MinnPost ethanol series wins environmental journalism award

A four-part MinnPost series, "Ethanol in Minnesota," has won second prize in the Society of Environmental Journalists annual awards for online journalism.

The series, which ran in January, was written and reported by Ron Way and Mark Neuzil and included video produced by 612 Authentic. The awards committee said: "Of all the entries, they decided this one had the best display of video and the best video, too. One judge said, 'Kudos to this start-up for tackling serious issues in the state. Keep it up. Sites like yours will take down large newspaper conglomerates, cranking their dead wood editions.'"

The award was announced at the SEJ's annual banquet, held Wednesday in Roanoke, Va. Among the attendees were Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III and singer Kathy Mattea. First place winner was The Center for Public Integrity's series on Superfund's toxic legacy.

The Society of Environmental Journalists, with 1,400 members, is the only U.S.-based membership organization of working journalists dedicated to improvements in environmental reporting.