Journalism Award

"A Closer Look at Dillard's," a Houston Pressstory by editor Margaret Downing and former staff writer Bob Burtman, was named a finalist in the Missouri Lifestyle Awards national competition.

Competing in the Consumer Affairs category, the story told of perceived racist policies and what critics say is the ill-considered use of law enforcement officers as security guards in Dillard's stores.

The Missouri Lifestyle Journalism Program, formerly known as Penney-Missouri, is sponsored and administered by the Missouri School of Journalism. It is the oldest feature-writing and editing competition in American newspapering.