The Scripps Howard Foundation today announced the winners of its annual National Journalism Awards, honoring the best work in the communications industry and journalism education in 2009.

The competition was established in 1953 and is open to all U.S. news organizations and college journalism and mass communications educators. Opportunities for 2009 work were increased across multiple platforms and two new categories were created for community journalism and breaking news to reflect changes in the media business.

Cash awards totaling $175,000 will be presented in 17 categories April 23 during a dinner at the Grand Hyatt in Tampa, Fla. It will be hosted by the Foundation and its corporate founder, The E.W. Scripps Company.

“These awards not only recognize outstanding talent, skill and intellect, but reward dedication to serving our country and communities with journalism that changes lives and protects democracy,” said Mike Philipps, Foundation president and chief executive officer. “It’s a powerful message we look forward to sharing in Tampa, home of Scripps television station WFTS-ABC Action News.”

You can see a full list of winners at the Scripps Howard Foundation
or take a look at this article from The Daily Cartoonist.

The AAEC/John Locher Memorial Award was founded in 1986 by members of the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists(AAEC). They felt the need to establish an award that would not only honor the memory of John Locher but also would help discover young cartoonists and stimulate interest In editorial cartooning among college-age students In North America.

The Award was named in honor of the late son of Dick and Mary Locher. Dick is a Pulitzer-prize winning editorial cartoonist. He is also both the author and artist for the “Dick Tracy” comic strip.

Needless to say, this is a tremendous honor and one that I am very proud of. I was a runner up the past two years, so to win it my last semester in college is all the more satisfying and rewarding.

You can read more about the award at the AAEC website or to see a list of previous winners, click here.

Here is a little bit more about the Mark of Excellence Awards:

Annually, the Society of Professional Journalists presents the Mark of Excellence Awards honoring the best in student journalism. The awards offer categories for print, radio, television and online collegiate journalism. Entries are first judged on the regional level. Regional award winners will be honored at the spring conferences. First place regional winners are forwarded on to the national competition. National winners will be honored at the 2010 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference in
Las Vegas.

You can see a full list of winners at the Society of Professional Journalists website.

Illustration to accompany a story in the Daily Kent Stater about a girl contemplating the death of a wasp.

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Illustration accompanying a story in the Daily Kent Stater about two workers at a pet stop falling in love.

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