Honors to Food, Travel and Features sections and writer Russ Parsons

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A memo to the staff from Assistant Managing Editor for Features Alice Short announces four recent awards. Recognition to the Travel section comes from the Society of American Travel Writers; to the Food section and to Food writer Russ Parsons, from the Assn. of Food Journalists; and to the Features sections as a whole, from the American Assn. of Sunday and Feature editors.

The American Assn. of Sunday and Feature editors has voted us one of the top 10 feature sections in the nation. The judges said:

‘The pages of the Los Angeles Times are art itself. Spectacular photographs accompany strong headlines, and the result is pages that flow seamlessly to captivate readers. Inside pages are bold and engaging. But this is not just another pretty paper. The writing is also artful, sophisticated and carefully crafted. The sections overall include lots of local information and features about local events and people. The look, tone and topics work together to create a strong sense of place. There is so much to love here.’

But wait there’s more:

For the second year in a row, the Los Angeles Times Travel section has won the Lowell Thomas Gold Award for best travel section of its size in the country. This contest is judged by the University of Missouri, and the judges said, in part, ‘Travel sections should take the reader away, and the Times’ sections accomplish that and more.… the writing is of such a high caliber that it is difficult to put the section down.’

And finally, the Assn. of Food Journalists has named the L.A. Times Food section the best of its size in the country and given Russ Parsons an award for Best Newspaper Food Feature.

I’m honored to be working with this very talented staff.