Alexandra Robbins, a reporter for Washingtonian Magazine, is the winner of this year’s Robert D.G. Lewis Watchdog Award, the top prize in the Society of Professional Journalists Washington, D.C., Chapter’s annual Dateline Awards competition.
The awards were announced June 10 during the annual Dateline Awards dinner at the National Press Club.
The Lewis Award carries a $1,000 check for the winner.
Robbins’ entry was an investigation on a pharmaceutical shortage of desperately needed nutrients as a result of actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In selecting Robbins, the judges — all members of SPJ’s Columbus, Ohio, chapter said:
“With well-chosen words and an exploration of arcane drug policies that blocked imports, this powerful story illuminates a problem that somehow had defied solution by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. …It became a national story after the Washingtonian posted it to the web. And, the FDA announced it would allow imports of some of the nutrients in short supply. This was an important story, handled masterfully.”
The Dateline Awards were presented after the SPJ-DC chapter inducted four new members into its Hall of Fame: USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page, NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, columnist and PBS political commentator Mark Shields, and WAMU radio host Kojo Nnamdi.
The chapter’s 2014 Distinguished Specia Award went to Frank Quine, retired assistant dean at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. Austin H. Kiplinger, editor-in-chief emeritus of Kiplinger Washington Editors, received lifetime achievement recognition
Here is a list of all Dateline Award winners and finalists by category:
General News
Newspaper – weekly
Winner — Sean Reilly, Federal Times
“DoD’s screw-up means hundreds of feds owe thousands”
More often than we know, government screws up. Sometimes it affects taxpayers, but in this case mistakes by the Defense Department resulted in financial problems for hundreds of government employees. The author clearly understood the issue, which concerns a housing allowance, and found real-life examples to bring the point home.
Finalist — Judy Kurtz, The Hill
“Dem lawmaker tweets college co-ed, then deletes messages”
Judy “In The Know” Kurtz and Alexandra Jaffe were among the first to write about tweets (and deletions) by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn) involving a female college student. The Hill stuck with the story, providing interesting insider information about the twists and turns of yet another Congressional embarrassment.
Finalist — Jim McElhatton, Federal Times
“Backlog of bogus background checks grows”
The author dug into the little-known world of government background checks, finding many of them falsified. Well-informed writing that exposed government mistakes at taxpayer expense.
Newspaper – daily
Winner — Andrea Noble, Washington Times
“Alligators popular guards for drug dealers”
In a new twist on man bites dog, Noble found an eye-catching story about drug dealers turning to alligators as guards. Sharply written with just the proper amount of tongue-in-cheek, the story taps police for necessary examples of this unusual trend.
Finalist — Jessica Gresko, Associated Press
“High court gay marriage tickets cost time, money”
Excellent lead on a story about the difficult and costly task of getting seats at U.S. Supreme Court hearings, including last year’s landmark gay marriage cases. Gresko’s deft writing takes readers inside the Supreme Court hearing room, where most will never go, and explains how people wait in line for tickets like they would for a concert or sports playoff game. A well-done different angle story.
Finalist — Brett Zongker, Associated Press
“National Cathedral Gay Marriage”
When gay marriage came to the Washington National Cathedral, Zongker’s writing put the story in proper perspective by relating the cathedral’s prominence in life, death and Washington politics.
Magazine
Winner — Luke Mullins, Washingtonian Magazine
“Armey in Exile”
Mullins’ in-depth reporting on the exile of Dick Armey is a fascinating read. The author’s legwork, extensive interviews, and getting to truly know the subject pay off in a fully textured profile of one of America’s (formerly) most powerful political leaders.
Finalist — Harry Jaffe, Washingtonian Magazine
“Truth and Consequences”
Jaffe’s writing crackles with the drama and tension of a TV crime drama, but is well researched and packed with detailed information about the use of DNA in court proceedings. This piece is well done from beginning to end, a superlative example of dynamic writing cross-pollinated with hard facts.
Finalist — WTOP Staff, “Government Shutdown”
WTOP reporters told listeners what they needed to know when the federal government shut down all around them.
TV
Winner — Gary Nurenberg, WUSA
“Silver Spring Transit Center”
Government projects are notorious for being over budget and behind schedule. Nurenberg does a good job of detailing how delays and foul ups in the Silver Spring Trans Center affected tens of thousands of commuters. Speeded-up video of Nurenberg walking the lengthy distance commuters must traverse is a fun, effective way of showing the inconveniences caused by the uncompleted project.
Website
Winner — Mark Flatten, Washington Examiner
“Making Heroes Wait”
The author goes deep into the problems faced by veterans in obtaining benefits. The five-part series covers all the bases: bureaucracy, cooked books, lies, a claims backlog, and failed solutions. Excellent look at how America’s heroes fare when they return home from the field.
Finalist — Glynis Kazanjian, Maryland Reporter
“Maryland Health Insurance Exchange To Open This Fall at a Cost of $200 million”
Obamacare was in the headlines, but Kazanjian went deeper to sort out the problems and cost that Maryland incurred in setting up a health care exchange. Clearly written without too much reliance on the bureaucratic jargon that often bogs down similar stories.
Finalist — Federal News Radio Staff, “Shutdown 2013”
This entry covered the important points in the much-reported federal shutdown. The reporters found worthy touchstones: what federal employees needed to know up front, the impact on events, services and contractors, and how it hit workers in the pocketbook. Good informative reporting for a region dramatically impacted by federal employment.
Spot News
Newspaper – daily
Winner — Washington Times Staff, Washington Times
“Massacre at the Navy Yard”
“Massacre at the Navy Yard,” published on Sept. 17, 2013 was the main bar that led off a complete coverage package, including four sidebars, of the shootings. Each story was well reported and well written, and each read so well that I had to pause and reflect that I was reading spot news, breaking news, and not a weekend package prepared with the luxury of more time. The photos, graphics and maps worked well in the package. The staff covered the heck out of this story and did it all on deadline.
Radio
Winner — WTOP Team, WTOP
“Washington Navy yard Shootings”
WTOP on Sept. 16, 2013 produced solid, sweeping team coverage of the Washington Navy Yard shootings. The package included five stories in all, told by different voices that made the coverage even more compelling. I liked that besides the lead story relating what happened, radio listeners also heard stories featuring a doctor at a hospital that treated some of the victims, people who related what it was like to be in lockdown at the Navy Yard and at area schools, and a minister who was found praying at the scene. This was spot-news reporting at its best.
TV
Winner — Gary Nurenberg, WUSA
“Student Driver Hits Kids”
Reporter Gary Nurenberg reported live from the scene the story of three girls, 7, 8, and 10, playing in their driveway who were hit and injured by a a car driven by a 15-year-old student driver. Nurenberg used his wits to produce the story quickly on deadline. He found a neighbor and his children who related on camera what had happened, and also interviewed the sheriff about whether charges would be filed. The result was a compelling and comprehensive story told live from the scene in the very best tradition of spot news.
Features
Newspaper – weekly
Winner — Joey DiGuglielmo, Washington Blade
“Remembering Sean Sasser”
A nice feature obituary about Sean Sasser, a former ‘Real World’ cast member who gave many Americans their first exposure to the issues of AIDS and gay marriage in the mid-1990s. The piece goes beyond the usual ‘he was such a great guy and will be missed” obit to include the significance of his TV appearance and the career he crafted for himself after the cameras move on.
Newspaper – daily
Winner — Amanda Comak, Washington Times
“Team Spirit and the Holy Spirit”
A unique look at the Washington Nationals from the standpoint not of RBIs and at-bats but of players’ religious beliefs. The writer interviews multiple players and provides accounts of what really goes on behind the scenes and in players’ hearts.
Finalist — Meredith Somers, The Washington Times
“Patriots ride again; What it’s like on the Ride of Patriots; Rolling Thunder: Thousands of reasons to ride.”
The writer takes an annual event that honors veterans and provides three comprehensive angles of well-written coverage augmented with good photos. She brings new insight by going along, literally, for the ride
Finalist — Jessica Gresko, Associated Press
“Presidential strut is now iconic inaugural moment”
District natives and TV viewers alike know the decades-old inauguration traditional when the president and first lady hop out of their car for a stroll and some face time with para watchers. Here, the writer used great initiative to tell the story in a new way, digging into the history of that walk and talking to the parade announcer and Secret Service about the iconic moment that happens every four years. It’s tightly written and well-sourced.
Magazine
Winner — Shane Harris, Washingtonian Magazine
“Shot Down”
A captivating, behind-the-scenes account of how a former Navy plot was recommended for promotion to admiral more than 25 years after he shot down a U.S. plane in a training exercise. The story gives an insider’s peek into the military and is well-researched and well-written, with good sourcing to boot.
Finalist — Luke Mullins, Washingtonian Magazine
“Dr. Hoffman vs. the mosquito”
This feature takes what could have been an ordinary science/medical story and draws readers into a tale about one man’s quest to end malaria, even at the risk of his professional reputation and personal health. Nicely written, with good supporting art and graphics.
Finalist — Amy Reinink, Bethesda Magazine
“The Way Home”
This look at the nonprofit Bethesda Cares shows how one community aims to help the chronically homeless. The story uses the personal stories of an employee and several street people to good effect to support the solid statistics and facts about the local homeless problem.
Radio
Winner — Brennan Haselton, Neal Augenstein, Michelle Basch, Andrew Mollenbeck, Megan Cloherty, WTOP
“Troubled Waters”
An ambitious package of stories that informs residents about a history of Potomac River water quality concerns, emerging threats and whether the water and fish that live there are safe today. Good team reporting that highlights an important public safety issue.
Finalist — Kristi King, WTOP
“V-E Day”
A nicely assembled and edited story about the importance of V-E day, especially as veterans who participated in it are becoming harder to find. It uses a nice combination of visitor interview with veteran’s experiences and achieves good emotional effect, which can be challenging on radio.
Finalist — Thomas Warren, WTOP
“MLK, Jr.’s I have a dream”
This story takes a new look at King’s iconic speech and explores aspects of the ‘dream’ theme that aren’t reported as often as you might think. It’s a nice way to put a different spin on an annual remembrance story.
TV
Winner — Gary Nurenberg, WUSA
“Viewers Help Women in Distress”
The entry shows how QUSA viewers stepped up to help people in need: Redskins fan Pat Hill, who was about to lose her home due to foreclosure and Nefisa Siraj, a mother of three who was waiting on a city settlement check to repair the food truck that was hit by a city fire truck and was her sole source of income. Nice feel-good stories showing how the kindness of strangers can make a difference.
Website
Winner — Gayathri Vaidyanathan, E&E News
“Death on the gas field illustrates high risks of the rush to drill”
A well-crafted tale whose tone is set with the solid narrative lede that pulls readers into the story and continues throughout the piece. The writer interweaves statistics and facts about the fracking boom with tales of how families are often left with paltry payouts and scant information about what happened to their loved ones when accidents occur. It’s solidly researched and written.
Finalist — Becca Heller, Maryland Reporter
“Making sexual abuse by therapists a crime is one woman’s crusade”
This story hows the personal side of legislation in the Maryland General Assembly to outlaw sexual relationships between patients and therapists. Heather Sinclair was courageous enough to speak up about what happened to her in the hopes that other patients would not be treated as she was. Nice treatment of what could have been another routine legislations story.
Sports
Newspaper – weekly
Winner — Syl Sobel, The Town Courier
Quince Orchard High School Football Coverage
Collection of articles chronicling a high-expectation high school football team’s season. Reporter covers the minutia of position changes, injuries, recruiting, etc. like a major college football beat writer, but elevates this coverage by attention to community aspects of high school football. Particularly liked the story on families of the players, and former players, who follow the team as a way of life.
Finalist — Paul Fletcher, Virginia Lawyers Weekly
“The Rules of the Game”
Lawyer’s account of MLB’s Infield Fly Rule and Travesty Rule draws a clever parallel between the love of arcane facts, in real estate law and pro baseball. Fun read.
Magazine
Winner — Edward G. Robinson III, Washingtonian Magazine
“John Wall Needs a Miracle”
Writer joins in the story as one of the doubters of John Wall’s ability to deliver wins as a the Washington Wizards’ franchise player, citing his former views as a beat reporter where Wall played high school ball. But then he seems to join the city’s hopeful that Wall will deliver. Interesting insertion of the writer into this story; but it works, well, as a Doubting Homer piece that brings readers to really know this player.
Finalist — Shane Mettlen, Washingtonian Magazine
“The Audible”
Compelling piece about a kid who could have been one of the best football players ever produced in the area, until a horrific injury leaves him looking at coaching rather than quarterbacking in college and beyond.
Radio
Winner — Jonathan Warner, WTOP
“Hockey Dentist”
Great interview with the Capitals’ team dentist, cleverly interspersing the doc’s gruesome descriptions of hockey injuries he’s treated with game announcers’ live accounts of plays that left teeth on the ice. Anyone listening to this either turned it off before the 3 minutes was up, or after listening ended up really ready for the Cup playoffs. Fine work.
Finalist — Brennan Haselton, WTOP
“Washington Horse Show”
Strong all-directions audio account of horses taking up residence in an arena usually populated with pro basketball and hockey players or rock concerts. Reporter’s attention to detail brings listeners to this out-of-the-ordinary arena visit.
Editorial
Newspaper – weekly
Winner — Kevin Naff, Washington Blade
“Victory Vindication and Tears”
Kevin Naff offers a helpful historical perspective to this piece celebrating the overturning of the federal Defense of Marriage Act by the U.S. Supreme Court. The editorial has a sound analysis of the court’s opinion and asks readers to contemplate several “tantalizing questions for the future” of gay rights in states without marriage-equality laws.
Finalist — Paul Fletcher, Virginia Lawyers Media
“Gone in 60 Seconds”
Paul Fletcher’s column addressed a lawyer-disciplinary case before the Supreme Court of Virginia that was certain to be closely watched by lawyers throughout the state. He analyzes the case involving an unexpected contact with opposing counsel’s client and shows how important the ruling would be. That’s because, as he carefully explains, what happened to the lawyer facing possible disciplinary action “will happen again today, tomorrow and the day after that.”
Newspaper – daily
Winner — Emily Miller, The Washington Times
Series of editorials including “D.C. dirty tricks in Part II of unfolding David Gregory mystery drama,” “D.C. mayor was in on David Gregory cover-up in Part III of investigation,” “How senator got her guns for a D.C. show and tell,” “Keystone Kops on a daring D.C. raid,” and “Treating gun owners like criminals.”
Emily Miller’s pieces are heavy on reporting of events and detail her use of FOIA requests to uncover the reason a broadcaster and a congresswoman were not arrested after a public display of firearms and ammunition that are considered illegal within the District of Columbia. The pieces collectively reinforce The Washington Times view that the district’s gun-control laws are unfairly applied to certain people, are not applied to other and are of great inconvenience to gun owners, all while serving no purpose in crime control. The message comes through, even when the writing sometimes is less than precise and lacks the kind of improvement that would come from a little editing.
Magazine
Winner — Katie Steedly, Washingtonian Magazine
“The Unspeakable Gift”
Katie Steedly’s first-person piece is a riveting retelling of her participation in a National Institutes of Health study that aided her quest to come to grips with her life of living with a rare genetic disorder. Her writing is superb. For example, her great sense of relief at finding that her heart works correctly comes through clearly in such well-crafted passages as her description of watching a movie made of her heart beating: “Muscles moved with the fluidity of a ballet dancer. Blood flowed like a river. Valves opened and closed as elegantly as a bird’s wings.”
Finalist — Kim Eisler, Washingtonian Magazine
“Wake-up Call”
Kim Eisler writes a you-are-there account of his discovery that he had had two heart attacks without knowing it. He describes how he found the inner strength to face the possibility of death as an outcome from his decision to undergo heart-bypass surgery. He shares his unique perspective with readers. For example: “I’m pretty sure that when you die, the sensation is no different from being under anesthesia, merely a state of unconsciousness similar to the one I was in for the first 10,000 years of human history before breaking through nothingness into Earth’s reality in 1951.”
Radio
Winner — Chris Core, WTOP
“Core Values”
Chris Core’s four radio commentaries are clear, concise and expertly written and spoken. He shows a real command of the language and choose his words carefully to deliver the maximum amount of information and opinion in a minimal amount of time. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s apparent disinterest in maintaining high ethical standards comes through, and Core encourages listeners and the legislature to address the shortcomings in the law that allow governors and their families to accept lavish gifts and other behaviors that by most people’s standards would show an obvious conflict of interest.
Business
Newspaper – daily
Winner — Patrice Hill, The Washington Times
D.C. draws Walmart into battle of politics
Finalist — Brett Zongker, Associated Press
Newseum Financial Crisis
Business reporting on a non-profit as it should be done. Uncomfortable questions generating unsatisfying answers.
Magazine
Winner — Joseph Guinto, Washingtonian Magazine
“His Father’s Son”
In-depth on both the subject and his father without delving into minutia on the pairs’ relationship. Shed light on CBS, cigars, and family dynamics.
Finalist — Mary Clare Glover, Washingtonian Magazine
“Idea Man”
Succinctly tells story of an industry niche few have thought of. Just somehow makes commercial real estate and the “Idea Man” interesting.
Radio
Winner — Alisa Parenti and Tracy Johnke, marketwatch.com
“Housing On Fire”
Well-produced report on the state of the housing market in D.C. at the time. Covered a lot of ground in a compact report, including segment on buying distressed homes, which isn’t often covered.
TV
Winner — Gary Nurenberg, WUSA
‘Budget Crisis – Local Impact”
Localizing such a big national story is never easy and this series does an admirable job laying out the impact of, hopefully, contributing to the pressure to fix the problem.
Website
Winner — Michael Smallberg, Project on Government Oversight
“Dangerous Liaisons”
Eye-opening report on an agency supposed to protect us from the next financial meltdown.
Arts Criticism
Newspaper – weekly
Winner — Joey DiGuglielmo, Washington Blade
“Dynamic Differences”
DiGuglielmo’s idea to combine two organ concerts in one article resulted in a unique review comparing two emerging artists and their distinctive styles, and afforded him the opportunity to highlight the history of organ music and the organ scene in D.C.
Newspaper – daily
Winner — Aram Bakshian, Jr., The Washington Times
“Where publisher was sharp, but foul”
Fascinating compilation of the nitty gritty history of one of the giants in the corporate world of books, enhanced by examples that provide historical perspective and insight to the industry today.
Finalist — William F. Gavin, The Washington Times
“Tracing Charlie Parker’s Epic Gifts to Music”
Page-turning review that persuasively portrays Parker’s place as a musical icon when compared with other artists of his generation.
Finalist — Claire Hopley, The Washington Times
“Haiti and its possibilities”
By aptly positioning Claire of the Sealight in historical context, Hopley elevates the significance of this contemporary piece of fiction in telling Haiti’s story.
Magazine
Winner — Sophie Gilbert, Washingtonian Magazine
“Art Review: The Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition at the National Portrait Gallery”
Reviewer’s words are so compelling and eloquently descriptive that readers can see the photos in their minds.
Finalist — Sophie Gilbert, Washingtonian Magazine
“Theatre Review: Other Desert Cities at Arena Stage”
Gilbert’s exquisitely crafted prose makes readers want to rush to the box office.
Radio
Winner — Jason Fraley, WTOP
Gravity Review
Fraley packs a powerful four-star review in a short radio clip that lasts about 90 seconds total. His clip enhances the listener experience with music and dialogue.
Website
Winner — Michael S. Cavna, The Trial Balloon
“What an extraordinary experience for readers to witness art criticism in the form the ‘art’ was originally created. Enough to convince any naysayer of the value of graphic novels in the classroom.”
Investigative Journalism
Newspaper – weekly
Winner — Sean Reilly, Federal Times
“Whistleblower on leave; culprits off ‘scot free'”
With tenacious reporting, Reilly delved into mismanagement and questionable spending at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. A whistleblower and internal documents helped him break the story and prompted a Congressional inquiry that was greeted with the resignation of the agency’s director. Reilly’s story is quality journalism, well done.
Newspaper – daily
Winner — Andrea Noble and Matthew Cella, The Washington Times
Series of stories on sorry state of D.C. ambulances
Working their sources and deploying public-records requests, Noble and Cella revealed a trip to the hospital in a Washington, D.C., ambulance could leave a patient short of his destination – and prompt medical care. It seems the ambulances wouldn’t take the summer heat and were less than reliable. One ran out of gas, due to a bad gauge, while waiting to accompany the presidential motorcade. A fine example of working the beat.
Magazine
Winner — Alexandra Robbins, Washingtonian Magazine
“Children Are Dying”
Finalist — Harry Jaffe, Washingtonian Magazine
“The Toxic Waste Pit Next Door”
More than a dozen years after his original story on the topic, Jaffe revisits the wealthy Spring Valley neighborhood – and its homes built atop a landfill of World War I chemical weapons. The story drives home the ongoing befuddlement of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and understandable alarm of residents. It’s an important story, written with care, that serves to keep the problem front and center.
Radio
Winner — Julie Patel and Patrick Madden, WAMU
“Deals for Developers, cash for campaigns”
Following the money produced a superlative report on developers using a loophole – no limits on limited liability companies – to funnel campaign cash to District of Columbia officeholders and candidates. Examining 100,000 contributions and 110 development deals, Patel and Madden established 40 percent of city subsidies went to 10 largest contributors. And, only 5 percent of subsidies went to D.C.’s poorest areas. The story led council to close the loophole. Outstanding work.
Website
Winner — Adam Zagorin and David S. Hilzenrath, Project on Government Oversight
“Embassy (in)security”
Post Benghazi, Zagorin and Hilzenrath uncovered an all-too-similar story of alarming security vulnerabilities at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Interviews with private-sector guards and leaked documents showed problems ranging from a lack of training to a lack of leadership and, effectively, a lack of personnel standing watch. The U.S. Department of State was alarmed, as well, writing of a “mutiny” among dissatisfied guards in a document obtained by the reporters. Outsourcing embassy security was called into question by this important story. Top-rate reporting.
Finalist — Douglas P. Guarino, Global Security Newswire
“What EPA really thinks about its new nuclear response guidelines,”
The U.S. EPA wasn’t quite forthcoming with revisions to its guidelines for responding to radiological incidents. But, it actually was undermining its policies that long sought to minimize cancer risk and promptly clean up the radioactive mess after any incidents/ Guarino’s excellent reporting pulled back the curtain with which EPA shrouded itself and freed the facts.
Robert Lewis Watchdog Journalism Award
Winner — Alexandra Robbins, Washingtonian Magazine
“The Children are Dying”
“Premature babies dying because they can’t receive nutrients such as calcium and zinc? In the U.S.? Really? Yes, emphatically replies Robbins’ in-depth reporting on a pharmaceutical shortage of desperately needed nutrients. With well-chosen words and an exploration of arcane drug policies that blocked imports, this powerful story illuminates a problem that somehow had defied solution by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Robbins and her editor worked for months on this story and hustled it online weeks ahead of publication in hopes it might have an impact. Reporting on the topic prior to this piece appeared sporadic and superficial. It became a national story after the Washingtonian Magazine posted it to the web. And, the FDA announced it would allow imports of some of the nutrients in short supply. This was an important story, handled masterfully.”
Newsletter
Washington D.C. award (published inside the D.C. area)
Winner — Paul Goldberg, Cancer Letter
“Conflicts of Interest at MD Anderson Cancer Center”
“The depth of research is impressive, including digging through documents acquired in public records requests.”
Blog
Winner — Len Lazarick, Annapolitics Blog
“Great example of what a blog should be. Puts news in perspective with an eye toward making the complex easy to grasp. Great personality.”