Peter Baker, The Washington Post White House correspondent, has won the 21st 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 2, 2008. Following the presentation of the awards, Vice President Cheney addressed the audience.

When announcing their decision to award Peter Baker the Gerald R. Ford Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency in 2007, the judges issued the following statement:

“The judges for the Gerald R. Ford Prize for distinguished reporting on the Presidency have unanimously chosen Peter Baker of the Washington Post to receive this prize for 2007. Peter Baker has written an exceptionally trenchant appraisal of President George W. Bush in his penultimate year in office. He has portrayed a beleaguered President with insight, clarity, and compassion, balancing accomplishments against goals and aspirations.

Mr. Baker has given us an even-handed account of the odds President Bush faced and the limited success of his initiatives. Beyond the dynamics of crisis and response, Mr. Baker presents to his readers the character of this President, a leader confident of his actions, at peace with himself, and secure in his abiding faith.

We compliment Mr. Baker on his diligence in finding, interviewing, and using respected and relevant sources. We find both his reporting and his writing to meet the highest standards of informative and responsible journalism.”

The judges for this year’s contest were:
Chair, James M. Cannon, former journalist and political advisor; 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; Hal Bruno, retired journalist and political director for ABC News; and Jack Nelson, former Bureau Chief of the Los Angeles Times Washington Bureau and Pulitzer Prize-winner.

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