The Providence Phoenix claimed three awards, including a first-place prize in the business-economic reporting category for news editor Ian Donnis's coverage of the Providence Journal, during the New England Press Association's February 9 banquet in Boston.

Donnis was recognized for three articles chronicling changes at the Journal under the ownership of the Dallas-based Belo Corporation, which bought the newspaper in 1997: "Disappearing ink," published November 23, 2000, about a growing trend toward self-censorship at the Journal; "Belo lays an egg," published February 8, 2001, about missteps in Belo's ambitious attempt to integrate its media empire with the Web; and "Strategic partners," published May 31, 2001, about the advantages and risks in the relationship between the Journal and public radio station WRNI-AM.

Contributing writer Steven Stycos won a second-place award in the general news category for "Torture is the issue," published December 14, 2000, about plans by Providence-based Textron to sell $4.5 billion in attack helicopters to Turkey, despite widespread human rights abuses by the key US ally.

Former staff writer Kathleen Hughes won honorable mention in educational reporting for "Fade to blank," published October 19, 2000, about how a shrinking commitment has eroded the quality of libraries at the University of Rhode Island.

The Providence Phoenix is part of the Phoenix newspaper group, which also publishes weeklies in Boston and Portland. All told, the Phoenix newspapers won 42 NEPA awards, including the George A. Speers Newspaper of the Year Award for the Boston Phoenix.

Issue Date: February 15 - 21, 2002