Tradition Of Achievement
The Jewish News wins six national journalism awards.
Arts & Entertainment Editor Gail
Zimmerman is a consistent winner.
Her section, which presents the arts
with a Jewish focus, has received SNA
awards each of the four years she has
entered.
Praised by her editor for her "strong
leadership," Zimmerman shares credit
for her first place award with her writ-
ers and her graphic designer Alex
Lumelsky, who "illustrates the stories
in a very wonderful way."
like everyone else."
Robert Sklar, who has helped shape
public opinion in his five years at the
JN, won third-place prizes for writing
s the Detroit Jewish News
both editorials and his "Editor's
settles down this week into
Notebook" column.
new offices in Southfield, it
SIdar's winning editorials included
brings with it a tradition of
"The Photos Are Ours" (Dec. 21,
journalistic achievement.
2001), which encouraged the commu-
The JN's accomplishments were rec-
nity to find a permanent home for the
ognized recently with six awards for
260 portraits of fallen Jewish service-
excellence from Suburban Newspapers
men exhibited by Jewish War
of America (SNA), an industry associ-
Veterans-Department
ation that represents about
of Michigan. It subse-
2,000 newspapers.
quently was decided
Competing against publica-
that a new home for
tions of similar circulation size,
the exhibit would be
the JN's Arts & Entertainment
established at the
section was rated as the best in
Jewish Community
the nation. In addition, Staff
Gail
Krista
Robert
Alan
Harry
Center of
Photographer Krista Husa won
Zimm erman Husa
Sklar
Hitsky
Kirsbaum
Metropolitan Detroit.
first place honors for photo-
SNA judges also
journalism. Editor Robert Sklar
When Staff Photographer Krista
honored Sklar's "Editor's Notebook,"
took awards for both editorial and col-
Husa accompanied Staff Writer Sharon which offers a weekly narrative of his
umn writing, and Associate Editor
Luckerman to New York to visit the
ongoing personal journey within the
Alan Hitsky got the nod for sports
headquarters
of
the
Lubavitch
move-
diverse
Detroit Jewish community.
writing. Staff Writer and Online
ment, she found a community differ-
Associate Editor Alan Hitsky won a
Columnist Harry Kirsbaum won
ent from anything she had experienced
third-place award for sports writing.
kudos for feature writing.
His cover story,
"We're honored and pleased
"Family Affair"
that the SNA has recognized
(Aug. 2, 2002), told
the Jewish News and its staff
of a dozen local
with so many awards this
teens who were
year," said JN Publisher Arthur
coached by their
Horwitz. "To be among the
parents at the JCC
best at what we do — nation-
Maccabi Games.
ally — is a tribute to the com-
Staff Writer
mitment we have made and
Harry Kirsbaum
continue to make to provide
won second prize
quality content for our readers
for his feature story
every week."
about a local cou-
Editor Sklar added: "We
ple's struggle to
regard the SNA contest as par-
adopt a Cambodian
ticularly important because
baby caught in
we're competing against all
international
newspapers in our circulation
bureaucratic red
From JN Staff Photograher Krista Husa's winning photo essay:
class, not just Jewish newspa-
tape, "Let Our Baby
pers. For us to . win an unprece- At the Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Heights.
Go" (Feb. 8, 2002,
dented number of prizes in this
page 14). Kirsbaum
contest is a remarkable tribute
before. Her first-place photojournalism
followed up the story (April 26, page
to the role that we play in serving our
essay, "Strangers — Like Everybody
12) when the family finally gained cus-
community and the reputation that
Else" (July 12, 2002, page 16) was part tody of the baby.
we're building around the country."
of Luckerman's cover story, "Spiritual
Said Sklar, "The awards corning on
Journey" and visually captured the
the week that we're moving into new
Wide Coverage
humanity of the neighborhood.
permanent quarters gives us a great
Husa, a five-year IN photographer,
launching pad to strive to serve our
The SNA awards span the wide coverage
readers even more, even better, i _ n the
wrote in her essay that, at first, she
the JNprovides of the political, social,
"felt like a foreigner in a strange land," coming year." ❑
religious, lifestyle and cultural aspects of
but ultimately "found the people to be
the Detroit Jewish community.
DAVID SACHS
Senior Copy Editor
A
Detroit teams will head
in tour directions for
the JCC Maccabl Games,
with some competitors having
closer
than others.
Arts &
Entertainme
"le Of
2gP,
From top:
The JN cover from Alan Hitsky's story
on the JCC Maccabi Games.
One of the prize-winning
JN Arts 6 Entertainment sections,
from Aug. 30, 2002.
Shirt Bilik, 22, holds her new
baby sister, Nina Willis, shortly after
her arrival from Cambodia.
s\k,
1/24
2003
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