News Corp. Takeover of Dow Jones is Big Winner at Mirror Awards

The New York Times’ Bruce Headlam accepts the overall excellence award for the Times’ Monday Media section.

Neither company won an award, but the story of News Corp.’s takeover of Dow Jones was the big winner at today’s Mirror Awards at the Rainbow Room. The Mirrors, put on by Syracuse U.’s Newhouse School, honor the reporters, editors and writers who cover the media. Of the five major awards presented, two were won by journalists for their coverage of the News Corp. takeover of Dow Jones. The New York Times’ Joe Nocera won for best commentary. “I’d like to thank the Bancroft family without whose dysfunction much memorable journalism would not have been written,” joked Nocera.

The New Yorker‘s Ken Auletta won for best single article for his story titled, “Promises, Promises,” a July, 2007 piece that looked at what might become of The Wall Street Journal, if Murdoch’s bid was accepted. In his speech, Auletta thanked the late Tim Russert who was also honored at the luncheon with a Lifetime Achievement award. “He would ask disagreeable questions, but he would not be disagreeable,” said Auletta of Russert.

Best investigative story, best profile and overall excellence, after the jump…

The New York Times’ Monday Media section won for overall excellence.

Jeff Coplon of New York Magazine won for best profile. Coplon’s piece called “How Race is Lived in America” was, in his words, “A correction of the myth that Gerald Boyd was an enabler of the plagiarism of Jayson Blair.” Boyd, who resigned his post as managing editor in 2003, was accused by many of not seeing the warning signs of Blair’s lies. Boyd died in 2006 at age 56.

Best investigative piece went to PBS’ Frontline for their reports, “News War: Secrets, Sources & Spin and the Future of Networks” and “What’s Happening to the News.” The team was led by former 60 Minutes producer Lowell Bergman and Raney Aronson-Rath who told the crowd of journalists, “It’s really hard” investigating your own industry.

CNN and YouTube won the i-3 award for impact, innovation and influence for their presentation of the CNN/YouTube presidential debates. Andy Borowitz emceed the event, with the awards given out by Bloomberg.com’s Margaret Carlson.

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