Awards from the Society.(Society of Professional Journalists)(Brief Article)

First Amendment Award winners

CBS Producer Mary Mapes, Texas

For her stand against a district judge's order to turn over tapes of the interview of CBS news magazine "60 Minutes II" with murder defendant Shawn Allen Berry. Berry is one of three white men charged with the infamous 1998 dragging death of a black man, James Byrd Junior of Jasper, Texas. District judge Joe Bob Golden twice cited Mapes for contempt and threatened to put her in jail for refusing to deliver the outtakes.

Charles Levendosky, Wyoming

For creating, in 1995, a new Web site called the First Amendment Cyber-Tribune or FACT. The site is dedicated to providing information about American freedoms of expression and challenges to those freedoms. The FACT site has been singled out many times for its commitment to First Amendment issues. In January, FACT was rated highly by the Encyclopedia Britannica, which noted its quality, accuracy of content, presentation and usability.

Sunshine Award winners

Jim Reynolds, Montana

For his role as lead litigator in a case ruling that Montana legislative caucuses were public meetings and must be open to the public.

Joe Adams, Florida

For his personal and professional dedication to publishing "The Florida Public Records Handbook," released at the beginning of this year.

State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, Texas

For his …