Tuesday, the Dallas Press Club said it had filed suit against its ex-president, Elizabeth Albanese. The lawsuit accuses Ms. Albanese of engaging in fraud, breaching her fiduciary duty to the press club and violating the Texas Theft Liability Act.
The club now believes that the 2005 and 2006 Katie awards were rigged by Albanese, and possibly even the 2004 awards. They are still investigating the 2004 awards. They currently have a list of judges from a northeastern U.S. press club who were supposed to have judged the 2004 awards, and are still waiting to hear back from that press club.
Current president Tom Stewart said, "As far as I am concerned, it's official. There is a complete absence of any information about judging in 2005 or 2006. We feel like we have been defrauded. We think this (lawsuit) is appropriate as the next step to take. I believe both the press club and the press club foundation have suffered serious economic damage as a result of her actions."
I don't know if a lawsuit is the right way to go in this matter, but the Dallas Press Club and its Katie awards have been seriously damaged. The club has been giving these awards out for the last 48 years, and the Katies had achieved a rather prestigious status - at least in this part of the country.
Prior to 2005, winners of a Katie had a right to be proud. They would have fairly won over some serious talent working for some excellent news organizations - organizations like the Associated Press, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Arkansas Democrat, the Oklahoman, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, Dallas Morning News, etc.
Now the awards have been tainted. Some organizations are returning their awards, and others express doubt that they'll even enter the contest in the future. At this point, the Dallas Press Club doesn't even know whether there will be an awards for 2007. The whole thing is just a sad mess.
Personally, I hope the Katie awards can be salvaged and somehow regain their lost prestige. Journalists don't traditionally make huge amounts of money, and it means a lot to many of them to be honored by their compatriots for the excellent work they have done.
Can the Katies be saved? I don't know. I don't think anyone knows at this point.
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