Awards
Meyer’s work has been widely recognized. His most recent book, FIVE FOR FREEDOM: The African American Soldiers in John Brown’s Army, was named Outstanding Biography/History Book in 2019 by the American Society of Journalists and Authors. ASJA also also awarded him its top prize for a blog post “Pittsburgh: Never Again? Just Words.” Meyer received the Lifetime Achievement Award in May 2019 from the Washington Independent Review of Books. A magazine article he wrote also received a Bronze Award in 2019 from a national real estate journalists group. Since leaving the Washington Post in 2004, Meyer has received 15 awards for his freelance work.
In June 2019, he received a Silver Award from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for an article he wrote in Bethesda Magazine detailing the Marriott Corporation’s decision to relocate its headquarters but within the same general area (Why Marriott Stayed), a move with major implications for the region and the state. The judges commented: “This account of why Marriott chose to build new headquarters in Bethesda rather than relocate outside the area gives local readers extensive reporting and inside information. Helpful sidebars look at the history of the company, parking and the differences between the old space and the new, denser one.”
His profile of a rogue gun dealer, in Bethesda Magazine, won a first place citation from the American Society of Journalists and Authors in 2016. Also in 2016, his economic development stories for the New York Times received the Gold award from the National Association of Real Estate Editors and the Bronze award for best overall entry. His story, “The Jews of Berlin,” in B’nai B’rith Magazine, won a Bronze award in 2013 from the Society of American Travel Writers. He has edited the award-winning magazine since December 2009.
The International Regional Magazine Association awarded him its Gold prize for best cultural feature in 2010 and best column in 2007, for articles in Maryland Life magazine. Meyer also earned two Bronze awards in 2009 from IRMA for columns and a feature in the magazine. Also in 2009, he received citations from both the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Association of Real Estate Editors. SPJ also cited his work in 2012 for a magazine article about income disparity. Meyer received a Simon Rockower Award from the American Jewish Press Association for a 2007 investigative series on Jewish clergy sexual abuse. He received Washington Independent Writers’ 2006 Washington Writing Price for reported nonfiction.
While at the Washington Post, Meyer won citations from the American Bar Association, National Association of Home Builders, and the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association. The Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild gave him top prizes for local news reporting in 1999 and 1995, and for commentary and criticism in 1996. In 1999, he received the St. George’s Day Award for “meritorious effort” from the Prince George’s County (Md.) Historical Society. Following a year as chair of the Washington Post Unit of the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, Meyer received the International Newspaper Guild Service Award. Over the years, his stories have twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
