Selden Ring Award goes to ex-LAT reporter

T. Christian Miller has won the 2010 Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting from USC Annenberg, for stories on how insurance coverage for private contractors in war zones "had become a boon for companies and a disaster for those who relied upon it for treatment and death benefits." Miller did the stories for ProPublica, the non-profit that has gathered up a bunch of Los Angeles Times refugees. ProPublica works closely with the Times on some projects, including this one, and LAT database editor Doug Smith is credited with significant statistical research. Another ProPublic-LAT collaboration — 'When Caregivers Harm,' on flaws in the oversight of California nurses with disciplinary problems — was a finalist. Ring winners receive $35,000.