Press Action ::: Press Action Awards 2006

Friday, December 29, 2006

Press Action Awards 2006

Press Action presents its second annual “Press Action Awards,” which track achievements of reporters, authors and commentators in the print, broadcast and online communities. Without further ado, here are the winners:

Press Action Person of the Year

Derrick Jensen

The recipient of this award was never in doubt. Derrick Jensen’s Endgame, released in late spring, was the best work of nonfiction in 2006. Given the significance of its subject matter and the urgency of Jensen’s message, Endgame is the most important book of the decade and could stand as the must-read book of our lifetimes. But be careful. The book is likely to send you into periods of despondency over the bleak future of the planet. But Jensen explains that if enough of us stand up and work together to fight the fascists, the crash won’t be as devastating. And the long struggle will eventually result in an explosive renewal of all forms of life on the planet.

Website of the Year

Left I on the News

Eli Stephens’s Left I on the News ascends from best Media Blog of the Year in 2005 to the grander Website of the Year award for 2006. Left I provided insightful analysis and media criticism of events in Iran, Venezuela, Cuba and even the Tour de France bicycle race. Press Action’s only qualm with Left I is the shortage of updates on the site when Eli would go on vacation or work-related travels.

Commentator of the Year

Kurt Nimmo

Nimmo understands the game that the Democrats and Republicans play with our freedom and with the lives of millions around the world. Regarding Dennis Kucinich’s announcement that he will run for president again, for example, Nimmo noted on his Another Day in the Empire site that Kucinich’s real goal is to ensure left-wingers vote for the Democratic nominee for president in 2008. He writes: “Kucinich will be there, pulling off the scam once again, a flimflam gulped, as usual, hook, line, and sinker by ‘progressive’ (shorthand for easily hornswoggled) Democrats.”

Blog of the Year

BrickBurner

BrickBurner emerged as a major player in the blogosphere in 2006, providing critical nuggets (and longer-form pieces) of commentary and insight into the crooked ways of our ruling class. I expect Joshua Frank and friends will make the official blog of DissidentVoice.org shine even brighter in 2007.

Dave Zirin

Sportswriter of the Year

Dave Zirin

Many of us tune into sports as a distraction from the “real world.” But through his writings, Zirin doesn’t let us forget, for example, how racism remains entrenched in professional sports and how nationalism and militarism are tightly woven into the fabric of most professional U.S. sports leagues. This two-time winner of this award is the rare sportswriter who examines these connections. Here’s hoping the Washington Post dumps Tony Kornheiser, who hasn’t written a readable column in years, from its sports page and signs Zirin as his replacement.

Media Blog of the Year

NormanSolomon.com

Solomon’s analysis of the mainstream media’s coverage of U.S. foreign policy seemed to have more bite in 2006 than in recent years.