Gosh, we're good

In praise of Barnicle bashing

by Clif Garboden, Senior Managing Editor

It's been 10 months since Phoenix media reporter Dan Kennedy helped topple former Boston Globe columnist Mike Barnicle's notorious reign of error, plagiarism, and editorial abuse (see "Barnicle's Game," News, August 14, 1998, and "Striking Similarities," News, August 21, 1998). We're not sure how the brass on Morrissey Boulevard feels about it, but the alternative press appreciates a good deed. Kennedy took first place for media reporting in the annual Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN) journalism contest. Dan's victory was announced May 28 at the 1999 AAN convention in Memphis, Tennessee, home of the blues and the quart beer bottle.

To quote the judges: "The Phoenix pieces on Barnicle were damning. And in a year in which we lost [Chicago Tribune columnist Mike] Royko, [San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb] Caen, and [New York Daily News reporter Mike] McAlary, any bastard who does what Barnicle did deserves what the Phoenix gave him -- a big wet kiss goodbye."

Phoenix freelance photographer Mark Ostow also won at AAN -- third place for photojournalism for his portraits of welfare recipients that accompanied Yvonne Abraham's feature "On the Edge" (News, April 3, 1998).

Congratulations, guys. These are both richly deserved wins.