By Meagan Racey / Photo by Breanna Gaddie
SPJ recognized the best journalism from 2008 on Friday evening, with Sigma Delta Chi Awards in 53 categories, including print, radio, television and online.
SDX President Steve Geimann (right) presents an award to Kurt Kuenne of MSNBC for a documentary. The award was one of more than four dozen to print, TV, online and radio journalists at a reception Friday night.
“The significance of what we’re doing tonight is saying to people, ‘Journalism still matters. Journalism is important,’ ” Geimann said.
“Without journalism, without the kind of work that’s being recognized here, democracy is affronted.
I’m confident that democracy is still in good shape because we have this good, aggressive, professional reporting.”
The awards date back to 1932 and originally honored six individuals for contributions in journalism. This year, judges chose 51 winners from more than 900 entries.
The Newark, N.J. -based Star-Ledger’s Amy Nutt, who received her first Sigma Delta Chi Award, emphasized the significance of journalism gatherings like the reception and the SPJ convention and national conference.
“I feel lucky to be among such distinguished company,” Nutt said.
“I think it’s just important that we get together and that we’re here with a sense of great community.”