The New Yorker's Ryan Lizza won the Aldo Beckman Award, which recognizes excellence in the coverage of the presidency.

NPR: Obama Jokes About Radical 2nd Term Changes

For her accomplishments, Doyne Thursday received the surprise of the inaugural Forbes Excellence In Education Award.

FORBES: Meet Maggie Doyne, Forbes Excellence In Education Winner, Mommy To 40

She received the 2009 Medallion of Excellence for Leadership and Community Service Award from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

CNN: Anchors & Reporters

Scantlebury Award for Excellence in Federal Financial Management, and the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

As Barry Larkin and the family of Ron Santo enjoy their Cooperstown induction ceremonies, McCarver picks up the Ford Frick Award for excellence in baseball broadcasting.

FORBES: Frick Award Winner Tim McCarver Has No Peers As Baseball Analyst

Academy president Frank Pierson praised Gibson's move for working to restore the Oscars as a "celebration and appreciation of excellence, " and resisting the "crass commercialisation that was threatening the integrity of the award".

BBC: NEWS | Entertainment | No ads for Passion Oscar campaign