2008 Journalism Prizes

Kenneth T. Walsh: Reporting on the Presidency

Kenneth T. Walsh, Chief White House Correspondent for U.S. News & World Report, has won the 22nd annual Gerald R. Ford Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency. The $5,000 award recognizes journalists whose high standards for accuracy and substance help foster a better public understanding of the Presidency. The award was presented by Jack Ford, son of the late President Gerald R. Ford and chairman of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, at a National Press Club luncheon on June 1, 2009. Following presentation of the awards, former Vice President Richard Cheney addressed the audience.

When announcing their decision to award Kenneth T. Walsh the Gerald R. Ford Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency in 2008, the judges issued the following statement.

“Examining the final year of the Presidency of George W. Bush, Kenneth T. Walsh portrayed the 43rd President, his record, his policies, his actions, his successes and disappointments, and his character with insight, perspective, fairness, and objectivity.

Basing his work on extensive research, Walsh combined judgments from historians, interviews of close family members, and reportorial skills to offer depth of understanding of this Presidency. He told his readers not only how, but why, President Bush II dealt with the appalling tragedy of 9/11, the misinformation that provoked a preventive war in Iraq, and the economic downturn that marked the end of his eight years in office. By resourcefulness in reporting and clarity of writing, Walsh has recorded acommendable account of the legacy of George W. Bush.”

The judges for this year’s contest were:
Chair, James M. Cannon, former National Affairs Editor of Newsweek and former Assistant to President Ford for Domestic Policy; Candice Nelson, associate professor of Government and Director of American University’s Campaign Management Institute; Mark Rozell, professor of Public Policy at George Mason University; Gene Roberts, Philip Merrill College of Journalism Professor, University of Maryland and 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winner; and Jack Nelson, former Bureau Chief of the Los Angeles Times Washington Bureau and Pulitzer Prize-winner.

James Kitfield: Reporting on the National Defense

James Kitfield, national security and foreign affairs correspondent for the National Journal, has won the 22nd annual Gerald R. Ford Prize for Distinguished Reporting on National Defense. The $5,000 award recognizes journalists whose high standards for accuracy and substance help foster a better public understanding of National Defense. The award was presented by Jack Ford, son of the late President Gerald R. Ford and chairman of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, at a National Press Club luncheon on June 1, 2009. Following the presentation of the award, former Vice President Richard Cheney addressed the audience.

When announcing their decision to award James Kitfield the Gerald R. Ford Prize for Distinguished Reporting on National Defense in 2008, the judges issued the following statement.

“The judges are pleased to report the selection of James Kitfield of the National Journal as the winner of the
Gerald R. Ford Prize for Distinguished Reporting on National Defense.

Although the entries this year were particularly strong, Mr. Kitfield, in the view of the judges, hit a home run with
each submission. The quality and breadth were extraordinary; providing a tour d’horizon of the critical issues
of our times — from the counter-insurgency in Afghanistan to the strategic significance of Pakistan to breakout from the nuclear
non-proliferation regime to the dangers of stumbling into confrontation with Russia. Each was superbly written
to guide readers through a web of complex concepts and relationships.

As important, the judges believe that Mr. Kitfield tackled these topics in real time — not summarizing what had occurred
retrospectively but creating a context and assessment of events as they were unfolding.

The judges would like to commend Mr. Kitfield for a body or work that was consistently strong, penetratingly relevant, and
written to help Americans understand the intricacies of the global risks and realities the nation now faces.”

The judges for this year’s contest were:
Chair, Debra van Opstal, Senior Vice President, Policy and Programs at the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, and secretary to the Board of Directors; Robert Holzer, public outreach and engagement support to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and recipient of the 1998 Gerald R. Ford Journalism Prize for Distinguished Reporting on National Defense; Erik Peterson, Senior Vice President, Center for Strategic and International Studies where he serves as director of the Global Strategy Institute; Frank Hoffman, Research Fellow at the Marine Corps Center for Threats and Opportunities and nonresident Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute; and David M. Olive, Principal at Catalyst Partners with more than 30 years experience in business, politics, law, and public affairs, including establishment of The Washington Homeland Security Round Table.