Thank you for an outstanding piece of honest journalism and a great interview with former top cop Edward Norris (“Eddie,” June 1). Aside from the revealing insights provided on the reality of daily life in a small part of the overall federal prison system, the article inadvertently pointed out how all police departments and all governments (not to mention private industry, where I have worked) waste huge amounts of money sending their members to unnecessary out-of-state conferences. I look forward to reading Part 2 on Norris’ experiences with and assessment of our current mayor, but I would like to know why, apparently, our current governor is being let off your hook for a suggested Part 3? After all, Norris was Maryland State Police superintendent, and that aspect of his career should be covered, too. I’m certain I’m not alone in this feeling, either. You’re doing a wonderful job, so keep it up.

Blaine Taylor
Towson

Who’s On First?

Congratulations to City Paper for raising the issue of crediting newspaper stories used on radio (“The Pinky Incident,” Mobtown Beat, June 1). The radio stations I hear in Washington usually—and, I hope, always—credit the newspapers that first reported the news they broadcast. However, I clearly remember—and WBAL-AM talk-show host Ron Smith probably does, too—the Schenectady, N.Y., radio station that opened its local newscast with something like “First with news in the Great Northeast. . . . According to this morning’s Times Union . . . ” If the newspaper had the story first, obviously the radio station was second with news in the Great Northeast.

Stephen Goldstein
Silver Spring

Edmondson Remembered

I would like to tell Laurence Bass that it is a fine thing to see a young black male have a positive way of life. Too many young ones today follow others who are bad examples. My hopes and blessings go out to Laurence and others who set fine examples.

I also grew up in Southwest Baltimore in the 1980s (I’m 25 now), and I have a lot of old memories of playing outside and Nintendo with my friends. A lot of communities have changed since then.

It’s good to see a young black man concerned about the drug problem that’s growing in Edmondson Village and other communities.

Eric White
Baltimore

Correction: In last week’s Mobtown Beat story on the Sun’s study of possible local media borrowing (“The Pinky Incident”), Sun reporter Stephanie Desmon’s name was misspelled. City Paper regrets the error.

Editor’s note: The Maryland Chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists recently announced the winners of its 2005 Excellence in Journalism Awards, and City Paper won its share of the laurels. News editor Erin Sullivan won first and second place in Public Service Reporting respectively for “The Corrections” (May 19, 2004), her cover story on the Baltimore City Detention Center, and “Learning Curve” (Dec. 8, 2004), her cover story on the local charter-schools movement. In addition, Erin won first place in Business Writing for “Adventures in the Rag Trade” (Mobtown Beat, Oct. 20, 2004), her news story on nonprofit organization Planet Aid. In the General Reporting category, contributing writer Terrie Snyder won first place for “A Shot in the Dark” (July 7, 2004), her cover story on the police shooting of Dexter Hill, and staff writer Gadi Dechter won honorable mention for “The Man Behind the Curtain” (Oct. 6, 2004), his cover story on landlord Scott Wizig. Staff writer Edward Ericson Jr. and senior staff writer Van Smith took first and second in the Investigative Reporting category—Ed for “Out of Africa” (April 14, 2004), his cover story on international scammers using a phone service for the deaf, and Van for “Tax Break” (Oct. 13, 2004), his cover story on an Abell Foundation report on underassessed city properties. Staff writer Christina Royster-Hemby won second place in Feature Reporting for “Ballers” (Nov. 3, 2004), her cover story on local devotees of the Madden NFL video game. Contributing writer/artist Tom Chalkley won first place in Cartooning for “Welcome to the Hall of Blame” (Feb. 11, 2004), his illustrated take on the city school system’s woes. And art director Joe MacLeod won first place in Graphic Design for “Homicidal Tendencies” (Sept. 8, 2004), our analysis of the city’s homicide statistics. Congratulations to all the winners.

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