MOTOR PRESS GUILD 2018 AWARDS ANNOUNCED

AUTOMOTIVE JOURNALISM CELEBRATED
23rd ANNUAL MOTOR PRESS GUILD DEAN BATCHELOR AWARDS

Los Angeles (February 28, 2019) The Motor Press Guild held its annual awards ceremony to recognize excellence in automotive journalism at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on February 24th. Automotive journalists Emme Hall and Derek Powell emceed the evening's event that included a visit from Bruce Meyer, a founding director of the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Industry legend Alex Xydias (seen here being congratulated by Bruce Meyer, Mark Vaughn, and John Clinard) received the Dean Batchelor Lifetime Achievement Award at the 23rd annual Motor Press Guild Awards.

Xydias and Batchelor were not only friends and colleagues, but they shared a parallel career path in the automotive industry. Both authors, journalists and WWII veterans, they began their careers together in Southern California and at Bonneville Salt Flats. AutoWeek editor Mark Vaughn presented the award to the pioneering hot rodder before a room full of Alex's family and automotive colleagues.

"We were proud to honor a true living legend in our industry and were honored by his presence at the banquet," shared MPG president, Amelia Dalgaard. "We also congratulate all of the nominees, finalists and winners of the MPG and Batchelor awards. Your continued contributions to our craft keep our industry alive."

Author Tim Considine was honored with the Dean Batchelor Award for Excellence in Automotive Journalism for his book, Twice Around The Clock - The Yanks At Le Mans Vol. I-III. Each year the Motor Press Guild presents the Dean Batchelor Award to the journalist judged to have produced the single piece of work that best represents the professional standards and excellence epitomized by the career and life of Dean Batchelor.

The annual celebration of excellence is intended to inspire automotive journalists, to produce work of the highest professional caliber in categories that include feature articles, news stories, vehicle reviews, books, audio programs, video features, social media and photography. Award recipients are chosen by a panel of distinguished judges, who are experts in various areas of automotive journalism.

The Motor Press Guild offers congratulations to the following individuals who took top honors in their individual categories:

MPG Best of The Year: News Article - Mark Harris, "Arizona Governor And Uber Kept

Self-Driving Program Secret, Emails Reveal" (The Guardian)

MPG Best of The Year: Feature Article - Amy Wallace, "Lady Leadfoot" ( Si.Com)

MPG Best of The Year: Books- Tim Considine, Twice Around The Clock - The Yanks At Le Mans Vol. I-III

MPG Best of The Year: Video Review - Micah Muzio/Cotu Media,Ford Bullitt (Kbb.com)

MPG Best of The Year: Feature Video - Randy Wells, Icarus (Hot Rod Films)

MPG Best of The Year: Social Media Feed- Jonny Lieberman, Instagram

MPG Best of The Year: YouTube Channel - Doug Demuro

Bob D'Olivo Award for Photography -Sean Cridland"From Darkness" (RS Magazine)

Dean Batchelor Award for Excellence In Automotive Journalism - Tim Considine, "Twice Around The Clock - The Yanks At Le Mans Vol. I-III"

About the Motor Press Guild Awards:

The Motor Press Guild Awards honor outstanding achievement in automotive journalism and communications. Judging for each category is conducted by MPG members and non-members appointed by the Chair of the MPG Awards Committee, and a final panel of three judges, including the Chair of the MPG Awards Committee as Head Judge, selects the winner of the Dean Batchelor Award from amongst the category winners. Selected separately by the Motor Press Guild Board of Directors, the Lifetime Achievement Award is presented on a case-by-case basis to individuals for outstanding contributions to the automotive communications industry.

About the Motor Press Guild:

The Los Angeles-based Motor Press Guild (MPG) is the largest automotive media association in North America. This exclusive, non-profit organization is dedicated to upholding the highest ideals in automotive journalism and promoting education and information exchange within the motoring press.