Santa Maria Times: Matters of Life or Meth

The Santa Maria Times has won a number of journalism awards ( from the Associated Press News Executives Council – APNEC) for their series on methamphetamine.

The Lompoc Record has the story here:

The Santa Maria Times received statewide recognition Saturday for a five-day series published last year on the devastating effects of methamphetamine on the Central Coast.

“Matters of Life or Meth,” which was published Dec. 12-16, was researched and written by staff reporters Erin Carlyle and Quintin Cushner.

The series, produced over several months, won first place in two categories – public service and investigative reporting – from the Associated Press News Executives Council (APNEC). The Times was competing with other daily newspapers throughout California and Nevada with circulations below 25,000.

The awards were presented at an evening banquet at the annual APNEC conference in San Francisco.

“Erin and Quintin did a phenomenal job of researching and explaining what is a huge problem in our community, and we are proud that their work was honored by our colleagues,” said Tom Bolton, executive editor of the Santa Maria Times. “It’s especially gratifying that their work was recognized in public service, which is a key mission of every local newspaper.”

Also contributing to the series were Times photojournalists Aaron Lambert and Ed Souza, and Michael Mariant, who designed and produced the pages.

“Matters of Life or Meth” detailed the law-enforcement, criminal-justice, health, social and personal problems that arise locally from the manufacture, sale and use of methamphetamine, an illegal substance that local officials say is the most serious drug problem on the Central Coast.

The series included the personal stories of police officers, judges, doctors, counselors, users, families and others affected by the drug.

Other local newspapers receiving honors from APNEC were The Tribune of San Luis Obispo, for column writing and photography, and the Santa Barbara News-Press, for photography.

Judges for the contest, which received more than 1,000 entries, were editors from Associated Press member newspapers in Michigan.

Later today Flap will be blogging on this excellent series.

A nice six mile walk first.