Writer-at-Large Jane Eisner April 14, 2013

It’s awards season again in the journalist world, and I’m honored to report that Forward staffers have received some worthy recognition for their work.

At the annual Ippies Awards ceremony March 28, which highlighted the work of New York City’s ethnic and independent media, the Forward’s Naomi Zeveloff and Nate Lavey won second place for best multimedia package for their enchanting story about Naomi Kutin, the young Orthodox weight-lifter from New Jersey who is the strongest contender in her class in the world. And Kurt Hoffman, our multitalented design director, won second place for best print design.

Meantime, Josh Nathan-Kazis is once again a finalist in the Deadline Club awards, the prizes bestowed annually by the New York chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Josh’s series investigating Jewish cemeteries in New Jersey made the selective cut for all newspapers with a circulation under 100,000. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on May 16.

I’m also pleased to announce the addition of two names to our opinion page roster of columnists. One is familiar to devoted readers: Jay Michaelson. After years of writing for the arts and culture section, Jay will now train his focus on politics, religion and society on the op-ed page. He is joined by a newcomer to the Forward, Laura Rozen, an accomplished journalist based in Washington, D.C., who has written about foreign policy and the Middle East for Politico, Yahoo and Foreign Affairs and now for Al-Monitor. Cause for celebration.

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