Editorial Conference Draws Top Journalists

Although the President was speaking at another event being held at the same hotel, there were plenty of top speakers to highlight the MDDC Conference.

The program included a convention dinner speech by Dean Thomas Kunkel of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park. Kunkel provided an update on the journalism school and where he sees it headed in the future.

Friday morning started with the Associated Press sponsored program on the state of media and military relations since Sept. 11. The panel included representatives from the Army, Marine Corps, Fort Detrick, the Associated Press and the Carroll County Times.

The editorial seminar was presented by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist David Broder of The Washington Post. Broder shared the wisdom and experience that have helped make him the leading political correspondent in the country.

The luncheon on Friday included not only recognition of the individual journalists, but also Best of Show winners, Newspaper of the Year honors, and several other special awards.

J. Suter Kegg, sports editor emeritus of the Cumberland Times-News, was inducted as the 35th member of the MDDC Newspaper Hall of Fame. "Suter Kegg’s career in sports writing is a long and distinguished one," said Mike Burke, sport editor of the Times-News. "He isloved in his community and respected in many others."

The James S. Keat Freedom of Information Award was presented to The Washington Post. The newspaper was selected for two aggressive campaigns to open public records – an investigation into serious abuses in the District of Columbia’s child protection system and an investigation into why the Prince George’s County police force had killed more people per officer than any other major city or county force in the years 1990 to 2000.

The MDDC High School Journalist of the Year Julia Kay of Montgomery Blair High School was honored for her accomplishments. She received a $1,500 cash award from the MDDC Press Foundation.

The following six "Newspapers of the Year" winners, selected on the basis of total points accumulated in each circulation division in the editorial contest were also recognized.

• The Washington Post (dailies with a circulation of more than 75,000)

• The Herald-Mail, Hagerstown (dailies between 30,000 and 75,000)

• Carroll County Times, Westminster (dailies under 30,000)

• The Aegis, Bel Air, (non-dailies over 20,000)

• Potomac Almanac (non-dailies from 10,001 – 20,000)

• Legal Times, Washington, DC (non-dailies 10,000 and under)

At the Association’s annual business meeting Thursday night, Tom Schmidt, president of Carroll Publishing Co., was elected president of the Association. Other new officers chosen were Jeffrey Mezzatesta, The Cecil Whig, president-elect; John League, The Herald-Mail, vice president; Karen Acton, Gazette Newspapers, secretary; Richard Amberg, The Washington Times, treasurer.

One new director was elected to the 18-member board: Tom Marquardt, executive editor of The (Annapolis) Capital.

Six directors were re-elected to new, three-year terms. They are Acton of Gazette Newspapers, Tamra Brittingham of Independent Newspapers, Inc., Robin Saul of the Carroll County Times, Mezzatesta of The Cecil Whig, Wiley Hall III of The Afro-American, and Carol Melamed of The Washington Post.