Funny thing happened this week. San Diego’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists held its awards dinner and along with a great many well-deserved recognitions, gave the Herbert “Woody” Lockwood Award for Humor Writing to this blog.
I was not there to accept it because the last time I stood in front of a large group of people and got a woody it wasn’t a pleasant experience. I was probably about 13 but like receiving this richly undeserved award, it was both memorable and embarrassing.
The difference is I’m talking about this one. Having spent something more than 30 years writing what passed as serious news stories, getting recognized for humor writing is a major change of pace.
It is also the only sort of formal recognition I’ve ever received for writing. There are writing categories in television awards, but I never thought my stuff qualified. Writing television news doesn’t feel like writing, even to me, because if someone wearing makeup and reading out loud is the only person to read it, it’s not really writing, no matter how many people hear it.
Of course by that standard—and several others—this blog is still just barely writing. Not that anyone is reading this out loud, I hope, but the loyal following is somewhere between the middle single figures and the low double figures.
Spending a career writing stories that are measured in seconds instead of pages means I don’t really have anything to show for it. Once it’s read on the air it’s in the air and on its way to Mars.
Several years ago, a friend who was also a news producer was at my apartment and pulled a book from my bookcase — How to Make $30,000 a Year Writing. “You do, you know,” she said. That says a lot about a lot of things, primarily my impression of what I think writing is, and the kind of salaries news producers get.
So thank you SPJ for this misguided recognition of which I’m rather proud.
News, to Me 
Writing for television, as you did it Lee, was an art. Telling an entire story in mere seconds is far more difficult than in many paragraphs or chapters. You were one of the few who could get all of the important information, clearly organized, and interestingly told! Congrats for finally being recognized for the writer you are!
From what I have heard from your colleagues, Janice has it exactly right. But I had no idea you aspired to earning $30,000 writing. A goal to reach for in retirement, perhaps?
Lee….it was a well deserved award. And I always knew you could write something far beyond people getting shot, banks getting robbed and perpetrators fleeing on foot. Not that you would even write “fleeing on foot,”
Everything you write is worthy. Sometimes you have to accept to make others feel worthy. BTW– TV news really NEEDS
YOU!!
Geni
http://www.genicavitt.com
Sent from my iPhone. Please forgive any typos.
As one of your followers, let me say how well-deserved this award is. I was there Thursday and must say this is one award they really got right! And you got a huge round of applause for the win, and another one when it was announced (it’s that “never-to-use” passive because I can’t recall who said it) that you weren’t there because it was Cheryl’s birthday. Congrats, Lee! And, please, keep all of us laughing with your deliciously wry humor!
Well deserved you wordsmith! You could make instructions for assembling a bicycle exciting reading with your skills. Thanks for the early decoy making me think I was headed to a virus in my computer! You make me feel challenged just trying to write a comment about your award. Congratulations.
Well deserved Lee, congratulations!
Awesome Lee, congrats!
Nicely done Lee.
You are the maestro of grammar and clean, concise copy.
Well deserved award.