Brett Anderson’s Groundbreaking Exposé Didn’t Win at the James Beard Awards

The James Beard Foundation announced its 2018 Media Awards winners over the weekend and Brett Anderson’s groundbreaking exposé about the culture of sexual harassment at John Besh’s restaurant group did not win. It was the “biggest surprise of the night.”

Besh, himself accused of sexual harassment, has won numerous James Beard awards. Since Anderson’s story was published, the James Beard Foundation has evaluated its policies.

The first major restaurant harassment exposé of the #metoo era, Anderson’s report was up against “Ken Friedman, Power Restaurateur, is Accused of Sexual Harassment” by Julia Moskin and Kim Severson; as well as Ted Genoways’ report on a group plotting to kill Somali refugees after Election Day in a meatpacking town in Kansas, “‘The Only Good Muslim’,” and his report on small town environmentalists fighting alongside anti-Muslim xenophobes to stop a potentially toxic Costco chicken plant, “Compromised.”

Genoways took home the award.

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• Here Is the Full List of 2018 James Beard Foundation Media Award Winners [E]
• Here Are the 2018 James Beard Awards Restaurant, Chef, and Media Finalists [E]
• Ken Friedman, Power Restaurateur, Is Accused of Sexual Harassment [NYT]
• Brett Anderson Created the Watershed Moment of the Year [E]
• The Only Good Muslim [New Republic]
• Compromised [New Republic]
• John Besh Restaurants Fostered Culture of Sexual Harassment, 25 Women Say [NOLA.COM]
• The James Beard Foundation Is ‘Evaluating Its Policies’ in Light of Industry Harassment Reports [E]