People's World to pick up labor journalism prize

by: BARBARA RUSSUM

november 8 2010

The Peoples World will be in Washington D.C. Nov. 19 where one of its editors will be among those honored by the nation's labor journalists for excellence in their craft.

During the International Labor Communications Association's Media Awards ceremony at the national headquarters of the American Federation of Teachers the Peoples World labor editor, John Wojcik, will receive a feature-writing prize for his Sept. 19, 2009 story, "Steeler Nation Fights Its Way Back."

ILCA judges said about his story: "John Wojcik uses sports fandom as a poignant window into the long-term costs of blue-collar layoffs in the country's heartland...an eloquent argument for an industrial policy in America."

 The country's labor press comes together every year to celebrate excellence in labor journalism and to exchange ideas on how to better deliver labor's message in the mass media.

During the awards ceremony, Jennifer Berkshire, a writer for the Massachusetts AFT Advocate, will receive the 2010 Max Steinbock Award, the highest honor given by the ILCA. In her story, We Wanted a Voice, she recounts the successful effort by teachers at Conservatory Lab Charter School in Brighton, Mass., to form a union.

American Federation of Musicians, Local 802 newsletter Allegro will receive one of three Saul Miller awards, named after the longtime director of the AFL-CIO publications department and ILCA vice president. Miller's son David, is a member of Local 802 and wrote the winning article about his father.

At the awards event Ed Ott, former executive director of the New York City Central Labor Council, will give a talk on trends in nontraditional organizing drives and how such organizing has secured respect on the job for huge numbers of service workers.

There will be a panel discussion on how to use the new social media to win labor campaigns. Journalists coming to the gathering report that from countering attacks on teachers, to building support for all kinds of strikes, the social media have been an effective tool.

The labor journalists will also get a chance to learn how the Department of Labor will respond to the expected attacks that will come from the new Republican majority in the House, Carl Fillichio, senior adviser for communications to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will discuss this topic and answer questions for the reporters. (Courtesy : People's World)