2012 Association of Food Journalists Award Finalists Announced

While everyone else was busy enjoying their Memorial Day, the Association of Food Journalists quietly announced the finalists for its 2012 awards competition. And to our pleasant surprise L.A. Weekly scored two nominations, including one in the category of best food blog for our own Squid Ink. The AFJ, which was formed in 1974 as the Newspaper Food Editors and Writers Association, Inc., has been handing out awards since 1986 that recognize writers of “outstanding stories.” The annual contest is open to all journalists.

Other nominees in the category include The San Francisco Chronicle's Inside Scoop, The Seattle Times' All You Can Eat, and our sister publication Village Voice's Fork in the Road. Also nominated for Best Newspaper Food Story was Beth Barnett's piece that ran in L.A. Weekly last year entitled, “L.A. Farmers Markets Exposed,” which detailed questionable practices in local sourcing and organic certification found at local farmers markets. Our new food critic Besha Rodell was nominated for her work on the “Food Issue” at Atlanta alt-weekly Creative Loafing.

Winners of the 38-year-old journalism award, which emphasizes writing that “upholds and fosters professional ethical standards, attempts to increase knowledge about food and encourages and promotes a greater understanding of food news among fellow journalists,” will be announced at AFJʼs annual conference on Sept. 6 in Washington, D.C. Here's a complete list of finalists.

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