2010 Knight-Batten Awards for Innovation in Journalism: Sunlight Foundation Wins Grand Prize

Sunlight Foundation was the big winner of the 2010 Knight-Batten Awards for Innovation in Journalism, which honor creative use of new technology “to engage citizens in public issues and showcase compelling models for the future of news.” The awards are funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and administered by J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism, a center of American University’s School of Communication.

The winners will be honored at a morning symposium Sept. 14 at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

Sunlight Foundation took home the $10,000 grand prize for its Sunlight Live combination of data, streamed video, live blogging, and social networking.

Special Distinction Awards, along with $1,000 prizes, went to: ProPublica Reporting Network, 48 Hour Magazine, The Obameter, Ushahidi-Haiti, Publish2 News Exchange, and TruckStop.

There were also 30 Notable Entries.

Matt Thompson of NPR, one of the judges for the 2010 Knight-Batten Awards, said of Sunlight Live:

They showed how to add journalistic punch to a carefully orchestrated government event, adding context and insight to the proceedings. And they don’t stop at merely shedding light on the behind-the-scenes proceedings of government — they go a step beyond to make it fun and engaging, creating a social experience around the event.

Join Baratunde Thurston (left), The Onion’s Director of Digital and author of How to Be Black, for an entertaining look at creative social media campaigns in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. Other speakers include Morin Oluwole (Facebook), Tim Devane (bitly), and SocialTimes' writer Devon Glenn.   Register now.