Jamie Kitman wins 2009 National Magazine Award
Jamie Kitman, Automobile Magazine's New York Bureau Chief, has been named the winner of the 2009 National Magazine Award in the Columns and Commentary category. Kitman's monthly column, Noise, Vibration, and Harshness, won the recognition from the National Society of Magazine Editors (ASME).The awards, also known as the "Ellies," are considered some of the most prestigious for American online and print magazines. His winning category "recognizes excellence in short-form political, social, economic or humorous commentary. It honors the eloquence, force of argument and succinctness with which the writer presents his or her views." According to Automobile Magazine, Kitman's accolade marks the first time in the 44-year history of the award that a car-enthusiast magazine has won.
[Source: Automobile, photo from Automobile Magazine]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg "2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bigbuck17 11:48AM (5/03/2009)
That picture looks like a mug shot.
Reply
TigerMil 12:34PM (5/03/2009)
Yeah, a face that only a mother could love.
OTOH, think of it as motivation.
He DOES represent "eloquence, force of argument and succinctness with which the writer presents his or her views."
AntBee 3:20PM (5/03/2009)
He looks like he's had a hard-knock life.
the karpster 3:27PM (6/07/2009)
AH Jamie!
he was quite cute as a young buck I don't know what happened . Looks a bit like hos dad the famous Marvin Kitman.
JIMBO 11:50AM (5/03/2009)
Sir we enthusiast salute you and congratulate your achivement . Well done !
Reply
Tomac 11:56AM (5/03/2009)
Grats to Kitman. I always enjoy his commentary.
BTW, didn't he used to manage They Might Be Giants?
Reply
JZeke 12:08PM (5/03/2009)
sure did, that and a bunch of other bands including Ok, Go!
MGBYG 12:18PM (5/03/2009)
You mean the rantings of the Crazy ol' Conservative Crew (Bedard, Sherman, Swan, Yates, DEDjr., etc.) were not recognized?
Bwaaahhaaaaaa!!!!!
Reply
Toledo Guy 1:00PM (5/03/2009)
Kitman's liberal, "do as I say, not as I do" non-automotive rantings are the sole reason I dropped my subscription to Automobile. And I've been there since the beginning. (MR2 on the first cover, just in case you doubt me) Looks like I won't be renewing anytime soon....
Reply
Ken Stamper 2:46PM (5/03/2009)
I'm pretty sure is is the ONLY liberal American automotive writer. Seeing as how virtually every other magazine (especially Car and Driver) features nothing but conservative/libertarian writing, I've always admired Automobile for at least providing a counterpoint, and particularly taking the automobile industry and big oil to task- something rare amongst the sheep-herd advertiser-protecting mentality of most automotive writing.
Goat Law 2:48PM (5/03/2009)
Agreed. On a whim I decided to subscribe to Automobile as I was growing tired of MT and R&T. After the second issue I received, I called and canceled the rest, and this idiots columns was the only reason. Any auto magazine that would let such an anti-American, anti-individual rights statist as Kitman write a monthly column was not worth the paper it was written on. He personifies the Ivory Tower liberal better than Barry Obama himself.
Sea Urchin 5:26PM (5/03/2009)
being pro car is not the same as "conservative/libertarian writing,"...most car guys in here support the bailout, which is=communist
Toledo Guy 9:25PM (5/03/2009)
I really wouldn't say that "most in here support the bailout", though I will agree that thos who do are at least socialist, if not as you point out, communist.
Goat, I couldn't agree more. I got tired of him telling me that I should change MY ways while he rolls around Longisland in an ancient pollution spewing British Ford or Volvo. Not worth paying for.
And yes, I know he still writes for Car. I don't pull that off the rack at Barnes & Noble anymore either.
Spule4 1:06PM (5/03/2009)
Congrats Kitman!
Anyone else remember when he also was also in "car" (UK) from time to time in the early 1990s? One bit that sticks in my mind was about him buying a Rover P6 in the US and dealing with frequent breakdowns on the way home.....
Reply
eric 5:39PM (5/03/2009)
You'll also find his prose talents monthly in Top Gear mag. Well deserved!
Reply
DJ 2:40PM (5/03/2009)
Congrats! Loved your musings about MGA ownership, which we share.
Ironically, it comes the day after the company he works for declares Chapter 11. Means either he'll be taking a big pay cut or lose his job....
Reply
Sandeep 2:46PM (5/03/2009)
He has a great column, but I always enjoyed Ezra Dyer's more. It seriously was my only regret when not renewing the mag.
Reply
Jimbo 4:17PM (5/03/2009)
I love reading Dyer's column and articles, but have usually enjoyed Kitman's columns as well, even if they do come across as preachy. Throw in Jennings, Lorio, Cammisa, etc. and Automobile has some of the best print-mag writers.
onelung 10:46PM (5/03/2009)
Big fan of Ezra's as well. He'll be writing a monthly car column for Men's Journal, starting with a review of the new Camaro in the June issue. (Full disclosure: I'm an editor at MJ.)
richard 2:48PM (5/03/2009)
Kitman's column is by far the most intelligent part of any issue of Automobile. I have been a fan of the publication since DED jr. and Jean Lindamood defected from C/D to start the Mag. Hope they survive the Source Interlink bankruptcy!
p.s. Toledo Guy: I still read C/D despite the reactionary nonsense of Bedard, Yates et al; sounds like your convictions can't stand up to a little opposition!
Cogito ergo Zoom, dudes!
Reply