The New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists announced today the winners of its 2008 Awards Contest.

Journalists reporting on or in New Jersey during 2007 were eligible for the contest. News organizations were able to submit as many entries in as many categories as desired. Individuals were allowed to submit a maximum of six entries independently. Writing teams also were allowed six entries‚ even if members of the team submitted other entries individually.

To be eligible‚ entries must have been published or broadcast during the calendar year (Jan. 1-Dec. 31‚ 2007). The same entry (story‚ photo‚ etc.) could not be entered in more than one category. Foreign-language entries accompanied by an English translation were accepted.

The awards are going to outstanding journalists working for daily and weekly newspapers‚ radio and television stations‚ magazines‚ newsletters and online publications. The 34 award categories range from investigative reporting and spot news photography to editorial cartooning‚ informational graphics and enterprise broadcasting.

And the winners are:

THE 2007 STUART AND BEVERLY AWBREY AWARD

The Awbrey award winner for 2007 is Jack Fichter‚ Cape May Herald‚ for his fund–raising efforts and accompanying stories on behalf of the Forgotten Warriors Vietnam Museum in Erma‚ N.J.

The judges couch the award in those terms because the entry makes it clear that “Jack Fichter came up with the idea for a unique project” & persuaded Herald management to publicize it.

While relatively small in scope‚ the judges felt his actions exemplify what the award intends to honor‚ civic journalism which produces tangible benefits for the community.

THE 2007 TIM O’BRIEN AWARD

For their reporting on the Somerset County Park Commission‚ The Star–Ledger team of Bev McCarron‚ Joe Tyrrell and Jeanette Rundquist are the winners of the Tim O’Brien Award for Best Investigative Reporting using the New Jersey Open Public Records Act.

Once a law firm hired by Somerset County freeholders issued a report detailing questionable spending by the park commission‚ The Star–Ledger team doggedly followed up on the findings. Using the report as a guide‚ the team used the state’s public records law to document the waste of taxpayer money on sweetheart rents‚ car allowances‚ parties and more.

The team’s reporting was relentless and resulted in four resignations from the park commission board and dramatic changes in Somerset County policies and practices. The county cut substantially the number of vehicles assigned to county employees and raised the curiously low rents some park employees were paying to live in park buildings.

The team is continuing to use open–records laws to peel this onion and more revealing stories are in the offing.

THE 2007 WILSON BARTO AWARD (FIRST-YEAR REPORTER) - DAILY

1. Denisa Superville‚ The Herald–News‚ West Paterson‚ NJ‚ “Towns Dodge Compliance; Purple Haze; Checking Out”
2. Michael J. Feeney‚ The Record‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ “Retired Cop Goes On Ticket Blitz; Pilot In Crash …; Funny Money …; A New Focus …; etc.”
3. Brandon Lausch‚ Courier News‚ Bridgewater‚ NJ‚ “Township’s Co–Pilots …; Flair Key To Police Probe Names; Lessons In Nutrition”

THE 2007 WILSON BARTO AWARD (FIRST-YEAR REPORTER) - WEEKLY

1. Helen Walters‚ Clifton Journal‚ Clifton‚ NJ‚ “Fire–Eaters? Impersonators? Sure‚ No Problem”
2. Madeline Friedman‚ The Hudson Reporter‚ Hoboken‚ NJ‚“(several)”
3. Vincent Cavalier‚ North Jersey Media Group‚ “(several)”

DAILY AND WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS

Deadline Reporting – Daily (Category 1)

1. Philadelphia Inquirer staff‚ “Six Held in NJ Terror Plot”
2. Courier–Post staff‚ Cherry Hill‚ NJ‚ “Commerce Bank Shake–Up”
3. Wayne Parry‚ The Associated Press‚ “Rain Brings Hope that South Jersey Wildfire can be Contained Soon”

Deadline Reporting – Weekly (1)

1. Steve Kelman‚ Twin–Boro News‚ Cresskill‚ NJ‚ “New Milford Starts To Dry Out”
2. Josh Lipowsky‚ The Jewish Standard‚ Teaneck‚ NJ‚ “Unveiling For A Lonely Man”
3. Robert Schmelter‚ Fort Lee Suburbanite‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚“Mayor Alter Dead At 79”

Feature Writing – Daily (2)

1. Wayne Parry‚ The Associated Press‚ “Jersey Beach Rules: You Might Not Dig’em”
2. Amy Rosenberg‚ Philadelphia Inquirer‚ “A Testament to Tradition”
3. Erik Larsen‚ Asbury Park Press‚ “He’s Got No Home‚ But Clings to Hope”

Feature Writing– Weekly (2)

1. Lois Goldrich‚ The Jewish Standard‚ Teaneck‚ NJ‚ “Remembering Leo Frank”
2. Charlie Zavalick‚ W. Jacob Perry‚ Sandy Stuart‚ The Bernardsville News‚  “The Education Jackpot”
3. Taressa Stovall‚ The Montclair Times‚ “From Father To Son”

Profile Writing – Daily (3)

1. Michael Vitez‚ Philadelphia Inquirer‚ “An Unforgettable Reunion”
2. Amy Rosenberg‚ Philadelphia Inquirer‚ “Ex–AC Mayor Got in Over his Head”

Profile Writing – Weekly (3)

1. Corey Klein‚ South Bergenite‚ Rutherford‚ NJ‚ “Resident: Stop The Wheel”
2. Maggie Fazeli Fard‚ Pascack Valley Community Life‚ Westwood‚ NJ‚ “Sights Set on The Future”
3. Dana E. Sullivan‚ New Jersey Lawyer‚ South Plainfield‚ NJ‚ “Newsome Taking State Bar’s Reins”

Business Reporting – Daily (4)

1. Erik Ortiz‚ The Press of Atlantic City‚ “A Tough But Legal Life”
2. Suzette Parmley‚ Philadelphia Inquirer‚ “A.C. Rides the Asian Tide”
3. Wayne Parry‚ The Associated Press‚ “Comps Up as Revenue Down in Atlantic City Casinos”

Business Reporting – Weekly (4)

1. Dana E. Sullivan‚ New Jersey Lawyer‚ South Plainfield‚ NJ‚ “Premium Puzzle: More Profits For Med Mail Carriers‚ No Break For Docs”
2. Robert G. Seidenstein‚ New Jersey Lawyer‚ South Plainfield‚ NJ‚ “A Strategy To Make Plaintiffs Blink”
3. Kris W. Scibiorski‚ New Jersey Lawyer‚ South Plainfield‚ NJ‚ “Crop Of New Lawyers: The Job Is Not Their Life”

Sports Reporting – Daily (5)

1. Manish Mehta‚ The Star–Ledger‚ Newark‚ NJ‚ “Big Shot”
2. Ed Hilt‚ The Press of Atlantic City‚ “A Humble Hero”
3. Ian O’Connor‚ The Record‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ “The Boss To Torre: Win Or Else”

Sports Reporting – Weekly (5)

1. Brian Smith‚ Montclair Times‚ “Dashing Success”
2. Brian Smith‚ Montclair Times‚ “Timber”
3. Jose Ortiz‚ Verona–Cedar Grove Times‚ West Patterson‚ NJ‚ “Conquering The Hill”

Health‚ Science Technology & Environmental Reporting – Daily (6)

1. Jim Wright‚ The Record‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ “A River’s Revival”
2. Wayne Parry‚ The Associated Press‚ “From Brazil To Boardwalk: Rain Forest Wood Splinters Community”
3. (tie) Mary Jo Layton‚ The Record‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ “Ripping Off Dr. America”
4. (tie) Linda A. Johnson‚ The Associated Press‚ “Cancer Vaccine’s Price‚ Insurance Problems Limiting Patient Access”

Health‚ Science‚Technology and Environmental Reporting – Weekly (6)

1. Tanya Drobness‚ Montclair Times‚ “Going Green”
2. Robert Seidenstein‚ New Jersey Lawyer‚ South Plainfield‚ NJ‚ “Advisory to Judges: Don’t Flunk Science”
3. MarkS. Porter‚ Montclair Times‚ “Global Warning”

Series Writing & Reporting – Daily (7)

1. Jason Method‚ Asbury Park Press‚ “Home Roulette”
2. Lindy Washburn and Leslie Brodie‚ The Bergen Record‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ “Living With Cancer”
3. George Anastasia‚ Philadelphia Inquirer‚ “The Takedown of Ace Capone”

 Series Writing And Reporting – Weekly (7)

1. Maggie Fazeli Fard‚ Pascack Valley Community Life‚ Westwood‚ NJ‚ “Faces Of Autism”
2. Jim Hague‚ Madeline Friedman‚ Tricia Tirella‚ John Dunphy‚ Secaucus Reporter‚ Secaucus‚ NJ‚ “Our Creepy County”
3. Darius Amos‚ Hackensack Chronicle‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ “Turning The Tide”

Investigative Reporting – Daily (8)

1. Jeff Pillets‚ John Brennan‚ and Tim Nostrand‚ The Record‚ Hackensack‚ N.J.‚ “Meadowlands For Sale”
2. Jean Mikle and Lauren O. Kidd‚ Asbury Park Press‚ “Undue Force In Seaside Park”
3. James W. Prado Roberts‚ Asbury Park Press‚ “Trauma In The Air”

Enterprise Reporting – Daily (9)

1. Heather Haddon‚ The Herald News‚ West Paterson‚ NJ‚ “Savvy Scammers In Win–Win Situation”
2. Linda A. Johnson‚ Associated Press‚ Trenton‚ NJ‚ “Activists Sue N.J.‚ Say Nation’s First Farm–Animal Welfare Rules Are Not Enough”
3. Wayne Parry‚ The Associated Press‚ “One Year Later‚ 4 Atlantic City Prostitute Deaths Unsolved”

Enterprise Reporting – Weekly (9)

1. Dana Sullivan‚ New Jersey Lawyer‚ South Plainfield‚ NJ‚ “Bench Diversity”
2. Martin C. Daks‚ New Jersey Business‚ New Brunswick‚ NJ‚ “Where Your Pledge Money Really Goes”
   
3. Josh Lipowsky. The Jewish Standard‚ Teaneck‚ NJ‚ “Who Holds The Keys to the (Kosher)Kingdom”

Editorial Writing – Daily (10)

1. Josh Gohlke‚ The Record‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ “On Corruption Arrests”
2. Clare McDowell‚ Asbury Park Press‚ “A New Outrage In The Abbotts”
3. Larry Benjamin‚ Asbury Park Press‚ “Finality At Last In LaSane Case”

Editorial Writing – Weekly (10)

1. Rebecca Boroson‚ The Jewish Standard‚ Teaneck‚ NJ‚“School (board) for Scandal”
2. P.C. Robinson‚ Randolph Reporter‚ Chester‚ NJ‚ “When Right Becomes a Wrong”

Column Writing – Daily (11)

1. Monica Yant Kinney‚ Philadelphia Inquirer‚ “These Parents Are Cowards”
2. Fran Wood‚ The Star–Ledger‚ Newark‚ NJ‚ “Imus Could Have Touted Unity On Air”
3. Frank DiLeo‚ The Daily Record‚ Parsippany‚ NJ‚ “Nothing Can Stop Pain Of Watching Man Drown”

Column Writing – Weekly (11)

1. Harvey C. Fisher‚ New Jersey Lawyer‚ South Plainfield‚ NJ‚ “Trenton’s 3 R’s – Right Time‚ Right Place And Right Connections”
2. Phil Garber‚ Mt. Olive Chronicle‚ Chester‚ NJ‚ “A True Tale Of Medical Fantasy”
3. Seth Mandel‚ The Jewish State (Eliyahu Publications)‚ Green Brook‚ NJ‚ “On Six–Day War’s Anniversary‚ Is History Repeating Itself?”

Review Writing – Weekly (12)

1. Miriam Rinn‚ The Jewish Standard‚ Teaneck‚ NJ‚ “Yiddish Pirates Roam The Off–Broadway Stage”
2. Thom Molyneaux‚ North Jersey Media Group Suburbanite‚ Cresskill‚ NJ‚ “Have The ‘Time Of Your Life’ In This Classic”

Headline Writing –Daily (13)

1. Joel Pisetzner‚ Star Ledger‚ “Heck‚ Yes‚ They Have a Chance for Five”
2. Joel Pisetzner‚ Star Ledger‚ “In Trash–Choked Naples‚ All Roads Lead to Aroma”
3. Tom Wilk‚ Courier–Post‚ Cherry Hill‚ NJ‚ “Tired at Work? Nap It in the Bud”

Headline Writing – Weekly (13)

1. Bill Slossar‚ Twin–Boro News‚ Cresskill‚ NJ‚ “Handyman Floors Her With A Tile Tally Tale”
2. Dan Prochilo‚ The Montclair Times‚ “Look Both Ways Before Crossing … The Lawn?”
3. Mark S. Porter‚ The Montclair Times‚ “Rock Rock. Who’s There? Your Parents”

Editorial Cartooning – Daily (14)

1. Rob Tornoe‚ The Press of Atlantic City‚ “Monetization Promises”
2. Rob Tornoe‚ The Press of Atlantic City‚ “Open Space”

Editorial Cartooning – Weekly (14)

1. Harry Trumbore‚ The Item of Millburn and Short Hills‚ “New Show At The Paper Mill”
2. M.E. Cohen‚ The Montclair Times‚ “Too Much Coverage”
3. George Koukos‚ New Jersey Lawyer‚ South Plainfield‚ NJ‚ “Ad Nauseam – You’re Fired”

Informational Graphics – Daily (15)

1. R.L. Rebach‚ The Record‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ “Expanding? Maybe Not”
2. Tim Faherty‚ Krishna Mathias‚ Donald Wittkoski‚ Ben Fogletto‚ The Atlantic City Press‚ “How The Sands Will Fall”
3. Krishna Mathias‚ The Atlantic City Press‚ “New Jersey’s Nuclear Core”

Informational Graphics – Weekly (15)

1. Svetlana Levin‚ New Jersey Lawyer‚ South Plainfield‚ NJ‚ “Compensation For Trial Judges”

Front Page Layout –Daily (16)

1. Jerry Luciani‚ The Record‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ Sept. 10^th‚ 2007
2. Jerry Luciani‚ The Record‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ Dec. 14^th‚ 2007
3. Robert Townsend‚ The Record‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ Feb. 8^th‚ 2007

Front–Page Layout – Weekly (16)

1. Jerry Szubin‚ The Jewish Standard‚Teaneck‚ NJ‚ “The Passover Connection”
2. Darius Amos‚ Ed Virgin‚ Barbara Manning‚ Cliffside Park Citizen‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚“Relay For Life”
3. Harvey C. Fisher‚ New Jersey Lawyer‚ South Plainfield‚ NJ‚ “10/22/07 Front Page”

Feature Page Design – Daily (17)

1. Lisa Mansolillo Dalie‚ The Record‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ “Speed Dating”
2. Elaine Isaacson‚ The Record‚ Hackensack‚ NJ‚ “Five Things To Do”

Feature Page Design – Weekly (17)

1. Svetlana Levin‚ New Jersey Lawyer‚  South Plainfied‚NJ‚ “NJ Supreme Court”
2. Jerry Szubin‚ Jewish Standard‚ Teaneck‚ NJ‚ “Home for History”
3. Jessica Gaitan‚ Holly Stewart‚ Joan Finn‚ Montclair Times‚ “Arts–Aug. 30^th”

Spot News Photojournalism – Daily (18)

1. Amy Newman‚ The Herald News‚  April 17‚ 2007 –Page A1

Spot News Photography – Weekly (18)

1. Scott D. Longfield‚ The Two River Times‚ Red Bank‚ NJ‚ “Fire–N–Ice.”
2. Adam Anik‚ Verona–Cedar Grove Times‚ Montclair‚ NJ‚ “Car Crashes Into Bloomfield Business.”
3. Demitrius Balevski‚ Wayne Today‚ West Patterson‚ NJ‚ “Flooding Takes Toll.”

Feature Photojournalism – Daily (19)

1. Jose Moreno‚ Courier Post‚ Cherry Hill‚ NJ‚ “Cycling in the Snow”
2. Al Schell‚ Courier Post‚ Cherry Hill‚ NJ‚ “By a Nose”
3. Sharon Gekoski–Kimmel‚ Philadelphia Inquirer‚ “Cool in the Pool”

Feature Photojournalism – Weekly (19)

1. Demetrius Balevski‚ Clifton Journal‚ “Woman’s Best Friend”
2. Demitrius Balevski‚ Wayne Today‚ “Up‚ Up & Away”
3. Scott Longfield‚The Two River Times‚ Red Bank‚ NJ‚ “Peek–A–Boo”

Feature Photojournalism – Magazine (19)

1. Kerry Pittenger‚ South Jersey Magazine‚ “A Crescendo of Fall Fashion”

Sports Photojournalism – Daily (20)

1. Leslie Barbaro‚ The Herald News‚ West Patterson‚ June 24‚ 2007

Sports Photojournalism – Weekly (20)

1. Sean M. Simmons‚The Two River Times‚ Red Bank‚ NJ‚ “Charge”
2. Frank Wojciechowski‚ The Princeton Packet‚ “Snowball”
3. Sean M. Simmons‚The Two River Times‚ Red Bank‚ NJ‚ “Breeders Cup”

Television – News (21)

1. Walt Kane‚ Richard O’Brien‚ Bill Schlosser‚ News 12  NJ‚ Edison‚ NJ‚ ”Litigation Financing: Borrowing Trouble”
2. Walt Kane‚ Anthony Cocco‚ Bill Schlosser‚ News 12  NJ‚ Edison‚ NJ‚ ”A Booming Business”
3. Barbara Nevins Taylor‚ WWOR TV –My 9 News‚ Secaucus‚ NJ‚ ”Newark Late Policy”

Television – Enterprise (22)

1. Walt Kane‚ Anthony Cocco‚ Bill Schlosser‚ News 12 NJ‚ Edison‚ NJ‚ ”The Body Brokers”
2. Walt Kane‚ Anthony Cocco‚ Bill Schlosser‚ Richard O’Brien‚ Ryan Beckman‚ News 12 NJ‚ Edison‚ NJ‚ ”In the Mind of a Child”
3. Barbara Nevins Taylor‚ Ed Lopez‚ Paul Tsakos‚ Chris O’Donoughue‚ Brian Kartagewer‚ WWORTV – MY 9 News‚ Secaucus‚ NJ‚ ”Credit Repair Scam”

Radio – Enterprise (22)

1. Rachel V. Katz and Bliss Michelson‚ WWFM‚ ”View and Voices”
2. Brian Kanady‚ Julia Giacoboni and Kelly Catania‚ Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS FM‚”Fading Farms and Saving Grace: Preserving The Garden State”

Magazine – Reporting (23)

1. Brett Avery‚ New Jersey Monthly‚ Morristown‚ NJ‚ “New Jersey … And How It Got That Way”
2. Jennifer Weiss‚ New Jersey Monthly‚ Morristown‚ NJ‚ “Making Babies”
3. Christopher Zinsli and Ricardo Kaulessar‚ Jersey City Magazine‚ Hoboken‚ NJ‚ “Beyond The Boom”

Magazine – Feature Writing (24)

1. Theta Pavis‚ Palisade Magazine‚ Hoboken‚ NJ‚ “Momtrepreneurs”
2. Tara Nurin‚ South Jersey Magazine‚ Marlton‚ NJ‚ “Out Of Range”
3. Bill Glovin‚ Rutgers Magazine‚ Piscataway‚ NJ‚ “Back From Iraq”

Magazine – Profile Writing (25)

1. Rich Prior‚ Palisade Magazine‚ Hoboken‚ NJ‚ “Dan Cordaro: Made In Bayonne”
2. Jaimie Julia Winters‚ Our Meadowlands‚ Rutherford‚ NJ‚ “The Beat Goes On”

Magazine – Investigative (26)

1. Paul Drexel‚ New Jersey Monthly‚ Morristown‚ NJ‚ “First Blood”

Business Reporting – Magazine (28)

1. Jeff Schlegel‚ Financial Advisor‚ Shrewsbury‚ NJ‚ “Don’t Worry‚ Be Happy”
2. Mark Hrywna‚ Jeff Jones‚ Marla E. Nobles‚ The Nonprofit Times‚ Morris Plains‚ NJ‚“The NPT 100”

Newsletters (31)

1. Best Week Staff‚  Best Week‚ Oldwick‚ NJ‚ April 23‚ 2007 Issue
2. Bill Slossar‚ Twin–Boro News‚ Creskill‚ NJ.‚ “My Bergenfield”
3. Kevin Glynn‚ Pascack Valley Community Life‚ Westwood‚ NJ‚ “My Woodcliff Lake”

Essay (32)

1. Michael Lewis‚ BigAppleSoccer.com‚ Ronkonkoma‚ NJ‚ Essays

Blogs‚ Internet‚ Online (33)

1. Michael Lewis‚ BigAppleSoccer.com‚ Ronkonkoma‚ NJ‚ “Red Bulls Coverage”
2. Rutgers Focus‚ New Brunswick‚ Dec. 12^th issue
3. Phil Nardone and Jack Krug‚ Recorder Community Newspaper‚ Stirling‚ NJ‚ Madison Eagle web site

Web Page Design (34)

1. Rick Racela‚ Digital Press Consortium‚ Herald Newspapers‚ Rio Grande‚ NJ‚ Cape May County Herald.com
2. Charlie Cottone and Michael Lewis‚ BigAppleSoccer.com‚ Ronkonkoma‚ NJ‚ BigAppleSoccer.com

Special Award‚ Book

1. Deborah Yaffe‚ Princeton Junction‚ NJ‚ “Other People’s Children”

Previous Excellence in Journalism award-winners are as follows:

• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001
• 2000
• 1999
• 1998