Contact:
Lois Whitehead, Public Relations Manager
212-719-8405
lwhithead@nysscpa.org

NEW YORK, NY, March 16, 2005 – The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants has announced winners for its Excellence in Financial Journalism Awards that recognize reporters from the national and local press who contribute to a better understanding of business topics.

Winners selected were:

• Print Under 1,500 Words, Business/Financial:
  Gil Weinreich, Research Magazine, “The Ethical Advisor”, columns on financial and business ethics
• Print Over 1,500 Words, Business/Financial:
  David Evans, Bloomberg Markets, “The $150 Billion Shell Game”, how the largest U.S. corporations avoid paying U.S. taxes by setting up shell companies in the Cayman Islands
• Print Under 1,500 Words, General Audience:
  Charles Gasparino, Newsweek, a series of six articles on news happenings on Wall Street including an interview with former head of the New York Stock Exchange Richard Grasso, activities by Attorney General Elliot Spitzer and action by SEC Chairman William Donaldson
• General Audience, Columns:
  Robert J. Samuelson, Newsweek, a series of columns on personal finance issues
• Print Over 1,500 Words, General Audience:
  Allan Sloan and team, Newsweek, “The Dirty Little Secret of the Tax Cut”, a cover story on the Bush tax cuts
• Electronic Media – General Audience:
  Jennifer Barrett, Newsweek.com, a reporting series on personal finance issues
• Electronic Media – Business/Financial:
  David M. Katz, CFO.com, “The Reality of Real-Time Reporting”, an article about Section 409 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on the rapid reporting of unexpected events in an 8-K quarterly report
• Wire Service:
  Vernon Silver, Bloomberg, “Bowling for Palestine”, an investigative report about Arafat controlled investments
• Wire Service/Column:
  Bruce Meyerson, The Associated Press, a series of columns presenting complex
  accounting and governance rules in simpler language for individual investors
• Radio:
  Tasha Cook, WCPN, Cleveland, “Outwitting the Fraudsters”, an interview about forensic accounting and fraud investigation
• Television:
  Scott Cohn, CNBC, Power Lunch, “NAIC Investigation”, a segment on helping investment clubs find companies to invest in that practice good corporate governance

A panel of CPAs from the Society and financial journalists from the New York Financial Writers Association judged the competition. Entries were judged on accuracy and thorough research, the ability to communicate an understanding of the topic and the fair and balanced representation of the issue.

Winners will receive their awards at a luncheon to be held at The Yale Club in New York City on May 3, 2005.

About the NYSSCPA

Representing nearly 30,000 accountants and CPAs, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) is the oldest and largest state accounting organization in the nation. Incorporated in 1897, the Society is a nonprofit organization that seeks to establish and maintain high standards of integrity, honor, and character among certified public accountants. Its members are CPAs working in public or private practice in a state that serves as the home of Wall Street and major financial centers.

The New York State Society of CPAs is located at 3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016. To learn more about the Society call 800-633-6320 or visit the Society’s website at www.nysscpa.org.