ProPublica Prizes for government investigative journalism will be presented this Spring

Government reform orgs. deliver news on major events within their areas of expertise.
From: ProPublica

Pulitzers, Oscars and Now the ProPublica Prize

by Mike Webb, ProPublica - January 9, 2009

ProPublica

It's 2009 and the official beginning of awards season. Not just for Hollywood celebrities or pop music artists -- or journalists. We've taken a look through the magnifying glass of our logo and noticed that some of the people who do outstanding investigative work are almost never recognized for their important efforts. These people work in agencies such as the Government Accountability Office and the offices of various inspectors general, attorneys general, state auditors and comptrollers, congressional committees, special counsels, prosecutors and many more. They do unheralded work issuing reports that hold elected officials, government employees and others with power accountable.

So to recognize their contribution to more effective government, we created the ProPublica Prizes for Investigative Governance. The Prizes will honor the people who produce investigative reports that -- similar to our own mission -- achieve impact in the public interest by exposing exploitation of the weak by the strong and the failures of those with power to vindicate the trust placed in them.

Anyone can nominate an entry -- journalists/bloggers, government officials, citizens or even self-nominations -- so spread the word. To be eligible, entries should have been released in 2008 and the entry form (which can be downloaded here), along with a copy of the work, should be sent to the address below. Prizes will be awarded in five categories:

• Federal investigation -- executive branch
• Federal investigation -- legislative branch
• Federal investigation -- independent agency
• State or local investigation -- multi-district elective or executive agency
• State or local investigation -- legislative branch or independent agency

The nominations will be judged by a panel of distinguished journalists and former public officials (click here for a complete list of the judges). All entries should be sent to ProPublica Prizes, One Exchange Plaza, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10006 (212-514-5250); they're due by Jan. 31, 2009. Winners will be honored at a luncheon in Washington, D.C., this spring. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us at govtprizes@propublica.org.

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• ProPublica Investigative Governance Awards

Tell CNN and MSNBC to report on journalist Amy Goodman (Democracy Now! program) arrest!

Government reform orgs. deliver news on major events within their areas of expertise.
From: CREDO Action

Americans need to see this footage. Watch the video, then demand that CNN and MSNBC cover it. This is America. We don't jail journalists here. A free press is supposed to be a cornerstone of our democracy. But journalists are being arrested at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. Award winning journalist and host of "Democracy Now" Amy Goodman was arrested by St. Paul police while covering a protest outside the Republican National Convention. Though clearly identified as press, Goodman was charged with "obstruction of a legal process and interference with a 'peace officer.'" Two of her producers were arrested for "suspicion of felony riot." You won't believe how upsetting this arrest was until you see it. Click here to watch the video, then take action. Goodman and her producers were released last night. (An AP photographer was also arrested and released). But the charges are still pending. Amazingly, this story has been virtually ignored by the mainstream press. The cable channels are providing extensive coverage of events related to the Republican National Convention, but there has been a virtual news blackout on the arrest of Amy Goodman and the "Democracy Now" team. Americans deserve to know that journalists are being jailed for trying to do their jobs. We must demand that CNN and MSNBC include this story in their coverage of the RNC. Click here to e-mail CNN President Jonathan Klein and NBC News President Steve Capus to demand coverage of this brutally important story. Thank you for working to build a better world. Kate Stayman-London, Campaign Manager CREDO Action from Working Assets

All Things Reform immediately took action on this urgent situation. Please take action now! Thank you

RE: #rnc08

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