Greetings.
I regret to inform you that awards will not be distributed in 10 categories in the 2005 Excellence in Journalism Competition. The entries were lost when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.
Reporters at the Times-Picayune, through the Press Club of New Orleans, already had received the 277 entries for judging when Hurricane Katrina hit.
The categories that will not receive awards this year are:
- Hurricane Coverage
- Education writing
- Local Government writing
- State and Federal Government writing
- Community News Writing
- Opinion Writing
- Commentary Writing
- Criticism Writing
- In-depth News Writing
- Newspaper Weekly Magazine
As Times-Picayune staffers struggle to put out a newspaper from The Houma Courier, it appears unlikely these entries will ever be recovered.
Many of these journalists are now homeless and many are still searching for relatives. Despite their personal tragedies, they continue to work. They continue to practice journalism. They continue to seek out and tell the horrible tales of this disaster.
The officers of the Florida Press Club have decided to donate the $4,155 in entry fees associated with the lost entries to the staff of the Times-Picayune to help them get through this crisis. Because the FPC does not keep track of entrants in specific categories, we are unable to refund fees to individuals.
The money will be sent to:
Friends of the Times-Picayune
Account #151027625
Sterling Bank
Bayou Bend Office
5757 Memorial Drive
Houston, Texas 77007-8000
I know many of you will be disappointed, as I am, that these entries were lost and that the awards in these categories will not be presented. But our disappointment is nothing compared to the misery that has descended on the Gulf Coast.
We are glad that we can use the resources of the club that will no longer be needed for awards and banquet meals to help ease the suffering of the journalists who were attempting to help us before disaster struck.
Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Stephanie H. Slater
FPC President