Construction Writers Association Confers Media Awards And Silver Hard Hat Honors
May, 2008
(Buffalo Grove, IL) The Construction Writers Association (CWA) announced the winners of its Journalism and Photography Awards competition at its Annual Meeting Awards Dinner, May 1, in Alexandria, Virginia.
Prizes were conferred in six categories: the Robert F. Boger Feature Writing, Special Reports, and Editorial Writing Awards; the Kneeland ("Ned") Godfrey Body of Work Award; and the Gordon B. Wright Awards for a feature photograph and a photography series. Independent communications experts served as judges for the competition Presented each year for individual or team excellence in construction-related media, the awards are named for distinguished publishers and editors prominent in CWA history.
Journalism
The Boger Feature Writing Award singles out an article of special significance to the industry. Bill Wilson and Dan McNichol, who won for “I-35 West Bridge Collapse,” in Roads & Bridges, examined the tragedy in great detail, providing insight from many different angles.
The Boger Special Reports Award recognizes outstanding analytic and interpretive skills on a subject of particular interest to the publication’s readers. Marcia Gruver, Tom Jackson, Georgia Krause, Amy Materson, and Barbara Ibrahim Cox took top honors for “Fueling the Future,” published in Equipment World. The authors researched and forecast construction industry response to new engines, hybrids and alternative fuels. In this highly competitive category, Ivy Chang, of Construction Bulletin, was named runner-up for “I-35 West Bridge Online,” a series of weekly web posts concerning the bridge collapse.
Robert Cassidy received the Boger Editorial Award for a perceptive and persuasive commentary reflecting the viewpoint of his publication. In "Getting Down and Dirty," published in Building Design & Construction, he advocated reuse and recycling as part of contractors’ environmental management plans.
Michael Chusid and Steven H. Miller earned the Godfrey Body of Work Award for exceptional writing and journalistic skills demonstrated over an entire year. Their series, "Sustainable Concrete for the 21st Century," chronicled the development of concrete in the 21st century, with the goal of helping to reestablish the highest industry standards. The articles were published in Civil Engineering News, Construction Specifier, and two issues of Precast Solutions.
Wright Photography Awards Winners
Construction-related photographs were evaluated on technical and artistic merit, and the power to enhance a story and draw readers in. Also, a safety expert reviewed the photos to assure they reflected optimal construction practices. The top entries highlighted the contributions of individual workers on the job site.
William Conway won the Wright Feature Photograph Award for "Welder at Work," published in the Daily Commercial News. The dramatic composition – the craftsman illuminated by the bright light of the welding arc – was key to its selection.
Steven H. Miller received the Wright Photographic Series Award for “Rapid Construction with Ecolite,” in Precast Solutions magazine. His action-filled images offered sharp insights into a new building process.
The Construction Writers Association is a non-profit, non-partisan, international organization for professional journalists, writers, editors, publicists, and photojournalists serving the information needs of the construction industry. The organization celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. In addition to its journalism, photography, marketing communications and website/electronic communications awards programs, CWA provides educational meetings and networking opportunities for its members. For more information, visit the Construction Writers Association website at www.constructionwriters.org.
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Deborah J. Hodges
Executive Director
P.O. Box 14784
Chicago, Illinois 60614
Telephone 773 687-8726
Fax 773 687-8627
info@constructionwriters.org