is a threat to our democracy. Nevertheless, the White House and their allies on Capitol Hill see honest criticism as a threat to forcing their big government, liberal agenda through Congress. So, there is no time like the present ? namely five months before an election ? to start putting the muzzle on those individuals and organizations not sticking to the Democrats' talking points.

Under the DISCLOSE Act, certain incorporated entities would be restricted in how they can exercise their free speech rights. There is an exemption for some in the media sphere like newspapers, TV news, and the like. However, there is one driving force in today's public debate that is NOT exempt. Bloggers will not have the same exemption provided to other media sources. Never mind that the Supreme Court's opinion in the Citizens United case stated, "Differential treatment of media corporations and other corporations cannot be squared with the First Amendment."

For many bloggers to exercise their free speech rights, they would have to jump through the same onerous new hoops as many businesses, nonprofit groups, and even such threats to democracy as your local chamber of commerce. If this sounds like an absurd overreach by one party in power, I invite you to take a look at their government takeover of health care, taxpayer-funded bailouts, and general hostility to private sector economic growth.

http://biggovernment.com/tpric.....ore-125766

[R C Dean]

Under the DISCLOSE Act, certain incorporated entities would be restricted in how they can exercise their free speech rights.

Blatantly unconstitutional. Will be struck down (I think - Kagan will, of course, support the statute, but I don't think that changes the way her "seat" voted last time).

[The Gobbler]

I sure hope this Joe Sestak shit leads somewhere. This President has to go.

[R C Dean]

A major reason for hoping the Repubs take the House in November is that they will then be able to subpoena witnesses to testify at hearings.

[The Wine Commonsewer (TWC)]

That's fabulous, Matt. Congratulations.

[Terry]

Yea, get nominated by the LA Press Club is like getting picked to be in the All Star game in AA baseball when your 33.
Talk about damning with faint praise.

[luckradley]

i hope reason wins them all, but i have to really give a shout out to radley. i stumbled upon his articles about a year ago from just surfing the web about stuff. he's the one guy that really got me into reason magazine. he deserves it. luck balko. not that you need the awards to give you merit, but because you deserve them.