Both these stories are from the Independent, which has made the case of Afghan journalist Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, facing a possible death sentence for blasphemy, an institutional crusade.

From the NYT:

Of the many landmarks along a journalist’s career, two are among those that stand out: winning an award and making the government back down. Last week, Joshua Micah Marshall achieved both.

On Tuesday, it was announced that he had won a George Polk Award for legal reporting for coverage of the firing of eight United States attorneys, critics charged under political circumstances. The “tenacious investigative reporting sparked interest by the traditional news media and led to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales,” the citation read.

Also last week, the Justice Department put him back on its mailing list for reporters with credentials after removing him last year.

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Former Hollinger International executive David Radler began serving his prison term today.

Next up, Conrad Black, in exactly one week.