Longtime writer and editor Mark Roth of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has been named winner of the Joanie Award for excellence in journalism related to lung cancer for 2009. The award and $5,000 prize are given yearly by Uniting Against Lung Cancer.

Mr. Roth's winning entry comprised the June 2009 articles "Does lung cancer get short shrift?" and "Lung cancer patient takes aggressive tack." His articles were chosen, a spokeswoman for the foundation said, because of the new elements about the disease, the funding environment and the reasons lung cancer deserves more attention.

A committee, including producers and managers from such news organizations as ABC and NBC News, CNN and The Columbia Journalism Review, made the selection. Past winners have included staffers from ABC, NBC, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, Newsday and Ladies' Home Journal.

Mr. Roth will receive the award at the foundation's annual benefit Nov. 18.

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