WCBS-TV's NJ Car Chase in Broadcast Live Action, Star-Ledger's McGreevey Layout in Print are Tops in Spot News Among Silurians' 2005 Award Winners

WCBS-TV's NJ Car Chase in Broadcast Live Action, Star-Ledger's McGreevey Layout in Print are Tops in Spot News Among Silurians' 2005 Award Winners

TV Reporter-Anchor David Diaz Wins Peter Kihss Award

NEW YORK, May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Television news' advantage in portraying live action was demonstrated by WCBS-TV in its extraordinary helicopter coverage of a New Jersey police chase -- more dramatic than the O.J. chase -- to win for television spot news in The Society of the Silurians Awards for Excellence in Journalism for 2005.

The Star-Ledger was selected winner for spot news in print for its broad-scale coverage of the sudden resignation of Gov. James McGreevey. The Silurians made their choice before disclosure of the same choice by the Pulitzer Prize jurors. The Star-Ledger's statehouse and statewide reporting on short notice and with splendid writing produced eight pages in the next day's paper demonstrating what newspapers can achieve with in-depth coverage of major events, according to the committee of judges.

Among multiple award winners The Record of North Jersey took five, The Journal-News three, and The New York Times, The Daily News and WCBS-TV two each.

David Diaz, WCBS-TV and WNBC-TV reporter-anchor over 27 years, will receive the Society's Peter Kihss award honoring the journalist who best exemplifies the late New York Times reporter's qualities of fairness, accuracy, devotion to detail and kindness and help to colleagues.

The 2005 awards of The Society of the Silurians will be presented at the awards dinner at The Players Club on May 18.

Awards for reporting in 2004 by The Silurians, the nation's oldest press club:

* SPOT NEWS -- Jeff Whelan, John Russell and the statehouse and metro staffs of The Star-Ledger, deadline reporting on the confessions and resignation of New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey.

* GEORGE PLIMPTON FEATURE NEWS AWARD -- N. R. Kleinfield, The New York Times, for sensitive and remarkable continuing coverage of the elderly.

* INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING -- Russ Buettner, The Daily News, for his investigation of homeland security nominee Bernard Kerik.

* SPORTS -- Jeff Roberts, The Record, for the public versus parochial high schools conflict over recruiting.

* BUSINESS-FINANCIAL REPORTING -- Bloomberg Markets magazine correspondent Vernon Silver, for his follow-the-money investigations "Bowling for Palestine."

* HONORABLE MENTION -- The Newsday staff, and their investigation of their own newspaper's circulation scandal.

* HONORABLE MENTION -- Reporter Hugh Morley and photographer Carmine Galasso, The Record, for their series on human tragedies created by outsourcing.

* SCIENCE-HEALTH REPORTING -- Lindy Washburn, The Record, for a series on the hope of stem cell research which followed Dr. Robert Manzi's stem cell transplant.

* ARTS/CULTURE REPORTING -- John Zeaman, The Record, for "A World by Design," stories broadening the range of art and culture reporting.

* HUMOROUS WRITING -- Bill Ervolino, The Record, writing such personal tales as his dislike for messy guest towels.

* EDITORIAL WRITING -- Jim Wright, The Record, for a leading "voice for reform" in campaign against pay-to-play.

* NEWS ANALYSIS -- Andrea Elliott, The New York Times, for the study of "The Children of 9-11."

* COMMUNITY SERVICE -- Health Reporter Melissa Klein, The Journal-News, reports on Westchester Medical Center losses exceeding $160 million and bankruptcy amid mismanagement.

* JUDGES' CHOICE AWARD -- The Newsday staff's special section on the Republican National Convention.

* SPOT NEWS PHOTO -- Vincent DiSalvio, The Journal-News, for dramatic action shot of rescue of injured driver from overturned car in deep snow.

* HONORABLE MENTION -- Todd Maisel, The Daily News, for "Image of Love and Death," showing dying gunshot victim caressed by woman friend.

* FEATURE NEWS PHOTO -- Frank Becerra Jr., The Journal-News, birthday party of con-joined twins, here for separation surgery.

* TELEVISION INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING -- Walt Kane, William Schlosser and Anthony Cocco, News 12 New Jersey, for exposing missing funds given "Tin Can Charities," groups that place donation cans in stores.

* HONORABLE MENTION -- Kirsten Cole, WCBS-TV, for exposing crawfish substitutes in "Red Lobster - Fishing for Ingredients."

* TELEVISION NEWS FEATURE -- Brendin Keefe for "Those Who Serve," a half- hour documentary on a New York area Army engineer unit deployed to Iraq.

* TELEVISION SPOT NEWS -- Maura McHugh, Mindy Bloom, Emad Asghar, Joe Biermann and Andrew Friedman for helicopter coverage of a 40-minute car chase more dramatic than the "other coast's O.J. chase."

Source: The Society of the Silurians

CONTACT: Fred Ferguson for The Society of the Silurians, 212-596-1553, or Fred.Ferguson@prnewswire.com

Web site: http://www.silurians.com/

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