PD reporter wins ASNE award

Plain Dealer reporter Joanna Connors won the Distinguished Writing Award for Nondeadline Writing of the American Society of Newspaper Editors for Beyond Rape: A Survivors Journey. The series focuses on Connors experience with rape and beat out finalist entries from the St. Petersburg Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

In addition, Regina Brett (formerly at BJ) was a finalist for the organization’s Batten Medal, which recognizes journalism that touches real people. She was nominated for her body of work last year, including columns on open discovery and Cleveland police officer Jim Simone and part of her series on passing the breast cancer gene on to her daughter.