Deseret News reaps bushel of Utah journalism awards

The Deseret News earned 45 excellence-in-journalism awards at the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists annual banquet Saturday night.

Fifteen of those awards were first-place finishes, giving the Deseret News more top honors than any other news organization in Utah. The contest is judged by out-of-state media professionals.First-place award winners for the Deseret News are:

Jerry Johnston, reviews and criticism, for book, play and movie reviews. His winning entries included, "Latin American Flicks" and "Levi's Tribute to Outsiders."

Lee Davidson, investigative reporting, for, "Investigating Military Operations in Utah," articles based on information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

Amy Donaldson and staff, comprehensive reporting, for coverage of the John Albert Taylor execution that included Donaldson's description of the execution itself.

Donaldson also took top honors in the deadline news reporting category for "Three Workers are Injured as Robbery Goes Awry" about a botched crime at a fast-food restaurant.

Karl Cates, non-deadline news reporting on the environment, for "Parks Under Pressure," about the problems created by ever-growing crowds at Utah's national parks.

Jason Swensen, non-deadline news reporting on police and crime, for "21st Century Cops," about the use of techonology in crime-fighting.

Lois Collins and Elaine Jarvik tied for first place for non-deadline news reporting on health, medicine and science. Collins, for "Journeys of the Mind," and Jarvik, for "Food as Medicine."

Jarvik won two other first-place awards, in feature writing for "Under the Influence," and in lifestyle writing for both "Feng Shui" and "One Little Thought Framed by a Large Whole Area is Good for You."

Brad Rock, Richard Evans, Doug Robinson, Loren Jorgensen and Cates, sports news reporting, for their coverage of the last game of the 1996 NBA playoffs between the Utah Jazz and the Seattle Sonics.

Robert Noyce, design, for "Processing Progress," a graphic used to illustrate a story on the 25th anniversary of the micro-processor.

Gary McKellar, sports photography, for "NBA-Style Dancing," a shot that judges said "captures the grace and battle in NBA basketball."

Ravell Call, feature photography, for "Park City Autumn," which judges described, simply, as "beautiful."

Former staff photographer Carmen Troesser, photo essay, for "Saying Goodbye."

Also Saturday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah received one of the highest awards from the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.