Jim Haught
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A longtime Charleston Gazette writer and editor and a former Gazette writer are ranked as America’s best commentators in 2014.
The National Society of Newspaper Columnists announced awards for general interest essays judged as superior among papers with more than 50,000 circulation.
First prize went to David Lieber of the Dallas Morning News, and to his writing partner, Marina Martinez. Four months ago, Lieber — a Gazette reporter in the 1980s — returned to West Virginia to appear in the University of Charleston’s Speakers Series.
Second place went to Gazette Editor James A. Haught for Sunday Gazette-Mail columns about freedom of religion, science revelations and conspiracy theories.
Haught, a native of Wetzel County, joined the Gazette staff in 1953 and remains on the job after six decades…
