We're happy to announce that the Metro Times has received seven awards in the Class A weekly division of the Michigan Press Association's 2008 Better Newspaper Contest.
Michael Jackman earned firstplace honors in the feature story category for "Torch song," an entertaining look at what he described as a combination circus sideshow and burlesque- style variety revue with touches of vaudeville. Features editor Brian Smith received a third-place award in the same category for his touching story "Jesus of suburbia."
Staff writer Sandra Svoboda and former listings editor Meghana Keshavan took home first-place honors in the sports feature category for "Long Shots," which dealt with the experiences of women athletes at the University of Michigan in the era before Title IX.
Also honored with a first-place was photographer Cybelle Codish, She won the picture story category for "Pain and Hope," a stirring depiction of Detroit Receiving Hospital over the course of 24 hours.
Larry Gabriel, who writes the column Stir It Up for us, received a second- place award in the local columnist category for his fine work.
Receiving a third-place award was our annual arts issue, a project overseen by former arts editor Rebecca Mazzei. Also taking a third-place award was news editor Curt Guyette in the enterprise reporting category for "Nightmare on Highbury Court," a two-part story about the efforts of a local family to keep their home.
Congratulations to all. Their work can be found online at metrotimes.com.
