— 14TH ANNUAL —

First Amendment Awards and Scholarship Banquet

Society of Professional , Fort Worth Professional Chapter

APRIL 28, 2017 SHERATON HOTEL • ARLINGTON, The Society of ProfessionalWelcome Journalists, Fort Worth Professional Chapter, created the First Amendment Awards in 2004 to recognize excellent that highlights press freedoms and upholds the people’s right to know about their government. Geographically, the competition covers SPJ’s Region 8 — Texas and Oklahoma. Contest categories have been expanded over the years to honor journalism that gives a voice to the voiceless and powerless in society, that opens the books of business to public scrutiny, and that reports on environmental issues. The contest is open to students as well as to professional journalists, to online and broadcast news media as well as print, to opinion writers as well as news reporters. The addition in recent years of divisions for Spanish-language media and small community news organizations helps ensure that the contest recognizes journalism that touches almost every aspect of our lives. Although small by comparison to other journalism contests, the First Amendment Awards continue to grow, drawing interest from the region’s most prominent and forward-looking news groups.

ABOUT SPJFW

The Society of Professional Journalists, Fort Worth Professional • Our members include professionals and educators from all Chapter, has been supporting media professionals, media areas of the media industry that includes newspaper, online, educators and media students throughout the North Texas broadcast, multimedia, freelance, photojournalism and area since 1946. Our programs provide information relevant public relations. coverage of current issues, which include open government and • We provide free training workshops to assist media First Amendment issues. Join us! professionals, educators and students to learn new skills. • We are an official local chapter of the SPJ national • We celebrate the journalistic achievements of professionals, organization and the only SPJ professional chapter in North students and citizens every April with our First Texas — all official members are eligible for SPJ national Amendment Awards and… member benefits. • We party! During the summer, we celebrate with our • We offer programs (some free) led by experienced members at our Summer Splash Social. In December, we professionals relevant to today’s media climate at celebrate the holidays and raise funds for a good cause at networking dinners our Holiday Spectacular.

2 FORT WORTH SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Welcome Kim Pewitt-Jones Vice President for Awards & Recognition SPJ Fort Worth Professional Chapter University of Texas at Arlington

Master of Ceremonies Ken Molestina CBS 11 Anchor & Reporter

Keynote Address Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Austin, Texas

Presentations Texas Gridiron and Lina Davis Scholarships First Amendment Awards Open Doors Award

FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD HISTORY

The First Amendment Awards, the signature competition Twenty-four First Amendment Awards were presented at of the Society of Professional Journalists, Fort Worth the 13th annual First Amendment Awards and Scholarship Professional Chapter, honor exceptional journalism in Texas Dinner, April 22, 2016, at Cacharel in Arlington, Texas. and Oklahoma — SPJ Region 8 — that defends the freedoms Environmental writer Randy Loftis, long a reporting stalwart guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution, at , received the Open Doors Award. furthers the people’s right to know how governments and businesses affect their lives, and champions the powerless Loftis joined previous Open Doors recipients Byron Harris, and disadvantaged. WFAA-TV; Brett Shipp, WFAA-TV; Betty Brink, Fort Worth Weekly; the WFAA-TV team of Mark Smith, Billy Bryant, The chapter’s Open Doors Award complements the First Brett Shipp and Byron Harris; Dan Malone of Tarleton State Amendment Awards and celebrates the record of an University; Craig Flournoy, Southern Methodist University; individual or organization that defends the people’s right to Jennifer Autrey when she was with the Star-Telegram; open government and open records. Hadassah Schloss in the Texas Attorney General’s Office; Ralph Langer with the Freedom of Information Foundation The chapter gave $36,500 last year to 13 students who are of Texas; Diane Wilson, author of An Unreasonable Woman: either from Texas or attending a school in Texas. Providing A True Story of Shrimpers, Politicos, Polluters, and the Fight scholarships has been a focus for the chapter since its early for Seadrift, Texas; and Jennifer Peebles when she was with days in the 1940s. Since 2000 alone, $310,000 in scholarship Texas Watchdog. money has been awarded.

2017 FIRST AMENDMENT AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIP DINNER 3 MASTER OF CEREMONIES

Prior to joining CBS 11 News in January 2014 as a anchor/reporter, Ken was a reporter for Ken Molestina WUSA-TV in Washington, D.C. and a news anchor/reporter at KVIA-TV in El Paso, where he REPORTER/ANCHOR, CBS 11 focused on crime and public safety reporting. He won an Emmy Award for his work on exposing underground sewer tunnels in El Paso which were being used by undocumented immigrants and human smugglers to break into the U.S. He was nominated for another Emmy Award for his reporting on the Barrio Azteca gang, a dangerous transnational border gang that primarily operates along both sides of the U.S.-Mex- ico border. Ken is also a recipient of a 1st place award from the Texas Associated Press in the “Breaking News” category. While in Washington D.C., he was one of the first live reporters outside the White House cov- ering the celebrations that broke out following the 2011 assassination of Osama Bin Laden. Ken also reported on President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election and inaugural. He led his station’s coverage of the federal government shutdown in the fall of 2013 from Capitol Hill. —cbs11.com KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kelley has served as executive director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas since Kelley Shannon May 2013. She has spent three decades as a . Shannon was a correspondent for The EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Associated Press in San Antonio and in Austin, where she covered government and politics. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION FOUNDATION She also worked as a reporter for The Dallas Morning News in Austin, the Savannah (Ga.) News- OF TEXAS • AUSTIN, TEXAS Press and the Palestine Herald-Press. Among her major news stories were the election of George W. Bush as president; the 2003 lawmaker boycott of the Texas Legislature; the fatal standoff at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco and the ensuing federal trial. She has done extensive freelance reporting, including in-depth open government projects for the non-profit Center for Public Integrity, as well as business, health and travel stories for news- papers, magazines and nonprofits. Shannon has also been as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Texas at Austin. —foift.org

OPEN DOORS AWARD WINNER

Bob Ray worked as a journalist for more than four decades for news organizations such as Bob Ray Sanders the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Dallas/Fort Worth PBS and NPR affiliate KERA-TV/ RETIRED FORT WORTH KERA-FM. He served as reporter, columnist, producer, station manager and vice president. STAR-TELEGRAM In 2007, Bob Ray’s columns about Kenneth Foster Jr., who was on Death Row for unwittingly ASSOCIATE EDITOR being an accomplice to a murder committed during a robbery, spotlighted his unjust sentence. Gov. Rick Perry eventually commuted Foster’s sentence — on the day he was slated to be executed. Bob Ray’s columns were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. During his 45-year career, Bob Ray — during two stints at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and his work at KERA television and radio — would become, as Krys Boyd recently described him, “a beacon of hope to those eager to build more just, tolerant and economically stable communities, and sometimes a thorn in the side of those who had benefited from the status quo.” Bob Ray has won five Dallas Press Club Katie Awards, a regional Emmy Award and a National Headliner Award for outstanding investigative reporting. His other honors include the Ethics Award from the Schieffer School of Journalism and induction into the Texas Literary Hall of Fame.

4 FORT WORTH SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

2017 Texas Gridiron Club Scholarships From its founding in 1946, SPJ Fort Worth has assisted young journalists in their pursuit of an education. The chapter administers three college scholarship programs through its Texas Gridiron Endowment Fund — the Gridiron (a general scholarship, plus scholarships named in honor of Texas journalists), the Lina Davis and the Jay Milner. Judges evaluate ability, financial need and career potential. Staley and Beverly McBrayer Scholarship Parastoo Nikravesh Recognizes excellence in college student media or as an intern with a Stephen F. Austin University professional news organization. Think of this as the chapter’s MVP award. Staley McBrayer marketed the offset press, which revolutionized the printing industry. Donna Darovich Scholarship Kristina Valdez Recognizes excellence in writing across all sections — news, arts, lifestyle, Baylor University sports. As a Star-Telegram reporter, Donna Darovich won consecutive feature-writing first places in Texas Associated Press Managing Editors competitions. Texas Press Women twice named her the state’s Most Outstanding Woman Journalist. Jack B. Tinsley Scholarship Jeffery H. Rose Recognizes excellence in opinion writing such as columns and editorials. University of Texas at Arlington Jack Tinsley was Star-Telegram executive editor from 1975 to 1986 and led the paper to two Pulitzer Prizes. Jerry Flemmons Scholarship Erin Ratigan Jerry Flemmons excelled at features, and he could turn out a mean Gridiron Texas Christian University Show script. This scholarship rewards outstanding feature writing. Jay Milner Scholarship Marangeli Lopez Celebrates the contributions to journalism and journalism education of University of Texas at Arlington author/teacher Jay Milner, who is perhaps best known for his Confessions of a Maddog: A Romp Through the High-Flying Texas Music and Literary Era of the Fifties to the Seventies, a chronicle of his exploits with the gonzo horde. Al Panzera Scholarship Samantha Bruton Recognizes outstanding photojournalism. Trailblazing Star-Telegram Texas Christian University photographer Al Panzera designed “Big Bertha,” a 4×5 Graflex telephoto camera customized for sports. Joe Holstead Scholarship Keturah Hill Recognizes superior broadcast journalism. Larger-than-life Texas Radio Hall of University of Texas at Arlington Fame member Joe Holstead was one of Fort Worth-Dallas’ most respected news personalities.

Lina Davis Scholarship Dylan Bradley Honors the memory of longtime Arlington, Texas, educator and mentor Lina University of Texas at Arlington Davis, a nurturing and progressive journalism teacher at Sam Houston and Arlington high schools. Audrey Henvey University of Texas at Arlington Narda Perez University of Texas at Arlington Tabitha Redder University of Texas at Arlington Sorayah Zahir University of Texas at Arlington

2017 FIRST AMENDMENT AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIP DINNER 5 FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD FINALISTS

DEFENDING THE DISADVANTAGED MULTIMEDIA PROJECT Jay Root, Todd Wiseman, Julián PRINT/ONLINE OVER 100,000 CIRCULATION Aguilar, Alexa Ura THE TEXAS TRIBUNE Dave Lieber, Marina Trahan Martinez THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS GENERAL NEWS Matthew Watkins, Neena Satija THE TEXAS TRIBUNE PRINT/ONLINE OVER 100,000 CIRCULATION

PRINT/ONLINE UNDER 100,000 CIRCULATION Eva-Marie Ayala, Smiley N. Pool THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS Craig Malisow HOUSTON PRESS PRINT/ONLINE UNDER 100,000 CIRCULATION Patrick Michels TEXAS OBSERVER Michael Barajas HOUSTON PRESS Krista M. Torralva, Natalia Contreras CORPUS CHRISTI CALLER-TIMES Craig Malisow HOUSTON PRESS

BROADCAST MEDIUM MARKET Dianna Wray HOUSTON PRESS David Martin Davies TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

Paul Flahive PRINT/ONLINE UNDER 100,000 CIRCULATION TEXAS PUBLIC RADI0 Joy Diaz Neena Satija, Kiah Collier, Al Shaw, TEXAS STANDARD Jeff Larson THE TEXAS TRIBUNE/PROPUBLICA BUSINESS NEWS

BROADCAST MEDIUM MARKET PRINT/ONLINE OVER 100,000 CIRCULATION David Martin Davies Max B. Baker TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO STAR-TELEGRAM INVESTIGATIVE PRINT/ONLINE UNDER 100,000 CIRCULATION PRINT/ONLINE OVER 100,000 CIRCULATION Chris Ramirez CORPUS CHRISTI CALLER-TIMES Brian M. Rosenthal, Meagan Flynn Marie D. De Jesús HOUSTON PRESS HOUSTON CHRONICLE Craig Malisow HOUSTON PRESS

6 FORT WORTH SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD FINALISTS

INVESTIGATIVE, CONT’D SPANISH LANGUAGE GENERAL NEWS

PRINT UNDER 100,000 CIRCULATION PRINT/ONLINE OVER 100,000 CIRCULATION

Patrick Michels Karina Ramirez TEXAS OBSERVER AL DÍA Shelly Conlon WACO TRIBUNE BROADCAST LARGE MARKET Steve Miller HOUSTON PRESS Crystal Ayala, José Luis Castillo, Gabriel

BROADCAST LARGE MARKET Cantú, Elizabeth Franco TELEMUNDO HOUSTON

Keli Rabon SPANISH LANGUAGE INVESTIGATIVE KHOU, HOUSTON

Scott Friedman, Eva Parks, PRINT/ONLINE OVER 100,000 CIRCULATION Peter Hull KXAS Ana Azpurua, Juan Jaramillo, Dianne Solis BROADCAST MEDIUM MARKET AL DÍA

Alain Stephens, Hannah McBride BROADCAST LARGE MARKET TEXAS STANDARD

REPORTING ON OPEN GOVERNMENT Crystal Ayala, José Luis Castillo, Gabriel Cantú, Elizabeth Franco TELEMUNDO HOUSTON PRINT/ONLINE OVER 100,000 CIRCULATION Yezmin Thomas, Sergio Alvarado Jolie McCullough, Alexa Ura, Ryan TELEMUNDO DALLAS Murphy, Ben Hasson, Johnathan Silver THE TEXAS TRIBUNE BROADCAST MEDIUM MARKET Dave Lieber, Marina Trahan Martinez Ana Cecilia Mendez, Sergio Mendoza, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS Sergio Garcia TELEMUNDO MCALLEN BROADCAST MEDIUM MARKET

David Martin Davies TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO

FOR DUPLICATE AWARDS, CONTACT: All American Awards Debbie Wheaton • 817-261-8071 [email protected] • www.aa-awards.com

2017 FIRST AMENDMENT AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIP DINNER 7 SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Bob Schieffer College of Communication John and Sue Gilbert Texas Christian University Trophy Arts Chancellor’s Office Tarrant County College District Haynes and Boone, LLP The Collegian President/Provost’s office Tarrant County College UT Arlington Fort Worth Business Press Communication Department UT Arlington Cowcatcher Magazine The Shorthorn/Student Publications Fort Worth Star-Telegram UT Arlington Myron and Betty Kimball Mayborn School of Journalism KERA University of North Texas BOARD MEMBERS

PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT – PROGRAMS DIRECTORS Max Baker Rebecca Aguilar Beth Francesco Fort Worth Star-Telegram Multimedia Freelance UT Arlington VICE PRESIDENT – VICE PRESIDENT – SCHOLARSHIPS Karen Gavis AWARDS & RECOGNITION Tom Williams Freelance Kim Pewitt-Jones Haynes & Boone, LLP UT Arlington Brandon Gray EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TEGNA Web Producer VICE PRESIDENT – FINANCE Kay Pirtle Gayle Reaves-King Wedgwood Shopping News Britney Tabor Johnson Freelance, UNT adjunct Denton Record-Chronicle eCHASER EDITOR Tasha Tsiaperas VICE PRESIDENT – John Dycus The Dallas Morning News MEMBERSHIP UT Arlington, retired Shirley Jinkins Fort Worth Star-Telegram, retired JOIN US

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NATIONAL DUES CATEGORIES LOCAL DUES Professional – $75 Associate – $94 College student / Fort Worth Professional Spends more than half of Supports the SPJ mission but postgraduate – $37.50 Chapter – $25 working time as a journalist or does not qualify as either of From freshman through three ($15 household, $40 couple) j-editor. Dues are now payable the above years after graduation monthly. Household – $37.50 Retired – $37.50 Shares living quarters with an Sign up at Retired (62 or older) SPJ professional member professional journalist or spj.org/join.asp journalism educator 8 FORT WORTH SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS

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