“Journalists, if they do their jobs right, are never very popular. Much of the time, we’re bringing you bad news, and some of the time, we are obnoxious about it.”—Jack Lessenberry on “Why Journalism Matters.” To read the rest of the April 7, 2011 entry, click here.

On the one hand, a society to which one pays dues to belong giving out awards to members is a bit suspect. On the other hand, it’s also an opportunity to draw some much-needed attention to excellence in journalism. On April 6, 2011 the Detroit Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) gave out 400 awards for news coverage by metro-Detroit newspapers, radio stations, television stations and online journalism. To see the entire list of winners, click here.

Two Ann Arborites were honored:

U of M faculty member Charles Eisendrath was given a lifetime achievement award. In the release about the award, SPJ officials write:

Professor Eisendrath directs two prestigious national journalism programs of professional recognition at the University of Michigan: The Knight-Wallace Fellows, which provides an academic year of sabbatical study to American and international journalists, and the Livingston Awards for Young Journalists, which he designed and administers.

Eisendrath is quoted frequently and has written articles about the media issues in national publications and broad-cast media. He has served on the Pulitzer Prize interna-tional jury, chaired the American board of the Interna-tional Press Institute, and was elected to the Council on Foreign Relations.

After reporting for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Bal-timore Evening Sun, Eisendrath joined TIME magazine, which posted him in Washington, London, Paris and Bue-nos Aires, where as bureau chief he was responsible for all news operations in Hispanic South America.

He joined the University of Michigan journalism fac-ulty in 1975, directing a master’s program that placed all graduates on intern-ships and jobs.

Eisendrath also helped get The Ann magazine off the ground. In an interview with A2Politico, The Ann’s editor, Kyle Poplin, talked about Dr. Eisendrath’s contribution to the start-up venture.

Concentrate Media managing editor Jeff Meyers, who was recently appointed to sit on the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission, took first place in the “Criticism” category for his film reviewing work for the Metro Times. The judges wrote, “Quick-witted and wry, but never obnoxious or overly hipster. This reviewer makes his case with the fundamentals: clear writing, sharp observation and on-target descriptors.”

Metro Times, in fact, captured all of the Criticism awards in its publishing category.

In the Online Journalism category, Crain’s Detroit won first place for the best web site. Judges concluded that the site is a “well-designed, easy to navigate site that covers local business exceptionally well.” Metro Times took second place in web design.