The Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has named veteran Los Angeles Business Journal reporter Howard Fine one of its Distinguished Journalists of 2011.
The awards are granted to journalists who’ve demonstrated long-term success with “good news judgment, a strong sense of ethics and a passion for getting the story right.”
Fine; four other journalists; and an attorney who will be honored for his work on press freedom issues, will receive their awards at a banquet in the spring.
“Howard is known by many and respected by all,” said Charles Crumpley, Business Journal editor. “He’s always on a quest to get the story first and get it right.”
The honorees were not nominated by their news organizations but were selected by the SPJ based on their reputations in the community of local journalists.
Fine has been with the Business Journal since 1997. Before that, he worked at a sister publication, the Orange County Business Journal, for seven years. He holds multiple awards for his work at both newspapers, including a 2003 plaque from the Alliance of Area Business Publications for best body of work. He began his reporting career as the Orange County bureau chief for City News Service after earning a bachelor’s degree at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, where he graduated magna cum laude, and a master’s degree at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Fine now covers business regulation issues, and also specializes in the energy industry.
Fine’s award was granted in the print category for smaller newspapers.
The other honorees are:
• Bob Pool, a Los Angeles Times reporter, in the print category for larger newspapers. He was honored for his long career as a feature writer at the Times and his work at the Thousand Oaks News-Chronicle.
• Lisa Bartley, an investigative producer at KABC (Channel 7) Eyewitness News, in the TV category. She received the award for her coverage of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s treatment of the disabled, frivolous lawsuits and greyhound rescues.
• Bob Moon, a “PBS Marketplace” business correspondent, in the radio category. He was honored for his four-decade career, which includes coverage of international stories for Associated Press.
• Jesus Sanchez, editor and publisher of blog Eastsider LA, in the distinguished work in new-media category. He previously worked at the Times and USA Today.
• Donald L. Zachary, attorney and counsel for Radio & Television News Association of Southern California. He was honored for his work on First Amendment issues, including cameras in the courtroom and provisions for media interviews of jurors.
The SPJ is the largest journalism organization in the United States. It was founded in 1909; the L.A. chapter was founded in 1934.
