Chris Hedges Wins L.A. Press Club’s Top Award for Activism Journalism

[marmar]

Pulitzer Prize winner and Truthdig columnist Chris Hedges received the top award in the Activism Journalism category Sunday night at the 2015 Southern California Journalism Awards.

Hedges won for his column “The Last Days of Tomas Young,” about which the judges wrote: “Great journalism should move the reader. Great activist journalism should move the reader to act. Hedges’ piece does just that through the compelling and heartbreaking story of a pain-riddled vet let down by the very country he ultimately gave his life to protect. It’s a cynical piece, and it could devolve into simple antiwar rhetoric—but instead it sharply skewers a VA system that failed to aid the very people it’s meant to serve.”

Young was the author of “The Last Letter,” a message to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, published by Truthdig, in which he stated his intention to die.

“There’s tremendous profundity to Chris’ work so well illustrated by this piece,” said Truthdig publisher Zuade Kaufman. “He gives voice to Tomas Young, allowing the Army veteran to speak to so many of the horrors of war, as well as inspiring others to take action.”

“It is a good sign for journalism that Truthdig’s most provocative and courageous columnist is so frequently honored by other members of the profession,” Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer added. ............(more)

http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/chris_hedges_wins_la_press_clubs_top_award_for_activism_journalism_201506

[Doctor_J]

1. great news. his column is must read every week

Rec