AP’s Ben Feller and ABC News’ Jake Tapper win awards for presidential coverage on deadline
By APTuesday, April 13, 2010
AP, ABC News win journalism awards
WASHINGTON — Ben Feller of The Associated Press and Jake Tapper of ABC News have won the Merriman Smith Award for presidential coverage under deadline pressure.
Feller was recognized for his coverage of President Barack Obama’s unannounced, late-night visit to Dover Air Force Base last year to pay respects on the return of 18 fallen Americans, all killed in Afghanistan.
Tapper won the broadcast category of the competition for his story that revealed former Sen. Tom Daschle’s tax problems that derailed his nomination to be health and human services secretary.
The awards, each carrying a $2,500 prize, will be presented May 1 at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
Three other journalists also will be recognized at the dinner for their reporting.
Mark Knoller of CBS News will receive the Aldo Beckman Award for sustained excellence in White House coverage over more than 35 years. It carries a prize of $1,000.
Suzanne Bohan and Sandy Kleffman of the Contra Costa (Calif.) Times will receive the Edgar A. Poe Award for coverage of news of national or regional significance. They were cited for a four-part series entitled, “Shortened Lives: Where You Live Matters.” The Poe award carries a $2,500 prize.
