New Times Staffers Honored

New Times columnist Sarah Fenske and our design team topped the list of winners in some recent national contests.

Fenske was honored with a Clarion Award from the Association of Women in Communications for column writing, including her stories about Bryant Wilkerson, a black man who faced jail time for a fatal car crash he didn't cause. That same column was included in a package by Fenske that won an award for commentary writing from the National Association of Black Journalists.

The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies also gave Fenske first place for column writing, for commentary ranging in topic from a high school newspaper censorship case to her decision to get a dog. Former New Times writer John Dickerson took first place in investigative reporting for his series "Prescription for Disaster," about poor oversight of doctors in Arizona. Managing Editor Amy Silverman placed second in election coverage for a story about John McCain and veterans.

Peter Storch and Jasmine Hobeheidar, art director and assistant art director, respectively, shared an honorable mention from AAN for the "Green Fatigue" series. And the American Graphic Design awards honored New Times' art department with a whopping 10 awards for issue design including the pocket guides Quick PHX and SHINE, as well as stories ranging in topic from murder to tattoos to atheists.