Thanks to all who returned Watchdogs’ “Best of Seattle Media” ballot (6/18). We received 108 responses—54 by mail or fax and 54 online. This is not a scientific survey, but the results are illuminating. And the winners….
Newspapers
1. Best daily: The Seattle Times
2. Best non-daily: Seattle Weekly
3. Best neighborhood: Queen Anne News
4. Best local reporter: Geov Parrish, The Stranger
5. Best political reporter: Joel Connelly, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
6. Best investigative reporter: Eric Nalder, Times
7. Best editorialist: Mindy Cameron, Times
8. Best local columnist: Susan Paynter, P-I
9. Best sports columnist: Steve Kelley, Times
10. Best photographer: Betty Udesen, Times
11. Best business writer: Paul Andrews, Times
12. Best features writer: Sherry Stripling, Times
13. Best advice columnist: Dan Savage, The Stranger
14. Best television critic: Kay McFadden, Times
15. Best movie critic: John Hartl, Times
16. Best music critic: Gene Stout, P-I
17. Best art critic: Regina Hackett, P-I
18. Best media critics: Watchdogs, Seattle Weekly
Television
1. Best local news program: Town Meeting, KOMO
2. Best local anchor: Jean Enersen, KING, and Kathi Goertzen, KOMO (tie)
3. Best local reporter: Jim Forman, KING
4. Best investigative reporter: Connie Thompson, KOMO
5. Best sports reporter: Tom Glasgow, Fox Sports Northwest, and Bruce King, KOMO (tie)
6. Best weather person: Harry Wappler, KIRO
7. Best features reporter: (no winner)
8. Best business reporter: Barry Mitzman, KCTS
9. Best political reporter: Brian Johnson, KOMO
10. Best discussion-show host: Ken Schram, KOMO
11. Best hair (male): Dan Lewis, KOMO
12. Best hair (female): Kathi Goertzen, KOMO
Radio
1. Best overall station: KUOW-FM
2. Best news/talk station: KIRO-AM
3. Best talk-show host: Dave Ross, KIRO-AM
4. Best folk/roots station: KBCS-FM
5. Best jazz station: KPLU-FM
6. Best rock station: KZOK-AM
7. Best blues station: KPLU-FM
8. Best country station: KMPS-AM
9. Best alternative station: KCMU-FM
10. Best Limbaugh wannabe: John Carlson
Magazine/newsletter
1. Best local magazine: Seattle
2. Best local freelance writer: (no winner)
3. Best photographs: Seattle Homes & Lifestyles
4. Best art/design: Seattle Homes & Lifestyles
5. Best local newsletter: Eat the State!
Online/fax service
1. Best local newspaper Web site: seattletimes.com
2. Best local Web zine: slate.com
3. Best local Web site design: seattleweekly.com
4. Best local broadcast fax: KIRO Radio News Fax
5. Best local multimedia site: talkspot.com
All around
1. Best local news source: The Seattle Times
2. Best local political news: Seattle Weekly
3. Best local commentary and opinion: Seattle Weekly
4. Best local business news: Puget Sound Business Journal
5. Best local arts and culture news: Seattle Weekly
Best category we didn’t include
Alert Watchdogs readers had lots of suggestions, including: “Best shill for liberal causes,” “Best right-wing shill,” “Best labor news,” “Best disk jockey,” “Best catalog,” “Best ex-local who made it big,” and two we should have included but forgot: “Best theater critic” and “Best cartoonist.” Maybe next year.
Prize winners
Congratulations to the winners in our random drawing of ballots!
First Prize (brown-bag lunch with Watchdogs): Skip Knox, Seattle
Second Prize (vintage CounterPoint T-shirt): Nobi Kawasaki, Port Orchard
Third Prize (rubber dog-doo toy): Jerry Curtin, Des Moines
John Hamer and Mariana Parks are president and executive director, respectively, of the CounterPoint Center for ReMEDIAtion, an independent nonprofit media think tank, and co-editors of CounterPoint, a media-critique newsletter. Call them at 1-888-306-DOGS or e-mail them at cptcntr@aol.com.
