Michael A. Dornheim Award

The Michael A. Dornheim Award is presented in honor of the late Michael Dornheim, a longtime reporter and editor at Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine.

The award is presented annually as part of the National Press Club's journalism awards, which recognizes and honors professional journalists for their outstanding work for the public, either independently or as employees of editorially-independent news and media entities. The recipient must be a working journalist writing about aerospace, defense, the airline industry, or aerospace science and engineering.[1] Entrants may enter up to 6 examples of work, and the winner receives a $1,000 prize.[2]

Winners

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Michael A. Dornheim Award Winners, 2008 to present
Year of Award Author Publication Details
2023 Craig Whitlock & Nate Jones Washington Post For the three part series, “Foreign Servants: Retired U.S. Generals, Admirals Take Top Jobs With Saudi Crown Prince” [3] that revealed more than 500 retired U.S. military personnel — including scores of generals and admirals — have taken lucrative jobs since 2015 working for foreign governments, mostly in countries known for human rights abuses and political repression.
2022 Christopher Freeze Air Line Pilot magazine For his 8-part series, "ALPA at 90,"[4] which highlighted aviation safety technologies or topics that the labor union championed.[5]
2021 Kiera Feldman Los Angeles Times For a year-long investigation revealing how mechanical problems on airplanes can cause heated jet engine oil to leak into the air supply — a phenomenon known as “fume events” — which could sicken passengers and crew members.[6]
2020 Valerie Insinna Defense News For the in-depth feature series, “The Hidden Troubles of the F-35.”[7]
2019 Mark Harris freelance For research, investigative reporting and writing of the aerospace industry, particularly in the satellite sector.[8]
2018 John Donnelly CQ Roll Call For stories on F-35 ejections and military accidents that exemplify solid and uncompromised investigative journalism.[9]
2017 Elan Head Vertical magazine For stories that raised significant safety concerns about helicopters.[10]
2016 W.J. Hennigan Los Angeles Times For a variety of strong stories on defense topics - from pilots flying drones to flying in a U-2 spy plane.[11]
2015 Thomas Frank USA Today For “Unfit for Flight,” a five-part series that revealed the hidden dangers of private aviation.[12]
2014 Sara Sorcher National Journal For stories that explored defense procurement, civil applications of unmanned aerial vehicles, federal budgeting and congressional oversight.[13]
2013 Bart Jansen USA Today For his stories on air travel[14]
2012 Nathan Hodge Wall Street Journal For coverage of U.S. defense policy.[15]
2011 Christopher Castelli "Inside The Pentagon"[nb 1] For his reporting on the Defense Department's failure to put required cockpit voice recorders on V-22 Ospreys.[17]
2010 Andy Pasztor & Susan Carey Wall Street Journal For their coverage of the crash of a Colgan Air turboprop near Buffalo, New York.[18]
2009 Sally Adee IEEE Spectrum magazine For the story "The Hunt for the Kill Switch"[19]
2008 William J. McGee multiple For his combined works in Consumer Reports; Condé Nast Traveler; Money Magazine; USA Today[20]

Namesake

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Michael A. Dornheim (1954–2006) was a journalist at Aviation Week for more than two decades.[21][22][23] After a dinner with friends on June 3, 2006, he drove away from the restaurant, suggesting he would take "the back way." Nine days later, law enforcement officials found Dornheim's car had run off the road and descended 350 feet. Landing inverted, Dornheim was found deceased at the scene.[24]

Dornheim was awarded two more writing awards posthumously.[25]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Inside the Pentagon" is Inside Washington Publishers' flagship defense publication.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Top journalism on aviation, aerospace, defense eligible for Michael A. Dornheim award". National Press Club.
  2. ^ "National Press Club Journalism Awards". National Press Club.
  3. ^ Helster, Kate. "Wall Street Journal, ABC News and PBS NewsHour Win National Press Club Awards". PR Newswire. National Press Club. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  4. ^ "ProPublica, PBS/Frontline and National Public Radio win National Press Club awards". PR Newswire.
  5. ^ "ALPA at 90: Safety Management Systems". ALPA.
  6. ^ "Two Los Angeles Times Investigations Score National Press Club Honors". Los Angeles Times. December 15, 2021.
  7. ^ "NPC showcases more great journalism with honorable mention award winners". National Press Club.
  8. ^ "Annapolis Capital Gazette, Baltimore Sun win breaking news award from National Press Club for shooting coverage". National Press Club.
  9. ^ "National Press Club announces winners of its annual journalism contest". Business Insider.
  10. ^ "Vertical receives prestigious journalism award". Vertical.
  11. ^ "Baltimore Sun, Wall Street Journal win awards in National Press Club journalism contest". National Press Club.
  12. ^ "Wall Street Journal, Seattle Times win awards in National Press Club journalism contest". National Press Club.
  13. ^ "USA TODAY investigations win National Press Club awards". USA Today.
  14. ^ "About USA TODAY - Awards". USA TODAY.
  15. ^ Harbin, Julie (March 29, 2014). "After Karzai: Do Afghanistan's Presidential Elections Matter?". Informed Comment.
  16. ^ "InsideDefense.com | Exclusive national security news from inside the Pentagon". insidedefense.com.
  17. ^ "Dornheim Award recognizes excellence in writing about aerospace, defense and airline industry". National Press Club.
  18. ^ "WSJ wins two National Press Club awards". Poynter. July 14, 2010.
  19. ^ "Club Honors Journalism Excellence in Annual Contest". National Press Club.
  20. ^ "Resume - Congress" (PDF). Congress.Gov.
  21. ^ "Michael A. Dornheim 1954-2006". Aviation Week Network.
  22. ^ "Aeronautical Journalist Michael A. Dornheim". Washington Post.
  23. ^ "Missing Man Is Found Dead". Los Angeles Times. June 13, 2006.
  24. ^ "Gone West: Aviation Reporter Michael Dornheim - Missing Writer Found Dead After Auto Accident". Aero-News Network. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  25. ^ "Aviation Week Editors Win Six Aerospace Journalist of the Year Awards". SpaceRef. July 26, 2006.