Editor Dan Evans wins award for his leadership

The Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists this week announced that it will honor Dan Evans — editor of four Times Community News Division titles, including the Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader — for his leadership, under which two major public records battles were won.

In announcing the distinguished journalist award, the organization cited Evans’ leadership of the News-Press, Leader and La Cañada Valley Sun, while also helping to launch the Pasadena Sun, since coming on board as editor in 2009.

In 2011, the Burbank Leader won a public records lawsuit against Burbank over the city’s refusal to release information on bonus pay to municipal employees. That same year, the Leader won the General Excellence award from the California Newspaper Publishers Assn.

Earlier this year, the Pasadena Sun — in conjunction with its parent company, the Los Angeles Times — and the Sacramento Bee won a lawsuit against the state Assembly seeking information on the spending budgets for each lawmaker. The paper also won an “EPPY” from industry publication Editor & Publisher for being the best weekly news website with fewer than 1 million monthly unique visitors.

Evans will join Marty Sauerzopf, city editor at City News Service; Andy Ludlum, director of news programming at KNX 1070 Newsradio and KFWB News Talk 980; and Beverly White, general assignment reporter at NBC4, in receiving the distinguished journalist award at a ceremony in the spring.

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