Smith is so humble that he credits his domination of this category in part to the simplicity of his column byline. Hardly. The Las Vegas-raised newsman and author knows this town like none other, which partially explains his fascinating and cherished tomes about mobsters, casino moguls and other colorful characters. But it's his talent at bringing them alive that further convinces readers that Smith is easily the best ink-stained wretch around. R-J columnist Jon Ralston finished second.
Our Pick: JOE SCHOENMANN
Schoenmann simply had a great year, breaking several page one stories and handling often-sensitive information with a professional style that made him a big winner at the Nevada Press Association's latest awards ceremony. His stories about a night in the life of a coroner as well as a series that tracked the first murder case of the year stand out among his achievements.
