The McCree Awards are presented to outstanding journalists each year for their role in helping to promote greater understanding of the legal system to the general public.

Jack Kresnak, a 30-year veteran reporter whose work has prompted changes in state laws and policies, submitted a series of articles on Foster Children. His initial reporting on missing foster children sparked major change in how Michigan handles the hundreds of foster children who are listed as "absent without legal permission." Kresnak started the juvenile justice beat at the Detroit Free Press in 1988 and has won 20 awards for his reporting.

David Zeman and Ben Schmitt will be recognized for their investigative feature "How Justice Failed Eddie Joe Lloyd," - a chronicle of how Detroit's criminal justice system helped to railroad a mentally ill man who served 17 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Zeman, who's been at the Free Press since 1991, has been honored with many state and national awards for feature writing and investigative reporting. Ben Schmitt has been recognized for breaking news coverage and enterprise reporting. He has been at the Detroit Free Press for the past three years.

William H. Dance, an attorney and principal with Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy, has practiced immigration and international law for more than 30 years. He submitted a series of columns that he had written for the Detroit Legal News entitled "Immigration Insights." The columns highlight specific current issues and emphasize the rule of law. He is also the author of numerous articles on immigration law and a speaker at many immigration seminars.

The McCree Awards will be presented during the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 12, 2003 at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing.

Jack Kresnak David Zeman Ben Schmitt William H. Dance ###