With one of the higher birth rates in the world,...

With one of the higher birth rates in the world, children like this young girl in the capital city of Majuro, make up the largest demographic group in the Marshall Islands. According to the 2000 census, the children up to age 14 comprise 50 percent of the population. Credit: Newsday / John Paraskevas

A Newsday reporter and photographer have won a first place award for environmental reporting in the National Headliner Awards.

Thomas Maier and John Paraskevas won the award in the print category of the annual contest for "Fallout: The Legacy of Brookhaven Lab in the Pacific."

In addition to the stories in the newspaper, a 30- minute, nine-part Internet documentary ran on its Web site in August.

The multimedia package was about the role of Brookhaven National Laboratory in treating and studying the effects of radiation on the residents of the Marshall Islands. The residents were exposed to radiation when the United States dropped Bravo, its largest-ever hydrogen bomb, on the territory in 1954.

The journalists traveled to the islands, halfway between Hawaii and Australia, in the summer of 2007.

The annual contest is sponsored by the Press Club of Atlantic City. It recognizes excellence in newspapers, radio, television, photography, magazines and online in areas including beat reporting, series, education, sports and editorial writing.

Biden in NYC … More Starbucks unionize … Women's History Month: Woman winemaker Credit: Newsday

Gunman charged in killing of NYPD cop ... Biden in NYC ... LI losing beds for psychiatric patients ... Opening day

Biden in NYC … More Starbucks unionize … Women's History Month: Woman winemaker Credit: Newsday

Gunman charged in killing of NYPD cop ... Biden in NYC ... LI losing beds for psychiatric patients ... Opening day

Latest Videos

Newsday LogoSUBSCRIBEUnlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 5 months
ACT NOWSALE ENDS SOON | CANCEL ANYTIME