Sunshine Week Citizen Journalism Essay Award Winner

Ryan Headley has been named the first winner of the Sunshine Week Citizen Journalism Award for his essay published on Helium.com looking at whether the presidential candidates are missing an opportunity to connect with voters on open government issues.

"It is perplexing to try to understand why a candidate hasn't pounced on this immensely important issue and made it the platform of his/her campaign," Headley wrote. "It is certainly a possibility that none of the candidates truly have the intention to push this issue once in the White House. These candidates speak of change, but it would be this kind of change that would be truly monumental. In a democracy, do we deserve anything less than truth and openness?"

Read the entire essay on the Helium.com Web site.

At the end of each month, a winning essay is selected from among the top ranked work, as rated by fellow Helium writers. Monthly winners will receive an award certificate and automatically become eligible for a grand prize, which will be presented in conjunction with Sunshine Week 2009, March 15-21.

The awards continue in June, with the essay topic: "Should candidates be required to disclose their health records?"

Professional and amateur writers alike can sign up for free as Helium contributors and take part in the competition. There also are opportunities to write about several non-competition titles that are listed on Helium's Sunshine Week partner page.