Each winter, Governing and Stateline.org present an award honoring outstanding journalistic coverage of state and local government. The award, which includes a $3,000 cash grant and is presented at Governing's annual Outlook in the States conference in Washington, D.C., is named in memory of the late Hal Hovey, a dedicated public official, meticulous scholar, tireless reporter and constructive critic of state and local government who died in 1999 after a 30-year career that included major contributions to both journalism and public service at all levels.

Hal Hovey

Now in its fifth year, the 2008 recipient of the Hal Hovey Award is Tom Ferrick Jr. of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who is being honored for his columns on Philadelphia government, including his insightful coverage of the city's historic 2007 mayoral election. The award was presented on January 30, 2008, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. To learn more about this year's award-winner, click here.

Governing and Stateline.org readers are invited to nominate journalists or news organizations to be considered for the award. We are now accepting nominations for the 2009 Hal Hovey award. The deadline is November 14, 2008. If you have any questions or would like to submit a nomination, contact Josh Goodman at jgoodman@governing.com

Past Hal Hovey Award recipients:

The 2007 award was presented to William Glaberson, a reporter for the New York Times, for a series of articles documenting the idiosyncrasies and abuses of New York's town and village courts and the state's halting efforts at reforming them. (Click here for more on the 2007 award.)

The 2006 prize was awarded to James Heaney of the Buffalo News for his series investigating Buffalo's mismanagement of federal anti-poverty funds and failed redevelopment efforts over the past 30 years. (Click here for more on the 2006 award.)

The 2005 award was presented to Sara Burnett and Dave Orrick of the Chicago Daily Herald for their series documenting the problems facing the Illinois foster care system. (Click here for more on the 2005 award.)

The first Hal Hovey Award was presented in February 2004 to reporters Dan Egan and Lee Bergquist of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for their series of articles documenting the inequities and shortages that are coming to plague water systems in communities around the country. (Click here for more on the 2004 award.)

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