56th Annual Real Estate Journalism Awards Announced
/Charlotte (April 28, 2006) – The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) today announced the winners of its 56th Annual Journalism Awards. For over half a century, the awards program has recognized excellence in real estate and building design industry reporting, writing and editing. Entries from professional journalists from across the U.S. were received in 21 different categories during this year’s NAREE competition. NAREE journalism awards total more than $6,500. This year's first place overall individual category winner who is also the “Best Young Journalist” winner received a $1,500 award. All first place category winners were awarded a $250 stipend and all winners received a certificate of excellence.
The award winners were selected by a panel of expert judges from the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. The judging panel was chaired by Professor Patrick S. Washburn, a former news reporter and editor.
NAREE, founded in 1929, is celebrating its 77th anniversary at its annual conference in Charlotte, NC. NAREE is the only professional association for the nation’s journalists covering residential and commercial real estate for the consumer, business, and trade media. Members report on real estate finance, housing policy, the environment, urban growth, land use, investment, construction, design and related trends. Active members include editors, staff reporters, columnists and freelance writers working in print, broadcast and online media.
This year’s award recipients include:
Robert F. Brennan Award for Best Overall Entry by an Individual
First Place: Jamie Smith Hopkins, Baltimore Sun
Comment on First Place: “Hopkins discovered her story through enterprise reporting. Once the numbers revealed a trend, she went out and reported the story the old-fashioned way by extensive interviewing. The computer-assisted reporting gave the story legs, and she brought it to life with compelling writing.”
Second Place: Carol Massar, Bloomberg TV
Comment on Second Place: “This was a thorough report on the heavily covered dangers of mortgage mania as the blazing hot real estate market of the last few years began to cool. The story benefited from numerous interviews with experts and the extensive research done before those interviews, which resulted in the right questions being asked.”
James D. Carper Award for Best Entry by a Young Journalist
First Place: Jamie Smith Hopkins, Baltimore Sun
Comment on First Place: “Early in her reporting career, Hopkins exhibits mastery of both basic and advanced reporting techniques. It can be tempting to let the numbers tell a story with computer-assisted reporting, but she put the human face and consequences into her comprehensive articles. As a result, she provided riveting examples of flight from Washington to Baltimore in search of cheap housing. The readers were well served.”
Second Place: Mandy Jackson, California Real Estate Journal
Comment on Second Place: “This young journalist confronts topically the aging of America and the challenges that flow from that as well as the internationalization of investment in America, both of which are highly salient topics in today’s journalism as well as tomorrow’s. She dug behind the statistics, not just reporting what the statistics were but what they meant.”
Category 1: Best Newspaper Report (More Than 250,000 Circulation)
First Place: Sandra Fleishman, Washington Post Comment on First Place: “The Washington Post deserves credit for giving this writer the time and space to develop this lengthy analysis of the area’s real estate ‘funnel.’ While the influx of residents lured into the vibrant Washington employment market is heavily reported, the outflux of existing residents, driven by skyrocketing real estate taxes, has largely been ignored. The strength of this piece is in its connection of the trends.”
Second Place: Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune
Comment on Second Place: “While the condominium conversion has been covered in many hot markets in the past year, Weisberg’s article stands out as a particularly well reported example. She covered the paper’s readership area well, providing a balanced account of the pros and cons from a business and societal perspective, using diverse sources and solid statistics.”
Category 2: Best Newspaper Report (Less Than 250,000 Circulation)
First Place: Shannon Behnken, Tampa Tribune Comment on First Place: “This is a well written article about real estate profiteers who buy and sell condominiums with the sole purpose of making a quick buck. Colorful anecdotes from around the region document the trend, and the effect on investors is discussed. A special strength of this reporting is that it illustrates the dangers that can occur in an overheated real estate market. The design and graphics lure readers into the story.”
Second Place: Alec Rosenberg, Oakland Tribune
Comment on Second Place: “This story about Latinos’ inability to fulfill the American dream of buying a home, primarily in the Bay area, showcases the problem from multiple perspectives. An additional strength of the story is that it offers a guide to readers for sources of possible financing.”
Category 3: Best Commercial Real Estate Report
First Place: Mandy Jackson, California Real Estate Journal
Comment on First Place: “This story showed special creativity by addressing two salient topics for the readers--a booming California property market and the looming questions about Americans’ retirement savings. This writer introduced readers to Australians as the number one foreign investors--driven by their superannuation policy--in California real estate. This seemingly straight forward story was helped immensely by the writer’s comparison to President George Bush’s proposal to fix Social Security by privatization.”
Second Place: Roger Showley, San Diego Union-Tribune
Comment on Second Place: “Showley did a good job of illustrating San Diego’s efforts at urban renewal by profiling one section of the city. The story addressed the revitalization of older subdivisions that a spruce-up rejuvenates and the renovation of a historic theater into a center for the arts to re-anchor the neighborhood.”
Category 4: Best General Circulation Magazine Report
First Place: Mari McQueen, Consumer Reports
Comment on First Place: “This story was a brisk, comprehensive, and telling guide to today’s changing real estate market. The report was equally useful to both homeowners and to those who want to buy homes. It was especially strong in dissecting and explaining the proliferating mortgage options in today’s market, and it used charts well, which is a strength of this magazine.”
Second Place: Francis Storrs, Boston Magazine
Comment on Second Place: “This was a devastating expose of conflicts of interest and unethical conduct in the lightly regulated Massachusetts real estate field. The story is particularly praiseworthy because it took on an industry that is an advertising mainstay for many newspapers and magazines. Hence, this type of story is as rare as it is vital.”
Category 5: Best Trade Magazine Report
First Place: John Caulfield, Builder Magazine
Comment on First Place: “This was a gripping article about an under-reported form of domestic terrorism: fires set deliberately in real estate developments by the Earth Liberation Front. This timely account covered a topic that builders and real estate developers ignore at their peril and the peril of their properties. The riveting color photographs made the point.”
Second Place: Matt Power, Professional Builder
Comment on Second Place: “This story about damage from Hurricane Katrina looked at a timely subject through the eyes of the building industry, which was, and still is, on the front lines of the cleanup and reconstruction. Questions of funding and bureaucratic delays were explored in depth along with proposals to change the building codes and practices to avoid similar tragedies in the future. Profiles and sidebars put a face on these issues.”
Category 6: Best Online Report
First Place: Peter Robison, Bloomberg News
Comment on First Place: “This well researched, investigative report provided unusual insights into a high profile charity, Habitat for Humanity. No sector is more under-reported than charities and philanthropies, the sacred cows of American
journalism. It takes grit and a certain amount of bravery to report on this much-loved undertaking and talk fairly about its flaws.”
Second Place: Holden Lewis, Bankrate.com, Inc.
Comment on Second Place: “While clearly an expert, Lewis conveyed practical information and tips on residential real estate closing cost disparities in an accessible and interesting manner. He stripped away the mumbo-jumbo and legal doubletalk that can stick homebuyers with large, unexpected, and incomprehensible costs. His thorough look at the numbers revealed how these costs can vary inextricably from state to state.”
Category 7: Best Broadcast Report (Radio, Television, Online)
First Place: Carol Massar, Bloomberg TV
Comment on First Place: “Massar’s extensive report on the housing boom, ‘Mortgaging the Future,’ gave a nationwide summary of the effect on consumers, on homebuilders, and on commercial real estate professionals and investors. She used a large number of excellent sources, many on camera, and figures to make her points. She contextualized the risk on businesses, investors, and consumers by drawing historic parallels to the slump in the early 1990s and how the increasingly risky lending practices of the current period threaten the U.S. economy.”
Second Place: Ilyce Glink, WGN-TV and Tribune Comment on Second Place: “Glink’s series of broadcasts on mortgage fraud and appraisal fraud raised awareness of a new type of scam that threatens home buyers. It included good interviews with housing activists and government officials and had solid, practical tips for consumers.”
Category 8: Best Freelance Report (All Media)
First Place: Lisa Davis, Freelance
Comment on First Place: “This was a creative, engaging, fresh take on an enduring controversy for many places in America: if Walmart is coming, how will it fit in the community in every sense? The writer had an unapologetic view that showed the adaptability of corporate America in responding to environmental concerns, at least on the surface. Photographs helped this article immensely.”
Second Place: Jane Hodges, Freelance
Comment on Second Place: “This article took readers along on a confusing journey to determine the market value of the writer’s modest Seattle home and showed the pricing variability of this infamously overvalued market. At the end of the day, the house was only worth what someone was willing to pay for it, which is a good lesson for us all.”
Category 9: Best Column (All Media)
First Place: Holden Lewis, Bankrate.com, Inc.
Comment on First Place: “Using apt analogies and a sense of humor, Lewis covered usually droll data and economic trends with an accessible and enjoyable style. He has a gift for explaining complex economic phenomena in a way that ordinary
readers can understand. Of course, it does not hurt that he is on the side of the consumer.”
Second Place: Ken Harney, Washington Post
Comment on Second Place: “ Perhaps the dean of real estate columnists, Harney writes in an engaging and topical manner that is interesting as well as helpful to readers. He looks underneath the headlines for the key effects on consumers.”
Category 10: Best Serial Report (All Media)
First Place: Jamie Smith Hopkins, Baltimore Sun
Comment on First Place: “Hopkins’ in-depth series showcased the power of computer-assisted reporting. Mining and analyzing five years of data, she explored the effect of Washingtonians’ migration into blue-collar Baltimore in search of affordable housing. She provided an invaluable service to readers by making a searchable data base available to them. Weaving in anecdotes, she also
showed the faces behind the numbers. It is that most important staple of good newspaper reporting--the trend story. News is supposed to orient readers, listeners, and viewers to their environment. This work did that.”
Second Place: Jim Leusner, Orlando Sentinel
Comment on Second Place: “Leusner chronicled the past, present, and future of perhaps the most well known strip of tourist real estate in America. Looking at the transformation of a pioneering retail strip targeted to the average American, which is now trying to become very upscale and exclusive, the reporter used mapping and data base analysis to document this trend in detail. The work exemplified good, old-fashioned legwork on documents, land titles, and the like.”
Category 11: Best Collection of Work by an Individual (Real Estate Content)
First Place: Kelly Zito, San Francisco Chronicle
Comment on First Place: “Writing on a paper that places importance on real estate topics by running such stories on the front page, Zito showed her range by tackling technical consumer issues such as interest-only mortgages and Bay-area migration to Reno and how buyers afford houses in that area. She particularly humanized the story about how average buyers afford a home in and around San Francisco. The graphics and photography draw readers in, but the strength of her writing and reporting makes them read to the end.”
Second Place: Emmet Pierce, San Diego Union-Tribune
Comment on Second Place: “Keeping his readers’ financial realities firmly in mind, Pierce introduced little known and consumer-friendly financing options for real estate. Not only did he tackle employee assistance programs, but he looked at little known dangers, such as homeowner associations’ foreclosures and reverse mortgages for the elderly. He effectively translated the jargon into readable stories.”
Category 12: Best Collection of Work by an Individual (Home Content)
First Place: Rebecca Teagarden, Seattle Times
Comment on First Place: “The writer’s attention to detail and strength of observation took the articles beyond the realm of traditional reporting. The layout and photography accompanying the articles complemented the rich verbal descriptions.
They are a joy to read because of Teagarden’s literary flair, and the profiles brought those written about to life.”
Second Place: Aglaia Pikounis, Banker & Tradesman
Comment on Second Place: “This work represented an interesting variety of topics and housing types ranging from the affordable to the super luxurious. Additionally, this reporter’s work delved into the sensitive and important subject of how non-white home buyers are not served as well as white home buyers by real estate agents.”
Category 13: Best Newspaper Real Estate Section (More Than 250,000 Circulation)
First Place: Michele Derus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Comment on First Place: “A broad scope, comprehensive section, with front pages composed exclusively of locally written copy, this paper offers something for everybody, whether they are a home owner or want to be one or are thinking about
downsizing. The section exemplifies the service philosophy of good Sunday sections. The photographs and graphics add to the section’s appeal along with the entertaining writing.”
Second Place: Carl Larsen, San Diego Union-Tribune
Comment on Second Place: “Another paper with a lot of locally generated copy, which shows enterprise and hustle by the editors and reporters, it uses photography and layouts better than any other real estate section in the country. It is a hot section for a hot market.”
Category 14: Best Newspaper Real Estate Section (Less Than 250,000 Circulation)
First Place: Bill Hartnett, Palm Beach Post
Comment on First Place: “This section hits a home run that exemplifies what all newspapers should be doing but few do any more: give readers information that they cannot find anywhere else about a vital topic. The infographics, photography, and overall design speak volumes about the paper’s investment in real estate news. This is path-breaking work.”
Second Place: Terry Egan, Banker & Tradesman
Comment on Second Place: “Everything about this section is just as professional as its audience. What is particularly noteworthy is the way this publication blends coverage of residential and commercial real estate.”
Category 15: Best Newspaper Home Section (More Than 250,000 Circulation)
First Place: Colleen McBrinn, Seattle Times
Comment on First Place: “The innovative design of this hip tabloid catches readers’ attention, and the well written and reported feature content keeps them turning pages. Creative, inviting layouts with clever headlines make for a winning package for readers and, no doubt, advertisers.”
Second Place: Judy Stark, St. Petersburg Times
Comment on Second Place: “The amount and diversity of the coverage offers virtually something for everyone in this sizzling real estate market for natives and snowbirds alike. The mix between hard news and features makes it an extremely good buy, particularly because a lot of the articles are staff produced.”
Category 16: Best Newspaper Home Section (Less Than 250,000 Circulation)
First Place: No Award
Second Place: No Award
Category 17: Best General Circulation or Shelter Magazine
First Place: Adele Cygelman, Robb Report Vacation Homes
Comment on First Place: “This magazine’s outstanding editorial architecture—rich standing departments and a generous feature well--is unrivaled in this category. Its beautiful photography and sophisticated design complement its world-wide coverage of the high-end home market.”
Second Place: Carl Larsen, San Diego Union-TribuneComment on Second Place: “This section has solid content in a congenial package with nice photography and professional, if not edgy, layouts. It knows its audience and addresses it well.”
Category 18: Best Building and Development Magazine
First Place: Denise Dersin, Builder Magazine
Comment on First Place: “Offering diverse standing departments and information rich features, this magazine keeps its professional audience abreast of the trends, best practices, and political/governmental policy actions. Builder is unrivaled in this class as pace setter for its kind of professional coverage that this massive industry needs and requires. Sidebars and infographics add to the quick-hit information accessible to these busy professionals.”
Second Place: Leslie Ensor, Custom Home
Comment on Second Place: “This magazine is a gourmet meal for discerning home buyers, builders, and sellers. The top-quality photography and sophisticated design showcase high-end real estate. Case studies and product news are paired with features and trend pieces that appeal to the diverse readership and are highly informative and interesting.”
Category 19: Best Financial Real Estate Magazine
First Place: Jessica Kearney Heidgerken, The Institutional Real Estate Letter
Comment on First Place: “This newsletter is a solid mix of analysis and reportage, which is highly targeted to meet the information needs of its specialized audience. The data in the special year-end issue provided a comprehensive overview of the year’s trends that was particularly valuable. It is a snappy smorgasbord of fresh editorial ingredients aimed at investors in the tax-exempt, increasingly global real estate markets.”
Second Place: Paul Fruchbom, Private Equity Real Estate
Comment on Second Place: “This magazine contains sharp typography and smart headlines, which is a major accomplishment for a start-up publication. The global scope of the coverage fills an important niche.”
Category 20: Best Web Site
First Place: Laura Lorber, RealEstateJournal.com
Comment on First Place: “This Dow Jones product provides constantly updated commercial and residential real estate news. The site is user friendly with great navigational and interactive elements. It is by far the easiest to navigate of all of the entries in this category, but what particularly sets it apart—it is as rare as it is important with web copy—is crisp editing and careful story selection. It shows real enterprise reporting and geographic diversity.”
Second Place: Ralph Bivins, RealtyNewsReport.com
Comment on Second Place: “This is a truly entrepreneurial site, which provides a newsy, chatty report with a friendly interface. Bivins has extensive print journalism experience in the real estate field, and it shows.”
Category 21: Best Team Report (All Media)
First Place: Geoff Dutton and Jill Riepenhoff, Columbus Dispatch
Comment on First Place: “This investigative series documented in great detail why Ohio leads the nation in mortgage defaults. Analyzing an extensive variety of records and talking to numerous diverse sources, the reporters uncovered the combination of predatory lending practices and the lack of state oversight. The intent of the series was to debunk the myth that consumers are solely to blame and spark needed reforms. Of particularly note was their brave indictment of Dominion Homes, a key advertiser. This is consumer reporting at its finest.”
Second Place: Tony Doris and John Pacenti, Palm Beach Post
Comment on Second Place: “Hurricane devastation gets regular coverage in Florida papers. What made this series stand out was its in-depth look at the shoddy building practices and lack of oversight used in constructing pool and porch screens. The graphic photographs conveyed how serious and costly this problem is for homeowners and insurers.”
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Editors note:
The “Best Overall Entry by an Individual has been renamed the “Robert F. Brennan Award for Best Overall Entry by an Individual” in memory of this honorary life member who was NAREE president in 1967 and the organization’s executive secretary instrumental in leading the organization for many years. Bob Brennan covered real estate for more than 48 years, beginning with the Cleveland Press as a real estate writer in 1957.
For more information contact Mary Doyle-Kimball at 561-391-3599