Isaiah Thompson and Holly Otterbein win SPJ awards
Big ups to City Paper's news editor Isaiah Thompson and staff writer Holly Otterbein, who both won big awards from the Philadelphia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Isaiah Thompson and Holly Otterbein win SPJ awards
Big ups to City Paper’s news editor Isaiah Thompson and staff writer Holly Otterbein, who both won big awards from the Philadelphia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Thompson got second-place honors in public service journalism, for his article on Hao Luu, a Vietnamese student who the School District blamed for violence at South Philadelphia High, but who he himself claimed, along with Asian-American activists, was the real victim — of both fellow classmates and school officials bent on spinning the real story into PR. “This journalist gave voice to a powerless teen whose life could have been changed forever over an unfair decision,” the judges wrote. "One of the media's most important service roles is to right wrongs and stick up for the most vulnerable among us. “This journalism did just that."
Otterbein won third place in political writing for her story on a local Cambodian refugee, who — after spending 24 of his 33 years in the U.S. — was facing deportation because of a crime he committed more than a decade ago. “Otterbein brings warmth and compassion to the plight of Mout Iv, a Philly man who came to the United States from Cambodia at age 9, grew up in America, made a life for himself and his family, but now has the misfortune of being targeted for deportation because of a crime he committed long ago,” the judges wrote. “Otterbein does a nice job of fleshing Iv out as a person and putting Iv's plight in context.”
Go Team Naked City!
Congrats Isaiah & Holly! Keep up the good work!! saracnote
Congrats! PSomething
Congratulations to Isaiah, whose amazingly compelling story not only helped clear Hao Luu's name and reputation but also - at a critical time and juncture - framed the intent and actions of the School District to underscore why the U.S. Dept. of Justice lawsuit was necessary. What happened at South Philadelphia High School was not about a fight that got out of control, or kids picking on kids. It was always about the deliberate and purposeful actions of a school and District that violated the civil rights of Asian immigrant youth. Hats off to Isaiah - and another round of congratulations to Holly Otterbein for her story on the fight around Cambodian deportees! Helen Gym
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