Star-Bulletin’s
Mighty Mo
work hailed

By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin has won regional and international journalism awards for coverage of the arrival of the battleship USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor last June.

The newspaper took top honors in the informational graphic category and tied for third place in the words, editing and design category in the 1998 competition of the Best of the West awards, which honors top work by newspapers and television stations in 13 western states, said Best of the West President John F. Leach.

The package of stories, photographs and graphic art -- published in a special edition poster on June 17, 1998 -- highlighted the relocation of the Mighty Mo from Washington state to Pearl Harbor, the battleship's proud wartime history and the men who served on her.

Star-Bulletin graphic artist Dave Swann's work on the Mighty Mo package was the runaway top choice for informational graphics, said judge Bill Mayer, a freelance graphic artist who does work for Time magazine. There were 65 entries in this category.

"This design is immediately captivating," Mayer wrote. "It is strong, extremely well-organized, and yields a persuasive sense of clarity."

In the words, editing and design category, judge George Edmonson said the overall Missouri package has some fine reporting and writing, and works well with its graphics.

Writers Gregg Kakesako and Lori Tighe, Swann and Assistant Managing Editor Mike Rovner worked on the project.

"Great use of the package possibilities," said Edmonson, public editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"The shot of the guns at the bottom of the page is compelling."

There were 73 entries in the category. The newspaper tied for third place with the San Diego Union-Tribune's package on "The X-Files." First place went to The Oregonian for its project on a Portland jazz trumpeter who died of Lou Gehrig's disease.

Meanwhile, the Star-Bulletin also won three informational graphics awards from the Society for News Design in its 20th annual competition.

The society has members in 48 countries and is dedicated to improving news presentation and design in all media.

The newspaper won an award of excellence for its USS Missouri package and its "In the Line of Fire" series, an examination of shootings by Honolulu police officers published July 30-31, 1998.

Swann also won an award of excellence for a portfolio of his work.