Magazine
2009 Casey Medals
Winner: "Growing Up Bipolar," Newsweek
Carmichael’s article on Max Blake, a 10-year-old boy with bipolar disorder, is moving and vivid. She didn’t blink or look away from the difficulties faced by Max and his parents: the strain on their marriage, their struggles to love him, the limitations of his future and the degree to which he pushes the limits of what a child can expect from his parents. Carmichael clearly spent the kind of time with Max and his family that enables a reporter to write with insight and close-to-the-ground detail.
Honorable Mention: "The Lie We Love," Foreign Policy
Graff exposes a problem that’s global in scope – how Western demand for newborn babies from underdeveloped countries is creating a corrupt international adoption market. It is a difficult and fairly thankless subject to tackle, but this work breaks new ground.
2008 Casey Medals
Winner: "How Specialist Town Lost His Benefits," The Nation
This is the kind of story that makes a reader want to march on Washington. Kors’s powerful reporting shows how some military doctors deny long-term benefits to wounded Iraq War veterans (and their families) by claiming the soldiers had a pre-existing “personality disorder.” Kors worked through the multiple challenges of dealing with the military, getting access to medical records and finding psychiatrists and soldiers willing to talk. First-rate accountability reporting.
Runner-Up: "How Can You Distinguish a Budding Pedophile From a Kid With Real Boundary Problems?" The New York Times Magazine
A meticulously researched, artfully written story about children who commit sex offenses, and how the behavior modifications commonly used to thwart their abusive impulses may be counterproductive. An original look at an issue that's rarely explored but broadly significant.
Runner-Up: "School of Shock," Mother Jones
This well-documented story chronicles the use of shock therapy on children with a wide range of mental health issues. Treatment of children in this facility is jolting – to their bodies and our conscience – but the writing avoids sensationalism. This is a situation that deserves the media attention it’s received.
2007 Casey Medals
Winner: "The Invisibles," Los Angeles Times/West Magazine
McGray finds a creative, compelling and fresh angle in the immigration debate. “The Invisibles” documents the lonely underground community of illegal immigrant students in the University of California system. Diligent reporting and empathetic writing produces a rare look at a group of high-achievers with a bleak future: Despite their academic accomplishments, the students’ lack of documentation destroys opportunities post-graduation.
Runner-Up: "Doing the Home Work," Chicago Tribune
Too few stories focus on the plight of single fathers; this one is beautifully written, meticulously researched, unflinching and fair. It shows the impact of smart, tough social programs and workers.
about this award
The Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism recognize exemplary reporting on children and families in the U.S. More than 4,500 journalists have competed for Casey Medals since 1994.