The American Jewish Press Association has presented its annual awards for excellence in Jewish journalism.
The Simon Rockower Awards were presented at the association’s conference last week in Cleveland.
The following are the first-place winners in each of the 11 categories:
The Louis Rapoport Award for Excellence in Commentary and Editorial Writing: Newspapers over 15,000 circulation — Jonathan S. Tobin, Connecticut Jewish Ledger, West Hartford, Conn, “Loss of the Whalers Is Bad for the Jews.”
Newspapers under 15,000 circulation — Leo Lieberman, Jewish Times of South Jersey, Pleasantville, N.J., Chalk Dust columns.
Magazines — Arthur Hertzberg, Reform Judaism, New York, “Why I Have Not Visited Germany.”
The Boris Smolar Award for Excellence in Comprehensive Coverage or Investigative Reporting: Newspapers over 15,000 circulation — Jill Davidson Sklar, Detroit Jewish News, “Is Cleanliness Next to Godliness?”
Newspapers under 15,000 circulation — Marilyn H. Karfeld, Cleveland Jewish News, Cleveland, “When I Die.”
Excellence in Spot News Reporting: Newspapers over 15,000 circulation — Adam Dickter, New York Jewish Week, “At Last, a Measure of Justice.”
Newspapers under 15,000 circulation — Temima Shulman, Intermountain Jewish News, Denver, “Special Report.”
Excellence in Feature Writing: Newspapers with over 15,000 circulation – – Michael Davis, Baltimore Jewish Times, “Estee’s Risk.”
Newspapers under 15,000 circulation — Marilyn H. Karfeld, Cleveland Jewish News, “So Merle and Melissa Got Married.”
Magazines — Barbra Sofer, Inside Magazine, Philadelphia, “Hebron: Up Close and Personal.”
Excellence in Arts and Criticism News and Features: Newspapers over 15,000 circulation — Sanford Pinsker, New Jersey Jewish News, Whippany, N.J., “Philip Roth and the Ravages of Newark.”
Newspapers under 15,000 circulation — Anne Rackham, Jewish News of Greater Phoenix, “Did God Play Scrabble in Bible?”
Magazines — Aharon Appelfeld, Pakn-Treger, Amherst, Mass., “The Rise and Fall of the Jewish Author.”
The David Frank Award for Excellence in Personality Profiles: Newspapers over 15,000 circulation — Elizabeth Applebaum, Detroit Jewish News, “This Boy’s Life.”
Newspapers under 15,000 circulation — Pauline Dubkin Yearwood, The Chicago Jewish News, “His Name Is Chaim Potok.”
Magazines — Bel Kaufman, Inside Magazine, Philadelphia, “Papa Sholom Aleichem.”
Excellence in Overall Graphic Design: Newspapers over 15,000 circulation – – Detroit Jewish News.
Newspapers under 15,000 circulation — Atlanta Jewish Times.
Magazines — Dimensions Magazine, Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Excellence in Special Sections or Supplements: Newspapers over 15,000 circulation — Mordechai Ben-Dat, The Canadian Jewish Times, Toronto, “Zionism After 100 Years.”
Newspapers under 15,000 circulation — Cleveland Jewish News, “Tempo ’98: Pulse of Hip Jewish Life in Cleveland.”
Excellence in Community Guidebooks: Newspapers over 15,000 circulation – – Jewish Bulletin of Northern California, San Francisco, “Resource — A Guide to Jewish Life in the Bay Area.”
Newspapers under 15,000 circulation — Chicago Jewish News, “The Guide `97.”
Excellence in Photography: Newspapers — Daniel Lippitt, Detroit Jewish News, “Making a Splash.”
Magazines — Reform Judaism, New York, “Is There a Jewish Agenda for America?”
The Noah Bee Award for Excellence in Editorial Cartooning or Illustrating: Newspaper Cartooning — Steve Mills, New Mexico Jewish Link, Albuquerque, N.M.
Newspaper Illustrating — Shari Swartz, Chicago Jewish News, “Happy Rosh Hashonah.”
Magazine Cartooning — Dick Codor, Hadassah Magazine, New York, “History of Zionism.”
Magazine Illustrating — Ilene Winn Lederer, Hadassah Magazine, New York, “Torah and Learning.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.