The Washington Post Travel section has won five awards -- more than any other newspaper -- in the 2003-2004 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition.
The section won the silver (second place) award for Best Newspaper Travel Section in its circulation category, and a bronze (third place) prize for a special issue on last-minute travel. The judges praised the section for its "scintillating cover art," "snappy headlines," "strong editing" and "chic and informative" writing, adding, "If this section were haute couture, this would be the perfect little black dress."
In addition, Steve Hendrix of the Travel staff won two individual writing awards for his stories on visiting Burma and rafting Utah's Cataract Canyon as a swamper, "a sort of deputy assistant river flunky." And staff writer Cindy Loose won for her story on touring Sarasota, Fla., by Segway scooter.
The annual contest, considered the most prestigious in travel journalism, is sponsored by the Society of American Travel Writers and judged by members of the University of Missouri School of Journalism faculty. This year's contest had 1,330 entries.
The winning articles are linked below.
Contest-Winning Articles
Suddenly Last Weekend (July 20, 2003)
I Went To Burma. Bad Move: A Place Where Tourism Carries Political Baggage (June 15, 2003)
Burma in the Balance: Should you go? The politics of travel to Asia's most controversial destination. (May 25, 2003)
Rafting's Flip Side: All he needed to be a river guide was strength, courage and a good sleeping bag. Well, he had the bag, anyway. (Aug. 17, 2003)
Sarasota by Segway: In Fla., Trading a Tour Bus for a Two-Wheeler (Jan. 11, 2004)
