The Hill honored with four awards

The Washington chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) presented The Hill with four awards Tuesday night.

Managing Editor Bob Cusack won first place in the features category for his story on lawmakers’ accounts and reflections on the controversial 2003 House vote on Medicare prescription-drug legislation.

Jonathan Allen was awarded a special certificate in the same category for his article on Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas), two highly decorated veterans who were held captive in a Vietnamese prison camp more than three decades ago but hold different positions on U.S. policy on torture.

In the business category, Jim Snyder was awarded third place for his article on how lobbying firms market themselves to local and state governments, which are increasingly turning to K Street to help them win a slice of the federal spending pie.

Josephine Hearn was honored with a special certificate in the business category for “Lobby, fundraise, network,” which reported on the inner workings of organizing a massive legislative conference in Washington.

The SPJ is a professional organization for journalists “dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty.” The annual awards are based on a set of criteria and judged by veteran journalists.