Media coverage of education issues - including a community in uproar over a school superintendent, and an examination of charter school law abuses and a crusade to fund scholarships for high school kids - are among the works honored in CTA's 44th annual John Swett Awards for Media Excellence.
Fourteen winners were chosen by an independent panel of media professionals. The awards honor individuals, publications, and television and radio stations for their outstanding achievements in reporting and interpreting public education issues during 2002.
"These are journalists who have gone the extra mile in their outstanding reporting on public education in California," says CTA President Wayne Johnson. "It is only right that we honor the media representatives who report on education with honesty and compassion."
The winners received their awards during a luncheon in their honor at CTA's State Council of Education meeting in Los Angeles May 31. CTA is taking out a full-page ad in the Columbia Journalism Review to give the winners national recognition.
This year's winners and their entries follow.
Newspapers
Nanette Asimov, the San Francisco Chronicle, for continuous coverage of school issues, including stories on charter school scandals.
Louis Freedberg, the San Francisco Chronicle, for editorials on such vital education issues as the successful fight for Proposition 47, the state's testing mania, and the toll on teachers from daily pressures and lack of resources.
Suzanne Pardington, the Contra Costa Times, for a feature on a teenager's harrowing foster care voyage and the impact on her education.
Stefanie Knapp, the Los Angeles Daily Journal, for contribution by an individual in a series on a mock trial program for high school students.
Patti Rasmussen, the Signal (Santa Clarita Valley), was a double winner; she won an award for continuous coverage of education issues, and an award for a feature story on talented spouses hired to teach in the Saugus Union School District.
Kara Platoni, the East Bay Express (Emeryville), for a feature story about a community uproar over the divisive conduct of a Hayward Unified School District Superintendent.
Mark McDermott, the Easy Reader (Hermosa Beach), for a series of stories about difficult contract negotiations between teachers and the Redondo Unified School District.
Radio
Kathryn Baron, KQED-FM (San Francisco), for contribution by an individual for a newscast.
"Forum," a talk show on KQED-FM (San Francisco), for a call-in program about legislation that would have given teachers and parents a greater say on school policy issues.
KNX 1070 News Radio (Los Angeles) for a series of editorials about Los Angeles schools.
Pat Thurston, KSRO radio (Santa Rosa), for talk shows that covered school issues.
Television
Rigo Chacon, KGO-TV (ABC) San Jose bureau, for ongoing stories about the student successes from his "Abrazos and Books" scholarship program, which gives Santa Clara County high school students a better chance for a college education.
News 10, KXTV (ABC) in Sacramento, for the station's monthly series of profiles on public school teachers who are making a major difference every day in the classroom.
