Writer's work in <i>American Journalism Review</i> selected for Bart Richards Award

University Park, Pa. -- Lori Robertson of American Journalism Review has earned Penn State's 2003 Bart Richards Award for Media Criticism for a submission of six articles that appeared in the magazine. She will be honored during an award presentation Thursday, May 20, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

The annual Bart Richards Award for Media Criticism, sponsored by the College of Communications at Penn State, recognizes outstanding contributions to print and broadcast journalism through responsible analysis or critical evaluation. This year's award recognizes work produced during the 2003 calendar year.

After a wide-ranging field of entries for the award was reviewed by an internal screening committee for the college, three external judges examined the finalists and decided on the submission of six articles by Robertson that appeared in American Journalism Review. Judges cited the breadth and depth of Robertson's work. They also appreciated the analytical quality evident in her articles.

Robertson joined American Journalism Review in 1998 and was named managing editor in October 2001. In addition to her editing responsibilities, she has written numerous features, ranging from articles about media coverage of the war on terrorism and analyses of specific news organizations to stories on the overuse of opinion polls. In fact, each of those stories was a part of her award-winning submission.

Before joining AJR, Robertson was a frequent contributor to the magazine. From 1993 to 1998, she worked for the Casey Journalism Center on Children and Families, a national resource center for journalists who cover at-risk children. She oversaw the center's various publications and its Web site, and assisted in organizing awards programs and conferences.

A native of Ohio, Robertson graduated Summa Cum Laude from Duquesne University with a bachelor's degree in communications. While in college, she interned on Capitol Hill and with a public relations firm in Pittsburgh.

External judges who assisted with the decision-making process for the Bart Richards Award this year were: Caesar Andrews of Gannett News Service; Stu Chamberlain of ABC News; and Wil Norton of the University of Nebraska.

The Thursday, May 20, award presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a reception at the National Press Club. Members of the media and alumni and friends of the College of Communications at Penn State are invited to attend. For more information about the free reception and award presentation, call (814) 865-8801. Those who plan to attend must RSVP by Wednesday, May 5.

In addition to Robertson, a submission of "On the Media" from WNYC Radio in New York City earned honorable mention recognition for the award.

The Bart Richards Award was endowed in 1994 by George Richards, retired president and chief executive officer of Granby, Conn.-based Vitex Packaging Inc. He established the award in memory of his father, Bart Richards, a former reporter and editor for the New Castle (Pa.) News.