Some great news to take us into the well-deserved break: the NYCity News Service is a finalist in three categories in the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence awards for Region 1, which covers much of the Northeast. We’ll find out how we did on April 9 – first-place finishes could mean shots at the national awards, so stay tuned. We’re up for best overall site, for our work on the Brooklyn immigration project and for a package of stories about the economy led by our interactive video vox pop map.
Here are some more examples of the fine work that’s getting the J-School recognition from all over:
•Perry Santanachote’s audio slideshow profile of a corset maker made Dossier.
•Margaret Teich’s package on the recent city spelling bee found a home on WNYC’s website.
•The latest edition of the 219 West TV news magazine is online and features contributions by Amy Berryhill, Jessica Courtemanche, David Montalvo, and Rochana Rapkins.
•Dale Eisinger’s piece about how some motorcyclists are parking for free got some nice play in am New York.
•Chris Prentice, Matt Robinson and alum Mike Reicher contributed to a package of stories offering extensive coverage of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers conference. Their pieces were posted on a special J-School website. One news-making story got picked up by Crain’s New York Business and notched a link from Poynter’s Jim Romenesko.
•Jonathan Balthaser’s article about how some shops are going bagless made The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Meanwhile, Jonathan teamed with Uche Abanobi on a video profile of an award-winning teacher. You’ll find their work on the News Service.
•Kerri MacDonald wrote about a photographer who put together a unique event featuring the work of photographers in Nairobi. Her post was featured on The New York Times’ Lens blog.
•Speaking of The Times, our Local Greene Team – Carl Gaines, Kerri MacDonald, Chris Prentice, Perry Santanachote, Andrea Swalec, Margaret Teich, Vineeth Thomas, Mitch Trinka and Peggy Truong – is chugging along. There are too many stories to list, but you can go here to check out some of the latest. Plus, Christopher Schuetze contributed a post.
•Michael Cohen profiled a Golden Gloves boxer for the Daily News. Bobby Melok’s story about Gator quarterback Tim Tebow’s poor performance on an off-the-gridiron test also made the paper. We’ve all heard of the Tea Party – check out Joe Tacopino’s story about the Coffee Party.
•Over at NBC Local Integrated Media, Krissy Dolor profiled a young blogger who chronicles – with photos – the misadventures of subway miscreants. Katie Honan revealed there’s a Shelly Silver impersonator lurking on Twitter. Meagan Morris wrote about what turned out to Jack Nicklaus’ correct prediction that Tiger Woods would play the Masters.
•The latest issue of Overflow, the magazine for which Shane Dixon Kavanaugh serves as managing editor, is out. The magazine features contributions by Dale Eisinger, Megan Finnegan and recent alum Valerie Lapinski. Feel free to peruse the copy in my office.
In our Alumni Corner, Rima Abdelkader wrote a story for Women’s eNews about the art and politics of crossing-signal icons.
Linnea Covington wrote a timely piece about a macaroon factory in Williamsburg for Edible Brooklyn.