2020-21 SATW Foundation Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition

106 Robert Haru Fisher Award for Travel Health/Safety Coverage ( Newspapers,Travel Magazines,Travel Coverage in General Magazines,Travel Audio-Radio,Travel Audio-Podcasts and Guides)Back

  • Place Name: First Place
    Contestant Name: Matt Crossman
    Entry Title: I flew to Texas to watch bull riding on an aircraft carrier during COVID
    Entry Credit: Matt Crossman
    Judge Comment: Just when you thought the year of the pandemic couldn't get any crazier, Matt Crossman takes us aboard an aircraft carrier for a bull-riding competition and a meditation on the human need for connection. This delightful piece explores the central problem of the pandemic: How to stay safe without losing our marbles in isolation. And, it turns out, a bizarre bull-riding contest in the Gulf of Mexico is just the way to do it. A salve for the soul.
  • Place Name: Second Place
    Contestant Name: Salma Abdelnour Gilman
    Entry Title: Is It Safe to Travel This Summer?
    Entry Credit: Salma Abdelnour Gilman
    Judge Comment: Among the scores of stories "how to stay safe doing (fill in the blank) during the pandemic," this piece checks all the boxes for solid science, smart advice and reader-friendly format. The author understands that the devil is in the details and found great, authoritative sources to explain the importance of what the research was saying. The piece doesn't skimp on the nuances, and that leaves the reader with greater confidence about how to approach safe travel in the summer of 2020 with the vaccine still many months away.
  • Place Name: Third Place
    Contestant Name: BBC Travel
    Entry Title: Turkey's unique hand-sanitising method
    Entry Credit: Jenna Scatena
    Judge Comment: Turkey was centuries ahead of the rest of the world when hand sanitizer became one of the most important products of the pandemic. This health-related travel story actually went someplace to explain the fascinating history and cultural significance of kolonya, the sweet-smelling liquid that’s a staple in every Turkish home. The effective use of first person in the end brings home the "travel" via scent.