The Arizona Press Club is proud to announce the winners of the 2020 journalism awards.
Words like “upheaval” don’t seem to cut it when we think back on 2020. We applaud all the great work Arizona journalists did in the face of personal and professional challenges. Congratulations to all, for keeping local journalism strong in 2020 and always!
We thank all of the judges and board members who volunteered their time to make our contest possible.
– Arizona Press Club Board
Virg Hill Arizona Journalist of the Year — Amy Silverman, Arizona Daily Star/ProPublica Local Reporting Network
Virg Hill was a popular and witty political columnist and reporter for The Phoenix Gazette. Hill died at the age of 62 of a heart attack while covering the Arizona House of Representatives. He passed away in January 1969, and in December of that year, the Arizona Press Club created the award in his honor. The Virg Hill Award goes to the writer or editor who, in the opinion of the judges, has done the best portfolio of work during 2020.
Arizonans with developmental disabilities were promised help. Instead, they face delays and denials.
Judge’s comment: Fantastic work highlighting issues within the state for those with disabilities. Very well done and something to be proud of.
Second Place: Craig Harris, The Arizona Republic
Judge’s comment: Craig Harris’ portfolio offers a master class in watchdog reporting, exposing the kind of insider dealing and abuses of power that shake the public’s faith in government. Throughout, he held the powerful to account, showed how their actions undermined ethics laws and other rules, and revealed the real harm caused to people left in their wake. Harris clearly is an intrepid investigator and a tenacious watchdog always looking out for the public’s interests.
Third place: Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic
Judges: Glenn Smith is the Watchdog & Public Service Editor at The Post and Courier. Laura Dennis is the executive editor of the Odessa American. Kyle Hopkins is a special projects reporter for the Anchorage Daily News and winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service Reporting.
Arizona Community Journalist of the Year — Krista Allen, Navajo Times
The Community Journalist of the Year Award is given to the writer or editor of a community publication who, in the opinion of the contest judges, has done the best portfolio of work in 2020 to enhance the goals of the journalism profession and the quality of life in the community.
Virus strikes at rally: Chilchinbeto church gathering may be source of outbreak
Judge’s comment: Krista Allen’s coverage of coronavirus in Navajo Nation embodies the essence of community journalism. She used old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting to bring to light a devastating church rally outbreak, vividly portrayed the desperation of those who couldn’t get medical care for their loved ones, gave families a platform to share their experiences for the benefit of the community, and ensured every story included useful, actionable information. Any reader can see this is a journalist who cares deeply about her community, works hard to tell its most important stories, and doesn’t depend on the official narrative.
Second place: Nick Phillips, Nogales International
Judge’s comment: An incredible body of work. Nick did it all in 2020, and on both sides of the border. Nick brought the border to life in all of its complexity during an incredible and challenging year. He was a watchdog and storyteller, with a keen eye for trends, whose reporting is filled with depth and humanity.
Third place: Dylan Smith, Tucson Sentinel
Judges: Erica Meltzer is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Colorado. Josh Brodesky is the editorial page editor at the San Antonio Express-News. Dennis Joyce is breaking news editor for the Tampa Bay Times.
Arizona Photojournalist of the Year — Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic
Photojournalist of the Year goes to the photojournalist who, in the opinion of the judges, has done the best work during 2020.
Judge’s comment: Rob’s portfolio entry was balanced and had a lot of nicely executed images in it. The George Floyd protests and the Oregon wildfire photos were a good representation of what those respective communities went through during those trying times and each story had many storytelling images in them. All of his single entries were captured at the right moment which made them an easy read — such as the action shot of the football player diving for a touchdown or the horse sculpture shot at dusk with a hint of the setting sun in the frame. There are several images in the portfolio that I will remember. Nice work!
Second place: Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Third place: Patrick Breen, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Gary Hairlson is the multimedia director for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Arizona Community Photojournalist of the Year — Arianna Grainey, Independent Newsmedia
Community Photojournalist of the Year goes to the photojournalist who, in the opinion of the judges, has done the best work during 2020.
Judge’s comment: Arianna’s portfolio was well balanced and showed a range of assignments with good use of lensing and a range of nice moments. Some great moments and memorable images.
Second place: Paul Ingram, Tucson Sentinel
Judge: Gary Hairlson is the multimedia director for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
A1. Spanish-language news reporting — Emily Bregel, La Estrella de Tucsón
La pandemia, otro obstáculo a vencer para latinos que aspiran a la universidad
Judge’s comment: This package on the effects of the pandemic on the state’s most vulnerable and high achieving students illustrated well the intersections of policy, income and health. They backed anecdotes with experts, data and the growing public health crisis.
Second place: Stephanie Casanova, Justin Sayers, and Alex Devoid, La Estrella de Tucsón
Con el COVID-19 pegando más duro en el sur de Tucsón, las clínicas comunitarias son un alivio
Third place: Liliana López Ruelas, La Estrella de Tucsón
Lanzan campaña para que el ICE libere a “dreamer” de Tucsón contagiado de COVID-19
Judge: Adriana Gallardo is a reporter at ProPublica and she teaches at the Newmark School at CUNY.
A2. Spanish-language feature reporting — Allison Barton, Cronkite Noticias
Piden equidad en tratamientos de problemas alimenticios en gente de color
Second place: Tina Giuliano, Cronkite Noticias
Falta de conocimiento de vital técnica hace más vulnerables a vecindarios hispanos
Judge: Adriana Gallardo is a reporter at ProPublica and she teaches at the Newmark School at CUNY.
A3. Spanish-language commentary/analysis — Liliana López Ruelas, La Estrella de Tucsón
Editorial: Comprometidos con nuestra comunidad
Judge: Adriana Gallardo is a reporter at ProPublica and she teaches at the Newmark School at CUNY.
B1. Community investigative reporting — Arlyssa Becenti, Navajo Times
Portfolio of stories about hemp crops
Judge’s comment: Well-informed series of stories, consistent follow up from start to finish. This is truly what reporting was meant to do.
Second place: Dylan Smith, Tucson Sentinel
Third place: Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, Arizona Mirror
Judge: Warren Woodberry Jr. has worked as a professional journalist and in government communications with 20 years of extensive media experience. He is the owner and publisher of Millenium Magazine.
B2. Community public service journalism — Phoenix Business Journal staff
One System, (Un)Equal Access: How the financial system fails Black-owned and other minority
businesses and how that might change
Judge’s comment: I love stories that focus on underrepresented communities. I love the in-depth “About the Data” sidebar that further explains, supports and details of the story. I learned a lot.
Second place: Navajo Times staff
Judge: Jatika Patterson is a 20-year journalist, who has worked as a writer, editor and proofreader. She’s worked for magazines, newspapers, non-profits, corporations, and her work has appeared in The Crisis Magazine, Upscale Magazine, Atlanta INtown, and more.
B3. Community breaking news — Wayne Schutsky, Scottsdale Progress
Rioting rips Fashion Square area
Riot wracked mall neighborhood for hours
Judge’s comment: This is truly impressive coverage of a complex and fast-moving breaking news story by a reporter and publication that don’t usually cover breaking news like this. The story covered a lot of ground, and the first-person observations are huge assets to the story.
Second place: Dillon Rosenblatt, Arizona Capitol Times
Third place: Jonathan Clark, Genesis Lara and Nick Phillips, Nogales International
Judge: Chris Tisch is senior editor for breaking news at the Tampa Bay Times.
B4. Community public safety reporting — Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, Arizona Mirror
National Guard flew surveillance aircraft over Black Lives Matter protests
Judge’s comment: Great, detailed reporting on the surveillance of protestors. This is an important story well told. I love the quote from the Major trying to rationalize it by describing a plane as a “moving building.”
Second place: Laura Gómez, Arizona Mirror
Third place: Dylan Smith, Tucson Sentinel
Judge: Gary Harki, an investigative reporter with the Virginian-Pilot, won the 2019 Al Nakkula Award for Public Safety Reporting.
B5. Community political reporting — Dillon Rosenblatt and Arren Kimbel-Sannit, Arizona Capitol Times
Dissension in AZGOP as Trump dumps Ducey
Judge’s comment: Well written, thoroughly reported story on a poignant Trump moment in battleground Arizona.
Second place: Julia Shumway, Arizona Capitol Times
Third place: Laura Gómez, Arizona Mirror
Judge: John Kerr retired in 2006 as editor of the Odessa American.
B6. Community local government reporting — Nick Phillips, Nogales International
As city began to formulate coronavirus response, memo laid bare mistrust between manager and mayor
Judge’s comment: This piece lays bare the political machinations of a dysfunctional city government in clear, concise prose, using top-notch sourcing and documents to get the story behind the story. Bravo.
Second place: Dillon Rosenblatt, Arizona Capitol Times
Third place: Rima Krisst, Navajo Times
Judge: Chance Swaim is a reporter from The Wichita Eagle. He won the George Polk Award for Political Reporting for his coverage of municipal misconduct.
B7. Community state/federal government reporting — Jonathan Clark, Nick Phillips and Genesis Lara, Nogales International
As restrictions take effect at port, U.S. travelers see more differences in traffic than operations
Judge’s comment: Several stories took in a wide sweep of residents, retailers and business people affected by Trump’s Covid-related travel restrictions. The stories put a warm, human face on what could have been a by-the-numbers bureaucratic story. The story about the changing tactics of drug cartels was a unique look at a business problem that’s usually not seen in those terms.
Second place: Julia Shumway, Arizona Capitol Times
Third place: Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, Arizona Mirror
Judge: Steve Beatty is a communications consultant at Newspack, a former board member of LION Publishers, and was the editor of The Lens, an award-winning investigative news outlet in New Orleans, and watchdog editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
B8. Community health reporting — Donovan Quintero, Navajo Times
‘I miss my brain’: Frontline hero continues to struggle with COVID-19
Judge’s comment: What I was looking for was a human touch in these COVID-19 stories. This was the only entry that brought home that quality. This little newspaper somehow has a wealth of good writers from what I can tell.
Second place: Dillon Rosenblatt, Arizona Capitol Times
Third place: Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, Arizona Mirror
Judge: John Pacenti is a veteran investigative reporter for The Palm Beach Post, specializing in the justice system and health.
B9. Nina Mason Pulliam Environmental Journalism Award (Community division) — Arlyssa Becenti, Navajo Times
Uranium cleanup report falls on few ears
Judge’s comment: The story serves the critical role of revealing the indifference tribal leaders have toward uranium pollution on the Navajo Nation.
Second place: Krista Allen, Navajo Times
Judge: Tristan Baurick is an environment beat reporter at The Times-Picayune. Her series “Polluter’s Paradise” won the Kevin Carmody Award for Outstanding Investigative Reporting from the Society of Environmental Journalists.
B10. Community science reporting — Sam McManis, Arizona Daily Sun
Helping the Mars rover gets its bearings
Judge: Matt DeRienzo is Editor in Chief at the Center for Public Integrity.
B11. Community social issues reporting — Julia Shumway and Andrew Nicla, Arizona Capitol Times
Lobbyists navigate lawmakers’ bad behavior, professional relationships
Judge’s comment: Great work going in deep on the bad behavior of those in power. A good read.
Second place: Nick Phillips, Nogales International
Third place: Krista Allen, Navajo Times
Judge: Laura Dennis is the executive editor of the Odessa American.
B12. Community education reporting — Nick Phillips, Nogales International
With summer vacation approaching, students say they miss school
Judge’s comment: Good job focusing on families’ experiences and interviewing kids, while also holding school districts accountable for transparency.
Second place: Tom Blodgett, Community Impact Newspaper of Gilbert
Third place: Wayne Schutsky, Scottsdale Progress
Judge: Sonali Kohli was named the nation’s best education beat writer in 2019 by the Education Writers Association.
B13. Community immigration reporting — Laura Gómez, Arizona Mirror
Phoenix police ‘wrongly arrested’ protesters, who could now be deported
Judge’s comment: An important series of five stories shining light on the wrongful arrests of four immigrants in Phoenix during a George Floyd protest. Prosecutors ended up dropping the charges and ICE closed two of the deportation cases. The series brought to light both the wrongful arrests that ultimately were dismissed and the collaboration the county jail has with ICE that lead to their deportation cases. Bringing public scrutiny to the faulty arrests and their immigration consequences were an important public service, as was explaining the agreement the county jail holds with ICE and its role in the sheriff’s election.
Second place: Jude Joffe-Block and Valeria Fernández, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
Third place: Paul Ingram, Tucson Sentinel
Judge: Lomi Kriel is a reporter at ProPublica. Her immigration reporting at the Houston Chronicle won her a 2019 George Polk Award.
B14. Community business reporting — Sam McManis, Arizona Daily Sun
Flagstaff residents still at work, but struggling
Judge’s comment: This piece stands out for its artful writing that swings effortlessly between statistics and the business owners’ individual stories and very human struggles.
Second place: Jeremy Duda, Arizona Mirror
Third place: Brandon Brown, Phoenix Business Journal
Judge: Charlotte-Anne Lucas is the Executive Director of NOWCastSA in San Antonio.
B15. Community sports beat reporting — Quentin Jodie, Navajo Times
Judge’s comment: Writer was definitely on top of everything that was happening with the rodeo. Hit the subject from all angles.
Second place: Eric Newman and Zach Alvira, Arizona Varsity
Third place: Eric Newman, Arizona Varsity
Judge: Tony Maluso has been a sports journalist for 11 years. He was formerly the Sports editor for the Citizens’ Voice in Wilkes-Barre, PA and is now an editor with the paper.
B16. Community sports feature reporting — Sam McManis, Arizona Daily Sun
Lessons in trail etiquette: A look at sharing space in Flagstaff
Judge’s comment: Did a good job of looking at every angle of this, not singling out any one group of trail users and instead looking at each one individually. Smart.
Second place: Julia Shumway, Arizona Capitol Times
Judge: Jake Adams was a sports editor and reporter at The Sentinel (Carlisle, Pa.) for more than seven years. He recently began working at the Wisconsin State Journal/Madison.com as a sports planning editor.
B17. Community sports investigative reporting — David Smith, Navajo Times
‘We never asked for this’: Student-athletes leaving rez to play sports in border towns
Judge’s comment: Looked at the situation and dilemma facing the athletes from all angles. A thorough exploration of the subject.
Second place: Quentin Jodie, Navajo Times
Judge: Tony Maluso has been a sports journalist for 11 years. He was formerly the Sports editor for the Citizens’ Voice in Wilkes-Barre, PA and is now an editor with the paper.
B18. Community column/opinion writing — Jim Kiser, Tucson Sentinel
Judge’s comment: The authors tackled this important problem with respect for readers’ intelligence and offered a range of thoughtful and proven solutions.
Second place: Blake Morlock, Tucson Sentinel
Third place: Jim Small, Arizona Mirror
Judge: Charlotte-Anne Lucas is the Executive Director of NOWCastSA in San Antonio.
B19. Community editorial writing — No award this year.
B20. Community personality profile — Brian Smith, Tucson Weekly
Judge’s comment: Deeply reported, written with humanity while avoiding sentimentality.
Second place: Sam McManis, Arizona Daily Sun
Third place: Arren Kimbel-Sannit, Arizona Capitol Times
Judge: Stephanie McCrummen, a national enterprise reporter with the Washington Post, won the 2020 Scripps Howard Ernie Pyle Excellence in Human Interest Storytelling award.
B21. Community human interest writing — Emily Dieckman, Tucson Weekly
Judge’s comment: Well written and informative dive into an aspect of breast cancer recovery that many may not think about if they haven’t experienced it. Filled with charming quotes and story-telling, the reader really gets a sense of Bova’s journey.
Second place: Nick Phillips, Nogales International
Third place: Kristine Cannon, Scottsdale Progress
Judge: Samantha Swindler is a writer and editor at the Oregonian and past president of the state’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She won the 2010 Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, integrity and tenacity in rural journalism.
B22. Community short-form writing — Sam McManis, Arizona Daily Sun
Judge’s comment: Rich writing and detail really took me into this true community gathering. A lovely story told quickly.
Second place: Jim Small, Arizona Mirror
Third place: Tom Blodgett, Community Impact Newspaper of Gilbert
Judge: Elllen Clarke is Senior Deputy Editor for Life & Culture at the Tampa Bay Times.
B23. Community arts reporting and criticism — Sam McManis, Arizona Daily Sun
Judge’s comment: In “Words, Words, Words,” McManis brings to life in brisk, lively detail the swirling backstage preparations for a youth theater production of “Hamlet,” starring an 18-year-old woman with her own independent take on Shakespeare’s melancholy prince. The writing captures the breathless exhilaration of collaborators learning on the job as they bravely tackle one of the most monumental challenges in world drama.
Second place: Cindy Yurth, Navajo Times
Third place: Margaret Regan, Tucson Weekly
Judge: Charlles McNulty is theater critic for the LA Times.
B24. Community food and beverage reporting and criticism — Kristine Cannon, Scottsdale Progress
Sommeliers uncork their creativity to survive
Judge’s comment: I love the way this piece captures the spirit of the culinary world through the lens of an exclusive group. As this story unfolded, I felt a strong sense of the ways in which these sommeliers were affected. I was intrigued by the tactics they employed to fight for their survival, and, in some cases, emerging victorious. This story does more than document problems: It reveals the creativity of its subjects.
Second place: Kristine Cannon, Scottsdale Progress
Third place: Tom Blodgett, Community Impact Newspaper of Gilbert
Judge: David Dudley is a journalist, educator, and playwright, currently working as a staffer at the St. George News in Southern Utah.
B25. Community headline writing — Cindy Yurth, Navajo Times
Judge’s comment: The headlines in this entry paired whimsy with storytelling while still clearly getting across the points of the articles. I appreciated the dual meaning in “One for the books,” while “Minimal pomp, strange circumstance” perfectly captured the surrealness of a drive-through commencement.
Second place: Gary Grado, Arizona Capitol Times
Third place: Dylan Smith, Tucson Sentinel
Judge: Sara Ziegler, sports editor at FiveThirtyEight, is president of The Society for Editing.
B26. Community Photojournalism: Picture story — Paul Ingram, Tucson Sentinel
More than 100 protest over in-custody death of Carlos Ingram-Lopez
Second place: Arianna Grainey, Independent Newsmedia
Third place: Arianna Grainey, Independent Newsmedia
Judge: Michael Miller is a staff photographer for the Bryan/College Station Eagle in Texas.
B27. Community Photojournalism: News — Paul Ingram, Tucson Sentinel
Judge’s comment: Smart use of long exposure.
Second place: Donovan Quintero, Navajo Times
Third place: Sharon Chischilly, Navajo Times
Judge: Michael Miller is a staff photographer for the Bryan/College Station Eagle in Texas.
B28. Community Photojournalism: Feature — Jonathan Clark, Nogales International
Judge’s comment: Lovely moment that exemplifies one of the challenges of the pandemic — you can tell she’s smiling through the mask.
Second place: Jim Poulin, Phoenix Business Journal
Third place: Sharon Chischilly, Navajo Times
Judge: Michael Miller is a staff photographer for the Bryan/College Station Eagle in Texas.
B29. Community Photojournalism: Pictorial — Donovan Quintero, Navajo Times
First snow
Judge’s comment: Nice recognition of the pattern in the snow.
Second place: Donovan Quintero, Navajo Times
Third place: Arianna Grainey, Independent Newsmedia
B30. Community Photojournalism: Sports action — Jonathan Clark, Nogales International
Back on the field
B30. Community Photojournalism: Sports feature — No award this year.
C1. The Don Bolles Award for Investigative Reporting — Carol Ann Alaimo, Arizona Daily Star
New pet store at Marana mall under investigation
Judge’s comment: Great lead, flowed well, very concise.
Second place: Staff of the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Cronkite School at Arizona State University
Third place: Richard Ruelas and Rob O’Dell, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Warren Woodberry Jr. has worked as a professional journalist and in government communications with 20 years of extensive media experience. He is the owner and publisher of Millenium Magazine.
C2. Statewide public service journalism — Amy Silverman, Arizona Daily Star
She needs a device to communicate. Arizona kept it from her for 18 months.
Judge’s comment: Fascinating story and I love the reporting on how the story impacted the change that the story subjects needed and they received the communication device.
Second place: Shondiin Silversmith, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Patty Machelor, Arizona Daily Star
Judge: Jatika Patterson is a 20-year journalist, who has worked as a writer, editor and proofreader. She’s worked for magazines, newspapers, non-profits, corporations, and her work has appeared in The Crisis Magazine, Upscale Magazine, Atlanta INtown, and more.
C3. Statewide breaking news — Helen Wieffering, The Arizona Republic
‘Instant chaos’: Police shot into crowd minutes after beginning to clear road for Trump
Judge’s comment: This was impressive work to sort through such a chaotic and fast-moving scene. The report delivers a lot of voices in a cohesive telling of a difficult situation.
Second place: Lorraine Longhi, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Tony Davis, Arizona Daily Star
Judge: Chris Tisch is senior editor for breaking news at the Tampa Bay Times.
C4. Statewide public safety reporting — Dianna M. Náñez and Justin Price, The Arizona Republic
Phoenix police records prove officers disproportionately use force against people of color
Judge’s comment: This package stood out because it tells its horrific story so well. It combines data with powerful storytelling and visuals, giving readers three distinct ways to look at how Phoenix police use more force on people of color. The reporters managed to take a story that, sadly, at this point could be routine and make it shocking all over again. Each piece was important. I hope readers were as outraged as I was.
Second place: Uriel J. Garcia, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, Arizona Mirror
Judge: Gary Harki, an investigative reporter with the Virginian-Pilot, won the 2019 Al Nakkula Award for Public Safety Reporting.
C5. The John Kolbe Politics Reporting Award — Dianna M. Náñez, The Arizona Republic
Judge’s comment: Compelling look at how Latinos and Native Americans figure in to Arizona’s evolving political fabric
Second place: Maria Polletta, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Rachel Leingang, The Arizona Republic
Judge: John Kerr retired in 2006 as editor of the Odessa American.
C6. Statewide local government reporting — Shondiin Silversmith, The Arizona Republic
Navajo Nation closes to visitors in response to coronavirus
Judge’s comment: This expertly handled series of stories gave the world access to a local story that became a national crisis. Well done.
Second place: Patty Machelor, Arizona Daily Star
Third place: Jen Fifield and Paulina Pineda, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Chance Swaim is a reporter from The Wichita Eagle. He won the George Polk Award for Political Reporting for his coverage of municipal misconduct.
C7. Statewide state/federal government reporting — Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic
Tax credits send almost $100M to foster care charities. But program oversight is lacking
Judge’s comment: The first two stories are a terrific example of government accountability reporting that produced immediate results, bringing more transparency to a fast-moving public health emergency. Likewise, the third story casts a duly suspicious eye on a tax-credit program that looks mom-and-apple-pie on its face but has plenty of room for profit taking.
Second place: Anne Ryman, Caitlin McGlade, Justin Price, Maria Polletta, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Jen Fifield and Mackenzie Shuman, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Steve Beatty is a communications consultant at Newspack, a former board member of LION Publishers, and was the editor of The Lens, an award-winning investigative news outlet in New Orleans, and watchdog editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
C8. Statewide health reporting — Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic
‘We have seen so much death’: Treating the sickest COVID-19 patients
Judge’s comment: Reporting from inside a hospital during a pandemic seems like a no-brainer. But with hospitals run by large corporations and patient confidentiality at the forefront, it is not easy getting access. Innes gets access and doesn’t miss her chance. This is front-line reporting and not the recitation of stats that is the hallmark of so many COVID-19 stories. These are real people dying and Innes brings it home for the reader.
Second place: Rachel Leingang, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Jasmine Demers, Arizona Daily Star
Judge: Judge: John Pacenti is a veteran investigative reporter for The Palm Beach Post, specializing in the justice system and health.
C9. Nina Mason Pulliam Environmental Journalism Award (Statewide division) — Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic
In Phoenix, rising temperatures day and night kill more people each year
Judge’s comment: This story combines compelling personal stories, analysis of public documents, and clearly-explained science to shed light on an increasingly deadly problem, especially for Arizona’s most vulnerable populations.
Second place: Ian James and David Wallace, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Tony Davis, Arizona Daily Star
Judge: Tristan Baurick is an environment beat reporter at The Times-Picayune. Her series “Polluter’s Paradise” won the Kevin Carmody Award for Outstanding Investigative Reporting from the Society of Environmental Journalists.
C10. Statewide science reporting — Ian James, The Arizona Republic
Rising temperatures are taking a worsening toll on the Colorado River, study finds
Second place: Henry Brean, Arizona Daily Star
Judge: Matt DeRienzo is Editor in Chief at the Center for Public Integrity.
C11. Statewide social issues reporting — Josh Kelety, Phoenix New Times
Arizona Paid $900,000 After Social Workers Tore a Mesa Family Apart and Lied About It
Judge’s comment: Excellent work shedding light on a shameful event in Arizona. Story was well written and researched and shows how good reporting can make a difference in everyday people’s lives.
Second place: Stephanie Innes and Pamela Ren Larson, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Emily Wilder, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Laura Dennis is the executive editor of the Odessa American.
C12. Statewide education reporting — Daja E. Henry and Kimberly Rapanut, News21 at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
‘Hit twice as hard’: Children with disabilities face onslaught of challenges
Judge’s comment: Impressive and thorough storytelling that combines narrative storytelling, data collection and analysis, and a deep understanding of the research about an important issue, and the intersectionality in harms done to students
Second place: Lily Altavena, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Shondiin Silversmith, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Sonali Kohli was named the nation’s best education beat writer in 2019 by the Education Writers Association.
C13. Statewide immigration reporting — The Arizona Republic Podcast Team
Judge’s comment: An ambitious and expansive story-telling project about how the last two decades of immigration policy culminated in and were impacted by the passage of one law: SB 1070. Even as someone who reported on and lived through much of this history, even reporting in Arizona on the impact of 1070 as it applies to Texas, I couldn’t tear myself away from this five-part podcast series that lays the bricks for how Arizona got to the passage of that law and tied it together to what it means today. A great team effort and public service in a year when everything was focused on Covid, but this explained why this law and everything that led up to it still reverberates in Arizona and beyond — a fact we are also seeing in Texas. Gripping re-telling and in-depth, expert interviews — this was a series I would recommend to anyone trying to understand how immigration and the border in particular has come to play such an outsize role in U.S. politics.
Second place: Tim Steller, Arizona Daily Star
Third place: Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic
C14. Statewide business reporting — ASU students Katie Surma, Anne Mickey and Jamie Fields for The Arizona Republic
Judge’s comment: Terrifically well done. The team of journalists put the pieces together deftly, letting the dollars and the timeline tell the very clear story about this murky deal.
Second place: John D’Anna, Arizona Republic
Third place: ASU students Molly Bohannon, Jamie Fields, Megan Lupo and Natalie Walters for The Boston Globe
Judge: Judge: Charlotte-Anne Lucas is the Executive Director of NOWCastSA in San Antonio.
C15. Statewide sports beat reporting — Bruce Pascoe, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona men’s basketball beat portfolio
Judge’s comment: Combined comprehensive coverage of the beat — enterprise, breaking news, gamers — with great writing.
Second place: Jeff Metcalfe, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Jeff Metcalfe, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Tony Maluso has been a sports journalist for 11 years. He was formerly the Sports editor for the Citizens’ Voice in Wilkes-Barre, PA and is now an editor with the paper.
C16. Statewide sports feature reporting — Jeff Metcalfe, The Arizona Republic
Judge’s comment: Excellent packaging across all five stories. Covered a lot of ground without being long-winded.
Second place: Caitlin Schmidt, Arizona Daily Star
Third place: Caitlin Schmidt, Arizona Daily Star
Judge: Jake Adams was a sports editor and reporter at The Sentinel (Carlisle, Pa.) for more than seven years. He recently began working at the Wisconsin State Journal/Madison.com as a sports planning editor.
C17. Statewide sports investigative reporting — John D’Anna, The Arizona Republic
Hamilton hazing scandal investigation
Judge’s comment: A very comprehensive report on a subject that I’m sure opened a lot of eyes in many communities.
Second place: Caitlin Schmidt, Arizona Daily Star
Judge: Tony Maluso has been a sports journalist for 11 years. He was formerly the Sports editor for the Citizens’ Voice in Wilkes-Barre, PA and is now an editor with the paper.
C18. Statewide column/opinion writing — Amy Silverman, Phoenix magazine
Judge’s comment: Beautifully written reflections of our daily angst, quirks. fears and vulnerability during the COVID pandemic.
Second place: Lauren Saria, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Judge: Charlotte-Anne Lucas is the Executive Director of NOWCastSA in San Antonio.
C19. Statewide editorial writing — No award this year.
C20. Statewide personality profile — The Arizona Republic staff
From Mesa to Surprise, people are homeless. They have names. Here are their stories
Judge’s comment: Ambitious, comprehensive on-the-ground public service reporting with strong photographs that bear witness to an urgent problem on the rise across Arizona and the country.
Second place: John D’Anna, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Stephanie McCrummen, a national enterprise reporter with the Washington Post, won the 2020 Scripps Howard Ernie Pyle Excellence in Human Interest Storytelling award.
C21. Statewide human interest writing — Karina Bland, The Arizona Republic
‘Let it not be Miami’: Pulling together as a pandemic rages beyond a small Arizona town
Judge’s comment: Just lovely, poignant snapshots of the pandemic. Wonderful job of weaving the writer’s voice with those of her subjects. I felt I was right there, hearing them speak through these pieces. The story of Alicia and Marivel was particularly moving and a testament to reporting for the long haul – not just setting up a few interviews over the phone, but going out and steeping yourself into a community.
Second place: Henry Brean, Arizona Daily Star
Third place: Priscilla Totiyapungprasert, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Samantha Swindler is a writer and editor at the Oregonian and past president of the state’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She won the 2010 Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, integrity and tenacity in rural journalism.
C22. Statewide short-form writing — Maria Polletta, The Arizona Republic
‘Just keep running’: Family out for first-time post-shutdown ends up fleeing from Westgate shooter
Judge’s comment: Vivid writing and quotes really take you on the journey this family experienced.
Second place: Henry Brean, Arizona Daily Star
Third place: Maria Polletta, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Elllen Clarke is Senior Deputy Editor for Life & Culture at the Tampa Bay Times.
C23. Statewide arts reporting and criticism — Chris Malloy, Phoenix New Times
Life and Death and Turkeys: A Thanksgiving Tale
Judge’s comment: As restaurants faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, food critic Chris Malloy used his column to amicably expand the social consciousness of readers on such subjects as the collective responsibility of diners in a public health emergency, the humane treatment of animals that end up on our dinner plates, and the regenerative communal possibilities in urban farming. In a neighborly style that never hectors, Malloy found unexpected and profound truth in the adage that we are what we eat.
Second place: Lorraine Longhi, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Charlles McNulty is theater critic for the LA Times.
C24. Statewide food and beverage reporting and criticism — Chris Malloy, Phoenix New Times
Ghost Kitchens: Notes from Phoenix’s Pandemic-Ravaged Restaurant Scene
Judge’s comment: I was blown away by the depth and scope of this piece. Not only is it timely, given what has happened in Arizona, the U.S., and the world, but it also captures an extremely important moment in history. We’ve been talking about the death of the “American Dream” for decades. We’ve seen various specters rise up to threaten this so-called dream, which has many meanings for many people. Who would have guessed that a pandemic could wreak so much havoc on a staple business in many communities? This story puts a human face to the statistics, while also calling out as many causes as possible. Though I’ve never eaten at any of these places, Malloy’s story made me mourn for their losses.
Second place: Priscilla Totiyapungprasert, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Veronica M. Cruz, #ThisIsTucson
Judge: David Dudley is a journalist, educator, and playwright, currently working as a staffer at the St. George News in Southern Utah.
C25. Statewide headline writing — No award this year.
C26. Statewide Photojournalism: Picture Story — Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic
Judge’s comment: We thought this was a good representation of an impact on a community after a fire. While there were no actual firefighting images, you got the idea of how bad it was and why people are in the situation they are in.
Second place: Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Third place: Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
Judge: Jill Karnacki is the Director of Photography at the Houston Chronicle.
C27. Statewide Photojournalism: News — Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
Judge’s comment: We could feel that swab going in! All of our noses twitched a little. Good subject, good reaction, good proximity.
Second place: Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
Third place: Patrick J Breen, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Jill Karnacki is the Director of Photography at the Houston Chronicle.
C28. Statewide Photojournalism: Feature — Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
Judge’s comment: The lines in the barrier both helped and hurt a little in this sweet moment. We liked how the lines led you into the faces, but then also found the person behind the barrier hard to make out. Overall, though, it left us with a good feeling for the moment the two were experiencing during the pandemic.
Second place: Patrick J Breen, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Judge: Jill Karnacki is the Director of Photography at the Houston Chronicle.
C29. Statewide Photojournalism: Pictorial — Patrick J Breen, The Arizona Republic
Dinosaur Car
Judge’s comment: The head in the sunroof made this photo. Without that, it’s just a pretty silhouette. Moment made us all smile.
Second place: Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Third place: Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Jill Karnacki is the Director of Photography at the Houston Chronicle.
C30. Statewide Photojournalism: Sports Action — Christian Petersen, Getty Images
Judge’s comment: In a strong category, the judges enjoyed how this photo was so clean, lined up really well with it’s background, and had peak action. The hair was a welcome bonus.
Second place: Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Christian Petersen, Getty Images
Judge: Jill Karnacki is the Director of Photography at the Houston Chronicle.
C31. Statewide Photojournalism: Sports Feature — Patrick J Breen, The Arizona Republic
Football Sunset
Judge’s comment: In a strong category, the judges thought the lighting and composition on this portrait was very solid.
Second place: Patrick J Breen, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Patrick J Breen, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Jill Karnacki is the Director of Photography at the Houston Chronicle.
D1. Community print page design portfolio — Olson Patterson, Navajo Times
D2. Statewide print page design portfolio — The Arizona Republic
D3. Community digital project design portfolio — No award this year.
D4. Statewide digital project design portfolio — No award this year.
E1. Student investigative reporting — Wyatt Myskow, Andrew Onodera and Piper Hansen, The State Press
ASU’s sexual assault investigation processes leave survivors traumatized, often without justice
Judge’s comment: A very thorough reporting piece want very good use of graphics and facts.
Second place: Staff of the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Cronkite School at Arizona State University
Third place: Wyatt Myskow and Piper Hansen, The State Press
Judge: Warren Woodberry Jr. has worked as a professional journalist and in government communications with 20 years of extensive media experience. He is the owner and publisher of Millenium Magazine.
E2. Student news reporting — Delia C. Johnson and Jill Ryan, News21
‘Super-predator’ legacy: How children end up in the adult justice system
Judge’s comment: A deeply reported, well-written article on a lingering criminal justice issue.
Second place: Emily Dean, Cronkite News
Third place: Garrett Stanley, State Press Magazine
Judge: Vern E. Smith formerly served as the Atlanta Bureau chief and as a national correspondent for Newsweek. His work has also appeared in Emerge, the London Sunday Times, Ebony, GEO, the Crisis magazine, Merian magazine, and the History Channel Magazine.
E3. Student features reporting — Jonmaesha Beltran, Cronkite News
‘I wanted to do more than hold a sign’: Street medic crew forms out of Black Lives Matter protests
Judge’s comment: I loved the angle of this feature story. The writer took the reader to the scenes of the protests and used descriptive details to weave sentences together. The article was informative, balanced and fact-based. Overall, the writer did a great job in capturing a pivotal moment in history.
Second place: Jill Ryan, News21
Third place: Lidia Terrazas, Cronkite Borderlands Project
Judge: LaShawn Hudson is a Producer/ Reporter at Public Broadcasting Atlanta.
E4. Student arts, culture and food — McKenzie Allen-Charmley, Cronkite News
Many Navajos face pandemic without running water, tribal members urged to ‘lift each other up’
Judge’s comment: This story provided an unflinching lens into the struggles on this reservation, while managing to remain compassionate. I felt acutely the time-crunch of implementing water infrastructure before CARES Act funds expired. Because it also catalogues a number of disparities between reservations and their neighboring cities, it manages to hold our leaders accountable. No small feat.
Second place: Katherine Sypher and Luke Simmons, Cronkite News
Third place: Katie Beauford, The Daily Wildcat
Judge: David Dudley is a journalist, educator, and playwright, currently working as a staffer at the St. George News in Southern Utah.
E5. Student sports reporting — Averi Roberts, Cronkite News
Lending a hand(print): Athletes raise awareness for missing, murdered Indigenous women
Judge’s comment: A well-written, well-told report on this growing movement that I’m sure helped further shine a light on it.
Second place: Michael Gutnick, Cronkite News
Third place: Amna Subhan, Cronkite News
Judge: Tony Maluso has been a sports journalist for 11 years. He was formerly the Sports editor for the Citizens’ Voice in Wilkes-Barre, PA and is now an editor with the paper.
E6. Student photojournalism: News — Valerie Moffat, The State Press
Judge’s comment: Wonderful frame — you captured the moment here. Great work.
Second place: Diannie Chavez, The State Press
Third place: Raphael Romero Ruiz, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Michael Miller is a staff photographer for the Bryan/College Station Eagle in Texas.
E7: Student photojournalism: Sports — Samantha Chow, The State Press
Judge’s comment: The layers of the gymnast and her team’s reactions are nice. Good work keeping the silhouette and form of the gymnast distinct from the background. Getting clean gymnastics photos can be a real challenge, so keep at it.
Second place: Brady Klain, The Arizona Republic
Third place: Brady Klain, Cronkite News
Judge: Michael Miller is a staff photographer for the Bryan/College Station Eagle in Texas.
E8. Student photojournalism: Features — Samantha Chow, The State Press
Judge’s comment: The mood and vibe this picture generates are impeccable — its aesthetic is unmistakable. A portrait won this category not only because of the image itself, but also because of its relevance to human interest. The feeling of isolation many felt during the pandemic is well represented in this image through both the wash of blue and the model’s posture. The clear distinction between the silhouette of their mouth and hair against the lighter background, as well as the triangle of space between the arm, torso and leg to create definition are parts of what make this photo — it is critical to be aware of small details, even more so in a minimalist image like this. Great image. Stay creative — and out of quarantine.
Second place: Diannie Chavez, The State Press
Demonstrator for indigenous rights
Judge’s comment: She just stares into the viewer’s soul — such a powerful moment of intensity in her eyes. The handprint completes it. Clean, shallow depth-of-field isolates her from the rest of the world and pushes her toward the reader. This photo shows that a picture doesn’t have to be complex to be impactful.
Third place: Meg Potter, The Arizona Republic
Judge: Michael Miller is a staff photographer for the Bryan/College Station Eagle in Texas.