tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12844144.post768033213522927176..comments2024-02-18T10:25:18.117-05:00Comments on The Kenilworthian: CJA AwardsMichael Goellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14512012158305281566noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12844144.post-6664243204701147182009-08-29T09:30:55.113-04:002009-08-29T09:30:55.113-04:00Alexandra Kosteniuk won the "Jouranlist of th...Alexandra Kosteniuk won the "Jouranlist of the Year". That is very interesting since she does not do journalism. Her site is more media for chess promotion and not primarily in the serious journalism sphere. I also heard that President Jerry Hanken was going around soliciting support for her vote. What kind of contest is that? It becomes a popularity issue. CJA credibility has improved with the selection of Macauley Peterson last year, but with this selection, it shows that if you promote yourself enough, you can win the award.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12844144.post-92114239359666455852009-08-25T18:11:12.879-04:002009-08-25T18:11:12.879-04:00This thread has been long closed, but it is intere...This thread has been long closed, but it is interesting that AJ's site was mentioned. The Chess Drum was in the running for "Best Website" that same year and lost a very controversial decision to AJ's website. There were three sites nominated and the third site withdrew. When the results came back there was considerable rumblings from the Chief Judge Daniel Lucas. Upset at the decision, he actually presented The Chess Drum with a Special Judge's award under another category.<br /><br />The self-nomination is more of a contest tournament and not an effort to find the best journalism. There is good journalism, but there is no venue. You would think the CJA magazine (not a shining example) would have contributions from... chess journalists. There is no forum to share tips, articles and to share one's work. The CJA is not a useful organization as it stands today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12844144.post-11513880861571541552007-04-14T08:56:00.000-04:002007-04-14T08:56:00.000-04:00Michael,In a private conversation with Pete Tambur...Michael,<BR/><BR/>In a private conversation with Pete Tamburro, while we were preparing the awards announcement for this year, Pete said something interesting. Paraphrasing: He said that the CJA awards are a victim of their own success. Twenty, thirty years ago, when they were just starting out, (I'm too young to know when they actually started), the original intent was for the awards to be a simple way for CJA members to recognize achievement amongst themselves. Over the years, as announcements were published in Chess Life, and as the awards became incrementally more popular, their "incestuous" nature became apparent. Originally, the awards were meant to recognize excellence within the tight little circle of CJA members; today, the awards have (modestly) grown in exposure and popularity, yet they *still* only recognize excellence within the tight little circle of CJA members. The awards system must grow to mach the current interest.<BR/><BR/>One other interesting point Tamburro made in defense of the awards, while I was working with him, was that self-nominations are not a majority of the nominations. Although self-nominations may seem to be the dominant type of nomination, the highest persentage of nominations comes from chess magazine editors. This doesn't solve the "incest" issue, but it's a refreshing fact nevertheless.<BR/><BR/>As I told DG about the blogs, this is an ongoing process. This year's entries will be analyzed, and chnages will hopefully be made for the 2008 edition of the awards. There are a number of categories 'on the bubble' (see the comments to the BCC blog entry).<BR/><BR/>Personally, I don't nominate myself for anything. All of my nominations come from editors of magazines where I've published. I like your idea, Michael, of using one's nomination for others' benefit.<BR/><BR/>Howard GoldowskyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12844144.post-53469005104512685912007-04-13T22:07:00.000-04:002007-04-13T22:07:00.000-04:00You want to know what the really sad thing is? Pe...You want to know what the really sad thing is? People like me who are life members of the USCF who for years looked at the awards and just assumed that there was no real chess journalism going on.Jack Le Moinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800312583017921274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12844144.post-55430916186740003472007-04-13T20:33:00.000-04:002007-04-13T20:33:00.000-04:00I bet the CJA bigwigs can't wait to cash your chec...I bet the CJA bigwigs can't wait to cash your check :)David Glickmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10414642927224332540noreply@blogger.com