Volume 46, Number 3, Winter 1998-99

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1998 Writing Awards In Science Journalism Presented In Anahein

1998 Science Journalism Award Winners. Standing (l to r) John McQuaid, Robert Gardner, Mark Schoofs, Andrew Boyd, Scott Threlkeld, Todd Halvorson, Mark Schleifstein. Seated: Julia Cort, Nell Boyce, Robyn Suriano, Lynne Jensen, David Baron

Winners of the 1998 AAAS Science Journalism Awards, sponsored by the Whitaker Foundation, were honored on January 23 at an awards banquet held in conjunction with the AAAS annual meeting in Anaheim.

John McQuaid, Mark Schleifstein, Lynne Jensen, Andrew Boyd, and Scott Threlkeld won the competition in the large newspaper category for “Home Wreckers,” a five-part series in the Times-Picayune (June 28-July 2, 1998). The team was honored for “its exhaustive effort and initiative in capturing the drama behind the battle against the Formosan termite, which is threatening homes and historic architecture in New Orleans and throughout the South. The series is as an excellent example of how science can be applied in explaining an urgent local issue.”

Robyn Suriano and Todd Halvorson won in the small newspaper category for “Cassini: Debating the Risks,” in Florida Today (September 14, 1997). Suriano and Halvorson were honored for their initiative and balance in explaining the potential risks associated with Cassini, NASA’s probe of Saturn. According to their citation, “they went beyond reporting on the hazards and benefits of the debate by thoroughly covering the science behind the issues and explaining it in a context that the reader could use.”

Profound Thanks The southern California host committee acknowledges the generosity of the Los Angeles Times, The Salk Institute, Genentech, and the QUALCOMM Foundation in sponsoring the January 24th NASW Party held in conjunction with the Anaheim AAAS meeting. Host committee members were: Randy Black (UC Irvine), Suzanne Clancy (Salk Institute), Cheryl Clark (San Diego Union-Tribune), Alicia Di Rado (UC Irvine), Bob Finn (freelance), committee chair Lynne Friedmann (Friedmann Communications), Deborah Gordon (Orange County Register), Jan Greene (freelance), Denine Hagen (UC San Diego), Sean Henahan (freelance), Robert Lee Hotz (Los Angeles Times), Michelle Nicolosi (Orange County Register), Lori Oliwenstein (freelance), and Patricia Rosenberg (Rosenberg PR). The committee also wishes to recognize the important role played by A.J. Hostetler (Richmond Times-Dispatch) who jumped in at the eleventh hour to organize much-appreciated transportation and Linda Roach Monroe (freelance) whose imagination and shopping talents produced the committee’s surfer-inspired “uniform” for the event. Photos from the event may be viewed at www.nasw.org/NASW/album.htm.

Mark Schoofs won in the magazine category for “How Genetics is Changing Our Lives,” a seven-part series that appeared in the Village Voice from September to December 1997. Schoofs was honored for his “comprehensive reporting on the ethical considerations and scientific advances of genetic engineering. The piece tackled a host of complex scientific and ethical issues, providing relevant information and important insights for a general audience.”

In the television category, Julia Cort of WGBH-TV and independent producer Robert Gardner won for “Warnings from the Ice,” which appeared on April 21, 1998, on WGBH-TV. Cort and Gardner were honored for the NOVA special, which followed an ice-core drilling expedition in the cold and dangerous environment of the west Antarctic ice sheet. “The piece gave a clear explanation of scientific concepts involved in climate change research and a vivid portrayal of scientific research under extremely difficult circumstances.”

In the radio category, David Baron won for “Montserrat Volcano Science,” which was aired on September 8, 1997, on National Public Radio. Baron was honored for his “initiative and originality in reporting on the volcanic eruption on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat. Baron’s reporting placed the listener at the scene and offered a clear explanation of the science behind the volcano.” This award marked Baron’s third AAAS Science Journalism Award in the radio category, placing him among a handful of three-time winners in all five award categories.

The awards represent the pinnacle of achievement for individual science print and broadcast journalists. Each of the five categories carries with it a $2,500 prize.

The AAAS Science Journalism Awards, first presented in 1945, are sponsored by the Whitaker Foundation—a private nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting research and training in biomedical engineering. The competition is open to newspaper and magazine articles as well as radio and television shows. Independent screening and judging committees of journalists and scientists select the winners.

The winner of the 1998 Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award was Nell Boyce. She received the award and its $1000 prize for an entry of four stories in New Scientist: “Bowels of the beasts;” “Monster sperm;” “Slaves of the past;” and “A necessary evil.”

The panel of judges cited Boyce for “her imaginative, wide-ranging topics, as well as for stylish writing that clearly explained difficult scientific subjects.”

The judges also awarded an honorary mention to Scientific American writer W. Wayt Gibbs for three stories: “Dogma overturned;” “The Search for Greenland‘s Mysterious Meteor;” and “Taking aim at tumors.” The judging panel was particularly impressed with Gibbs’ ability to take the reader on a journey to see how science is actually done.

The Clark/Payne Award is intended to encourage young science writers by recognizing outstanding reporting in all fields of science. It is given each year in memory of journalists Ev Clark and Seth Payne, who offered friendship and advice to a generation of young reporters.

All entrants must be age 30 or younger.