The Dallas Morning News’ Watchdog column won first place in the 2015 National Society of Newspaper Columnists’ annual competition.
The column by Dave Lieber with Marina Trahan Martinez was praised for displaying “true excellence in column writing.”
Marina Trahan Martinez and Dave Lieber celebrate
The award was presented June 29 at the group’s 39th annual conference in Indianapolis.
The winning columns detailed the trial of an Oak Cliff woman's killer, the legal difficulties of Dallas District Judge Staci Williams, and behind-the-scenes maneuvering by the Texas Department of Public Safety in its fingerprint program for Texas drivers.
James Haught of the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia won second place, and Robert Dyer of the Akron Beacon Journal won third.
Lieber last won the contest in 1995, his second year as a Texas newspaper columnist.
The Watchdog column also was named one of the top 10 columns in 2014 by TheDailyBeast.com.
