'Peace Corps' series honored by Cox
Annual awards give nod to editorials, cartoons
Cox News Service
ATLANTA | The Dayton Daily News took first place in investigative reporting among Cox Metro Division newspapers for its investigation into the hazards facing Peace Corps workers throughout the world, in the 2004 Best of Cox Awards announced Monday night.
The series, Casualties of Peace, was written by Russell Carollo and Mei-Ling Hopgood.
"Routine reviews of inspector general reports led the reporters to tackle a topic that was international in scope," the judges wrote. "Most newspapers would have been easily dissuaded from attempting such a massive project. The reporters' ability to track down volunteers and their families brought the story to life."
The investigative series already has won top honors in the 70th annual National Headliner Awards competition. The series, published Oct. 26-Nov. 1, 2003, won for investigative reporting and was named "Best of Show," the highest honor given a newspaper in the annual contest sponsored by the Press Club of Atlantic City.
Eddie Roth won in the category of editorial writing for submissions on the shortcomings of "tort reform," fire department labor negotiations and chemical weapons disposal.
"Roth is able to relate large issues to get ordinary citizens to take action. We liked the range of the editorials and the focus on local problems," the judges said.
In the combined category, Mike Peters won for editorial cartooning.
Judges' comments: "Mike Peters not only provokes and informs, but makes you laugh out loud. His work has a sharpness and edge that communicates quickly to the reader. It also works on deeper levels the longer it's studied."
