Hoiles Prize For Journalism Won By Damon Root

NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The first R. C. Hoiles Prize for Journalism -- $10,000 and a crystal flame – has been awarded to Damon Root, for articles published by Reason Magazine.

Second prize ($4,000 and a crystal flame) went to Steven Greenhut, for articles published by City Journal and the Orange County Register.

Third prize ($1,000 and a crystal flame) went to Steve Malanga, for articles published by The Wall Street Journal.

The R. C. Hoiles Prize, established this year and administered by International Policy Network (IPN), awards the writer whose work best reflects the "Freedom Philosophy" of Raymond Cyrus Hoiles, founder of the chain of newspapers that became Freedom Communications.

"Root demonstrated the clearest understanding of libertarian principles as applied to relevant and important public policy events," said Cathy Taylor, Chairman of the Hoiles Judging panel.

Judges this year were: Shikha Dalmia, Douglas H. Ginsburg, Wendy Gramm, Robert Guest, Bart Hinkle, and Cathy Taylor.

Entries for the Hoiles Prize are judged by their: focus on US policy issues that impact on freedom; advancement of freedom; persuasiveness; and eloquence.

The Hoiles Prize was supported by a generous gift from R. C.'s granddaughter, Pamela Hoiles.

Employees of Freedom Communications newspapers were not permitted to enter the prize. Judges with a conflict of interest recused themselves from evaluating entries where such a conflict arose. The President of IPN, Julian Morris, who is an employee of Reason Foundation, was not a judge and did not influence the judges' decision.

IPN is an independent, non-partisan, non-governmental, educational charity, which seeks to improve public understanding of the role of the institutions of the free society. For more on IPN and the Hoiles Prize, please visit: http://www.policynetwork.net/

Damon Root's articles:

The Great Basketball Swindle: http://reason.com/archives/2011/07/11/the-great-basketball-swindle

Licensed to Ill: http://reason.com/archives/2011/04/13/licensed-to-ill

Steven Greenhut's Articles:

California's Secret Government: http://www.city-journal.org/2011/21_2_california-redevelopment-agencies.html

GOP Takes the Low Road on Immigration: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/law-295651-government-immigration.html

Steve Malanga's articles:

Christie Is Right About the Hudson River Big Dig: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703440004575548280684121298.html

State House Shell Games: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704774604576035583524116132.html

The Local Government Pension Squeeze: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304070104576399530309071422.html

SOURCE International Policy Network