Reason Wins Two First-Place Southern California Journalism Awards

The Los Angeles Press Club last night handed out its annual Southern California Journalism Awards, covering news organizations between San Diego and Santa Barbara. Reason, which had been nominated for 12, pulled down two 1st-place prizes. They were:

* Best Online Political Column/Commentary: Meredith Bragg and Nick Gillespie, for "3 Reasons U.S Drone Policy is Really Freakin' Scary." Re-live the fear now!

Sayeth the L.A. Press Club judges:

True to the name Reason, this piece avoids the emotional aspects of the growing debate over the United States' use of drones to target its enemies. Instead, it focuses on the practical arguments and in doing so Gillespie and Bragg present a case with broad appeal across the political spectrum. The piece is packed by documented research that breaks out of the echo chamber of right and left. It pulls the rug out from under the effectiveness, the legality and the future projects surrounding this new style of warfare. It is a stellar example of what an opinion piece ought to do -- compelling acceptance instead of attacking one side or another. Well "reasoned".

Drink!

* Best Magazine News/Investigative Article: Peter Suderman, for "Medicare Whac-A-Mole: Why health care price controls always fail." From the judges:

A spellbinding piece of journalism that takes a deep dive into the subject matter and emerges with a fresh perspective on the issue that at the same time is both wide and deep.

Suderman also nabbed a 2nd place price for Best Magazine Personality Profile, with his "Obama's Failed Narrative: Did the presidency ruin a good storyteller, or vice versa?"

Reason grabbed three 3rd-place prizes as well:

* Best Website, Print News Organization

* Best Magazine Feature/Commentary Over 1,000 Words: Greg Beato, for "Better off Dead: The cheap, exciting afterlife of modern mortal remains."

* Best Magazine News/Investigative Article: Mike Riggs, for "Obama: Transparently Disappointing: The president has fallen far short of promises to establish 'an unprecedented level of openness in government.'"

For our full list of 2012 nominees, click here. We won 1 in 2011, 4 in 2010, 0 in 2009, 2 in 2008, 3 in 2007, and 1 in 2006.

Comments

[Hugh Akston]

Suderman's piece deserved the award. Easily the best longform piece I have ever read on Obamacare.

[Rasilio]

"* Best Website, Print News Organization"

Hey I love you guys but clearly they have never been to the site because from a layout and features perspective it's like it is 2002 all over again

[Brandybuck]

Yeah, they need to be using Web 3.0 technology.

[hamilton]

Don't forget EDIT BUTTON.

[Hyperion]

If there was an edit button, we couldn't totally take advantage of anyone who does a funny type-o, since they would be able to fix it after the first smartass reply. That would take away half the fun at H&R.

[darius404]

Not if there was an edit history for comments. That way their shame would still be eternal.

[Hyperion]

Did they read the comments before handing out these awards?

[C. Anacreon]

Yes, and speaking of which, who won the award for best commentariat? I would think we have that one hands down.

[JW]

How can this be? You guys aren't real journalists, like the crack staff at the WaPo. You're advocating a staked out position fercrissakes! Advocating!

[Fist of Etiquette]

If Southern Cali likes what you're doing, you're doing it wrong. Congrats, reason.

[darius404]

reason

You forgot the "t".

[sarcasmic]

True to the name Reason, this piece avoided the emotional aspects of the growing debate over the United States' use of drones to target its enemies.

[sarcasmic]

Oh sure. I got the tense wrong. Big fat hairy deal.

By the way, contrats. No sarcasm.

[GILMORE]

""Suderman's piece deserved the Shit-Eating Grin of the Year award""

[Rasilio]

The real question of course remains unanswered......

Who won the award for best alt-text