Finally, the results are in… most of them.
With great apologies for the lengthy delay, and with a lot of admiration for all of the amazing journalism undertaken by so many Arizona reporters, photographers and editors in very trying circumstances, the Arizona Press Club is proud to announce the winners of the 2021 journalism contest.
This list is not yet complete — check back in the coming days for the results of even more categories.
Congratulations to all the winners, and everyone who shared their excellent work!
Virg Hill Arizona Journalist of the Year
- 1st Place: Rachel Leingang – Arizona Agenda & Arizona Republic
- 2nd Place: Jen Fifield – Arizona Republic
- 3rd Place: Tony Davis – Arizona Daily Star
Judges’ comments: Rachel Leingang personalized the staggering loss from COVID-19, took readers inside the classroom to see the impact closures had on Arizona students and identified policy solutions to the state’s opioid crisis. Among a strong class of entries, we were impressed by the breadth, quality and variety of her work. The public records guide was a helpful addition.
Jen Fifield’s dogged reporting helped readers follow along the perplexing Maricopa County ballot audit. She put the audit into context, clearly described the unanswered questions and followed the money. A job well done.
Tony Davis did a masterful job contextualizing environmental news for readers and explaining why it is important for their communities.
Judges: Suki Dardarian, Star Tribune; Samuel Robinson, Axios Detroit; Tyler Buchanan, Axios Columbus
Community Journalist of the Year
- 1st: Jeremy Duda – Arizona Mirror
- 2nd: Paul Ingram – Tucson Sentinel
- 3rd: Lee Shappell – Wrangler News
Judges’ comments: As a judging panel, we wish to commend Jeremy Duda on his efforts to connect the dots on groups and individuals and extremism infiltrating its way into Arizona politics. The submitted stories, which had solid reporting and sourcing, showed a fearlessness and hustle that made this entry rise to the top. Reporting on every aspect of the redistricting process, while not the splaishest subject, is exactly the type of work we need to help readers understand the political and electoral process. We’re glad that Arizona had such a strong resource as the state worked through this controversial process. We hope Jeremy will continue to work hard to reveal who is behind some of the issues plaguing Arizona and its politics for years to come.
Judges: Christina Lords, Idaho Capital Sun; Alec MacGillis, ProPublica; Keith Kohn, Victoria (Texas) Advocate
Community Photographer of the Year
- 1st: Arianna Grainey – Independent Newspapers
- 2nd: Billy Hardiman – Wrangler News
- 3rd: Paul Ingram – Tucson Sentinel
Judge: Al Diaz, Miami Herald
Nick Oza Arizona Photojournalist of the Year
- 1st: Patrick Breen – Arizona Republic
- 2nd: Kelly Presnell – Arizona Daily Star
- 3rd: Antranik Tavitian – Arizona Republic
Judge: Al Diaz, Miami Herald
A1. Spanish-language news reporting
1st: Emily Bregel
“Emergencia sanitaria en Guaymas y San Carlos por la fuga de aguas residuales”
Arizona Daily Star / La Estrella
Judge’s comments: Se trata de una investigación muy completa sobre este problema de salud pública en Guaymas, Sonora. Contiene historias de personas afectadas, bien narradas; opiniones de expertos y de funcionarios responsables, análisis a la calidad del agua. Es un trabajo periodístico robusto que retrata una problemática social y de salud de uno de los destinos turísticos más importantes de Sonora.
2nd: Araceli Cruz
“Lo que debes hacer si te niegan la vacuna por ser indocumentado”
The Copper Courier
Judge’s comments: Me parece que la noticia es muy oportuna en el contexto de la pandemia por Covid-19, y refleja una problemática de discriminación a personas sin un estatus legal en los Estados Unidos que presentaron dificultades para ser vacunados. La nota contiene la historia de una persona afectada y es contrastada con lo que la ley dice al respecto. Es una nota de denuncia que orienta a los lectores sobre qué hacer si les niega la vacuna. Insisto, es una nota útil y de denuncia, de ahí su potencial.
Judge: Juan Carlos Zuniga, Uniradio Noticias/Meganoticias Hermosillo
A2. Spanish-language feature reporting
1st Place: Bennito Kelty
“Familias de pioneros mexicanos logran salvar acceso al panteón histórico en Vail”
Tucson Sentinel
Judge’s comments: Se trata de una historia que refleja el poder de una comunidad por defender sus raíces. Cuenta con testimonios, datos históricos y una narración que permite a personas ajenas al contexto de dicha comunidad inmiscuirse en la importancia del sitio y lo que representa para sus habitantes.
2nd Place: Claudia Bungard
“Tras perder a su hijo, esta mamá de Tucsón apoya a quienes enfrentan adicciones”
Arizona Daily Star / La Estrella
Judge’s comments: Me pareció una historia potente, bien narrada, que refleja una problemática de salud pública en Arizona y que orienta a los lectores sobre qué hacer ante un problema de adicciones.
Judge: Juan Carlos Zuniga, Uniradio Noticias/Meganoticias Hermosillo
A3. Spanish-language commentary/analysis
No award given
B1. Community investigative reporting
1st place. Sam Kmack
Inequity in 504 plans
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
2nd place. Jerod MacDonald-Evoy
Election auditors didn’t screen workers
Arizona Mirror
3rd place. Jeremy Duda & Garrett Archer
Cyber Ninjas leader ignored contradicting records
Arizona Mirror
Judge: Matt DeRienzo, Center for Public Integrity
B1. Statewide investigative reporting
1st place. Anne Ryman
Abuse in massage industry
Arizona Republic
2nd place. Rob O’Dell
Problems at monkey facility
Arizona Republic
3rd place. Sam Kmack
Inequity in 504 plans
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
Judge: Matt DeRienzo, Center for Public Integrity
B2. Community public service reporting
1st place. Maria Polletta and Shaena Montanari
Outbreaks, quarantines and closures: Help AZCIR track COVID-19 in Arizona schools
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
2nd place. Rachel Leingang and Hank Stephenson
Arizona Agenda’s guide to getting public records
Arizona Agenda
3rd place. Lee Shappell, Wrangler News staff
Sound off: Neighbors livid over roar from newly widened loop 101
Wrangler News
Judge’s comment: “A news site shouldn’t have to attempt to track where a virus is spreading in local schools and school districts during a deadly historic pandemic. But when a news site does exactly that due to governmental negligence and/or complacence (or cynicism) amid a public health crisis, kudos. Such ambition deserves to be praised for its public service.”
C2. Statewide public service reporting
1st place. Anne Ryman, Ty Vinson, Justin Price
How Arizona allows massage therapists with sexual abuse allegations to keep working
Arizona Republic
2nd place. Amy Silverman
A place that should know better
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
3rd place. Jessica Boehm, Catherine Reagor, Ralph Chapoco
Pandemic evictions were halted, but metro Phoenix landlords still filed for almost 30,000
Arizona Republic
Judge’s comment: “Hell of a series; a deeply reported, compellingly written investigation with high impact.”
Judge: Trip Jennings, New Mexico In Depth
B3. Community breaking news
1st place: Jeremy Duda and Jim Small
“Arizona Senate hires ‘Stop the Steal’ advocate to lead 2020 election audit”
Arizona Mirror
Judge: Sherri Lewis, Texas Tech journalism instructor
C3. Statewide breaking news
1st place: Cathalena Burch
“Back-to-back hail, early frost in ’20 decimate ’21 Sonoita harvest”
Arizona Daily Star
2nd place: Jen Fifield
“Arizona Senate audit gets off to shaky start, with rules finalized on the fly”
Arizona Republic
Judge: Sherri Lewis, Texas Tech journalism instructor
B4. Community public safety reporting
1st place. Shondiin Silversmith
Violence Against Indigenous Women
Arizona Mirror
2nd place. Lidia Terrazas and Jonathan Clark
Police Kill Truck Driver
Nogales International
3rd place. Jeremy Duda
Criminal Justice Reform Prospects
Arizona Mirror
Judge: Matt DeRienzo, Center for Public Integrity
C4. Statewide public safety reporting
1st place. Jimmy Jenkins, Tessa Duvall, BrieAnna Frank
DOJ probes Phoenix and Louisville
Arizona Republic
2nd place. Elvia Verdugo
Firefighters and Mental Health
Arizona Daily Star
3rd place. Nicole Ludden
Prison Guards and COVID-19 Vaccines
Arizona Daily Star
Judge: Matt DeRienzo, Center for Public Integrity
B5. Community political reporting
1st Place: Julia Shumway
“Boyer’s vote triggers threats of violence, retribution”
“GOP senators take revenge on Boyer”
Arizona Capitol Times
Judge’s comments: Julia Shumway’s clear and engaging writing helps illustrate an important issue facing Arizona, the country and democracy as a whole: the consequences of misinformation and trumped up accusations of election interference. Many of the stories submitted in this category dealt with similar issues by strong reporters, but it is Shumway’s writing — its structure, pacing, context, and, most importantly, its understandability to the average reader — that made this entry stand out. As reporters we often focus on when politicians make bad policy decisions and write about those decisions at length, but we should also, as Shumway did, make every effort tell stories of elected officials who seemingly did their best to acquaint themselves with a controversial and impactful issue and made a different, unexpected decision — one that would ultimately threaten the safety of himself and his family — and stand up for democracy when it needed it most.
2nd Place: Jeremy Duda
“The ‘unstoppable’ Kari Lake?”
Arizona Mirror
3rd Place: Hank Stephenson
“A brief history of political mapping”
Arizona Agenda
Judge: Christina Lords, Idaho Capital Times
C5. Statewide political reporting (John Kolbe Politics Reporting Award)
1st Place: Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Ronald J. Hansen and Jen Fifield
“Democracy in doubt” series
Arizona Republic
Judge’s comments: Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Ronald J. Hansen, Jen Fifield have excelled at taking an enormous and complicated question facing the state of Arizona and the country after the 2020 election — “How did we get here?” — and created a series of stories that answered that question all Americans have been left wondering in the years since. They did it with deep historical and statewide context, using thousands of public records and interviews with dozens of people to tell the full story. The series was incredibly easy to read and understand, and their sourcing added validity to a story that, in this political environment, must be ironclad to be believed by a public that has an increasing inability to tell fact from fiction. We need work like this now more than ever.
2nd place: Stacey Barchenger
AZ governor race coverage
Arizona Republic
3rd place: Ray Stern
AZ redistricting commission coverage
Arizona Republic
Judge: Christina Lords, Idaho Capital Times
B6. Community local government reporting
1st place: Lidia Terrazas
“At City of Nogales, call to the public is a casualty of the pandemic”
Nogales International
Judge’s comments: While all three of the top stories in this category were extremely well done, this one stood out because it focuses not only on a topic that could easily be overlooked by the average reporter. Instead, you provided a deeper look into public access and how it’s evolved during and since the pandemic. Kudos! Fantastic lead pulled me in and demanded an immediate read.
2nd place: Jessica Swarner
“Activists win yearslong battle for Mesa nondiscrimination ordinance”
Copper Courier
C6. Statewide local government reporting
1st place: Ray Stern
“Tempe quietly fires its library director after staff complaints”
Phoenix New Times
B7. Community state/federal government reporting
1st Place: Rachel Leingang
“The state neglects its technology. It screws over Arizonans who need help.”
Arizona Agenda
Judge’s comments: Excellent work on an underreported topic, making the issues clear. The report also fosters understanding.
2nd place: Kyra Haas, Nathan Brown and Wayne Schutsky
“Ninja report insinuates wrongdoing, Fann calls for probe”
Arizona Capitol Times
3rd place: Laura Gómez
“Republican Lawmakers pass bill critics say erases non-binary people”
AZ Mirror
Judges: Diana Ljungaeus & the Los Angeles Press Club
C7. Statewide state/federal government reporting
1st place: Stacey Barchenger
“How often does voting fraud happen?”
Arizona Republic
Judge’s comments: Insightful approach to a topic of importance and brings the issue to the hometown. Great work.
2nd place: Ray Stern
“Chicanos Por la Causa’s hiring of Arizona lawmakers draws scrutiny”
Arizona Republic
3rd place: Stacey Barchenger
“Donors spent millions Arizona elections but the funders remain a mystery for now”
Arizona Republic
Judges: Diana Ljungaeus & the Los Angeles Press Club
B8. Community health reporting
1st place: Shaena Montanari
“Valley fever vaccine for dogs shows promising results, first step toward human trials”
AZ CIR
Judge’s comments: Excellent and detailed reporting that gives hope to those suffering from this mysterious disease. Good work!”
2nd place: Jerod MacDonald-Evoy
“There are hardly any flu cases this year and covid might be why”
AZ Mirror
3rd place: Jerod MacDonald-Evoy
“Scam online pharmacies selling fake, dangerous pills find opportunity in the pandemic”
AZ Mirror
Judge: LA Press Club
C8. Statewide health reporting
1st place: Ray Stern
“Shifts for Shots: How Savvy Vaccine Seekers Worked the Volunteer System”
Phoenix New Times
Judge’s comments: Good work that gives the public a look beneath the surface during a vulnerable time.
2nd place: Patty Machelor,
“Pandemic overwhelms Southern Arizona healthcare industry”
Arizona Daily Star
3rd place: Melina Waling
“Viruses and Vaccines”
Arizona Republic
Judge: LA Press Club
B9. Community Nina Mason Pulliam Environmental Journalism Award
1st place: Katya Mendoza
“Irregular ‘side blooms’ on saguaros signify a parched desert”
Tucson Local Media
Judges’ comments: The story looks at a strange phenomenon affecting saguaros — the emergence of side-blooms — and uses this seemingly pedestrian phenomenon as an anchor to explore much larger climate issues. The piece is well-written with vivid descriptions of the people and places the reporter visited. The reporter uses the emergence of these blooms to bring the reader in and explain how extreme weather and climate change are affecting desert ecosystems.
2nd place: Jerod MacDonald-Evoy
“Years of raging Arizona wildfires bring focus onto climate change, drought”
AZ Mirror
Judges’ comments: The story is a straightforward take on the science linking climate change to increasing severity and frequency of wildfires in Arizona. It provides plenty of context to make crystal clear how wildfires have changed in severity over time. The writing is clear, leaving the reader to walk away with a better understanding of climate science and how it relates to wildfire.
Judges: Matt DeRienzo, Center for Public Integrity; Luke Runyon, Ted Scripps Environmental Journalism Fellow CU-Boulder, KUNC Color; Rob Chappell, Madison 365
C9. Statewide Nina Mason Pulliam Environmental Journalism Award
1st place: Kendal Blust
“Aguas negras: In 2 Mexican beach towns, raw sewage is running through the streets”
KJZZ
Judges’ comments: Blust’s reporting captures the nuances of a sewage crisis in northern Mexico, and vividly transports the reader to the small communities being plagued by public health concerns. Through clear writing, compelling visuals and a package of multimedia elements, the story focuses on not just the problem itself, but the people at the heart of it who are living with the effects each day. Rather than just dig into the problem itself the story also poses some solutions and examines the efficacy of those approaches.
2nd place: Tony Davis
Colorado River coverage
Arizona Daily Star
Judges’ comments: This entry is to be commended for its ability to make sense of a complex issue facing the southwest — the decline of the Colorado River. Through sustained coverage Davis is able to give readers a glimpse into the people managing the crisis, and the politics that drive decision-making among the watershed’s leaders. The stories are well-sourced and together the pieces give a depth and breadth of Colorado River coverage unlike many other media outlets out there. Kudos to the news leaders at the Arizona Daily Star for giving Davis the room to do what he does best.
3rd place: Debbie Weingarten and Tony Davis
“Wells run dry since mega-dairy’s arrival in rural southeast Arizona”
Arizona Daily Star
Judges: Matt DeRienzo, Center for Public Integrity; Luke Runyon, president, Society of Environmental Journalists, KUNC (Colo.); Rob Chappell, Madison 365
B10. Community Science Reporting
1st place: Jeff Gardner
“Sonoran Plants Adapting to Increased Heat and Drought”
Tucson Weekly
Judge’s comments: Compelling angle on climate change that people can understand. Good work!
2nd place: Sam McManis
“No Easy Task Moving Prehistoric Reptile Tracks to Museum of Northern Arizona”
AZ Daily Sun
Judges: Diana Ljungaeus & the Los Angeles Press Club
C10. Statewide science reporting
1st place: Rob O’Dell
“NIH Investigate Mesa Monkey Farm”
Arizona Republic
Judge’s comments: Excellent work taking a complicated national issue and making it understandable and local.
2nd place: Stephanie Innes and Melina Walling
“Arizona scientist finds ‘strong evidence’ on how pandemic began, reviving debate on virus origins”
Arizona Republic
3rd place: Nicholas Gerbis
“Beyond Coronavirus Vaccines, mRNA Could Transform Treatments”
KJZZ
Judges: Diana Ljungaeus & the Los Angeles Press Club
B11. Community Social Issues Reporting
1st place: Maria Polletta
Child care system
Arizona CIR
2nd place: Bennito L. Kelty
Eviction moratorium
Tucson Sentinel
3rd place: Emily Dieckman
Finding their voices
Tucson Weekly
Judge: Matt DeRienzo, Center for Public Integrity
C11. Statewide Social Issues Reporting
1st place: Jessica Boehm
Homelessness in Phoenix
Arizona Republic
2nd place: Daniel Gonzalez
Communities at risk
Arizona Republic
3rd place: Daniel Gonzalez
Vaccination disparities
Arizona Republic
Judge: Matt DeRienzo, Center for Public Integrity
B12. Community Education Reporting
1st place: Lorraine Longhi
Thousands of Arizona Students Left Public Schools This Year. Without Promised Funding, Arizona Teachers Are Paying The Price
Copper Courier
Judge’s comments: This was a very good overview of what was happening at the local and the state levels.
2nd place: Donovan Quintero
Youth struggle in isolation as COVID-19 drags on
Navajo Times
3rd place: Hank Stephenson
School boards enter the forefront of partisan culture wars. It’s just the beginning.
Arizona Agenda
Judge: Trip Jennings, New Mexico In Depth
C12. Statewide Education Reporting
1st place: Rachel Leingang, Lily Altavena, Lorraine Longhi
A year like no other could have long-lasting effects for Arizona students in critical grades
Arizona Republic
Judge’s comments: An ambitious, compelling project that captured the clash of students’ hopes and dreams with the reality of a terrible once-in-a-century pandemic. Very well done.
2nd place: Taylor Seely
Culture war breaks out as Arizona school district confronts race, equity issues
Arizona Republic
3rd place: Daniel Gonzalez
The COVID-19 pandemic forced schools online. It impacted Latino students’ learning the most
Arizona Republic
Judge: Trip Jennings, New Mexico In Depth
B13. Community immigration reporting
1st place: Laura Gómez
“DPS: State trooper wrong to say he ‘smelled’ undocumented migrants”
AZ Mirror
Judge’s comments: This story brings to light, through investigative detail and public records, the egregious infringement on the rights of migrants.
2nd place: Araceli Cruz
“Why This DACA Recipient Was Forced to Choose Harvard Over One of Arizona’s Universities”
The Copper Courier
Judge’s comments: The irony in this story of a bright young student unable to go to college in the state where he lives brings home just how difficult it can be for undocumented students to follow their dreams wherever they choose.
Judges: Diana Ljungaeus & the Los Angeles Press Club
C13. Statewide immigration reporting
1st place: Curt Prendergast and Alex Devoid
“Migrant deaths: A crisis deepens in the desert: Migrants perishing in greater numbers”
Arizona Daily Star
Judge’s comments: The compelling narrative of the audio recording combined with great investigative detail on the deaths of migrants make this story a compelling and important read.
2nd place: Rafael Carranza
Asylum coverage
Arizona Republic
3rd place: Miguel Torres
“He was diagnosed with schizophrenia in ICE custody. A decade later, he’s stuck in the legal system”
Arizona Republic
Judges: Diana Ljungaeus & the Los Angeles Press Club
B14. Community Business Reporting
1st place: Genesis Lara
Shops in Sonora benefit
Nogales International
2nd place: Jessica Swarner
Concert venues adapt
Copper Courier
3rd place: Laura Gomez
Light rail construction closes coffee shop
Arizona Mirror
Judge: Matt DeRienzo, Center for Public Integrity
C14. Statewide Business Reporting
1st place: Craig Harris
Tax refunds
Arizona Republic
2nd place: Russ Wiles
Electric car manufacturing
Arizona Republic
3rd place: Catherine Reagor, Jessica Boehm, Ralph Chapoco
Constables and landlords
Arizona Republic
Judge: Matt DeRienzo, Center for Public Integrity
B18. Community column/opinion writing
1st place. Blake Morlock
Tucson Sentinel
2nd place. Jim Small
Arizona Mirror
3rd place. Brian Smith
Tucson Weekly
Judge’s comment: “Morlock writes with outstanding style, and his perspective seems to be strongly rooted in his long experience with the subjects at hand.”
Judge: Bryan Clark, Idaho Statesman
C18. Statewide column/opinion writing
1st place. 1. Brian Smith
Tucson Weekly
2nd place. Greg Moore
Arizona Republic
3rd place. Tim Steller
Arizona Daily Star
Judge’s comment: “Smith’s writing is beautiful, and he masterfully captures the texture of his subjects’ lives.”
Judge: Bryan Clark, Idaho Statesman
B20. Community Personality Profile
1st place: Hank Stephenson
She spread conspiracy theories. It ruined her life
Arizona Agenda
Judge’s comments: Top notch writing about a person unsuccessfully trying to escape a maelstrom of lies and delusions and discovering that she has few friends.
2nd place: Brian Smith
Tucson Salvage: Portrait of the old moccasin seller
Tucson Weekly
3rd place: Sam McManis
Flagstaff indigenous activist, educator wins JFK Profile in Courage Award
Arizona Daily Sun
Judge: Trip Jennings, New Mexico In Depth
C20. Statewide Personality Profile
1st place: Jen Fifield, Zac Anderson
From rural Florida to Trump allies’ inner circle: Who is the Cyber Ninja leading Arizona’s audit?
Arizona Republic
Judge’s comments: A meticulously researched, well told story. I walked away with a keen sense of Doug Logan.
2nd place: Ellice Leuders
Matilde Santa Cruz makes flour tortillas over a mesquite fire at home — and at Tucson Meet Yourself
This is Tucson
3rd place: Shanti Lerner
Desert Bar will never be done and that’s just how the owner likes it
Arizona Republic
Judge: Trip Jennings, New Mexico In Depth
Sports Feature — Community
1st place: Sam McManis
“For former Flagstaff High School star, 5 seconds and a punch that still resonates”
Arizona Daily Sun
2nd place: David Smith
“Golfer Tysho Tano secures scholarship for college”
Navajo Times
3rd place: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
“Top (Under) Dog: Conor Garland quietly becomes the Coyotes’ secret weapon”
North Valley
Judge: Rob Chappell, Madison 365
B15. Community sports beat reporting
1st place: Eric Newman
“NAU Graduate Arnson Example of Success”
AZ Daily Sun
Judge’s comments: A great blend of information and inspiration. The winner takes a well-deserved and detailed look at achievement.
2nd place: Quentin Jody
Navajo Times
Judge: LA Press Club
C15. Statewide sports beat reporting
1st place: Michelle Gardner
“Rewind: ASU can’t overcome physical Wisconsin in Las Vegas Bowl loss”
Arizona Republic
Judge’s comments: Superb writing and insights dissecting the plays that made the game. Great work!
2nd place: Jeff Metcalfe
“Olympian Kayla Miracle breaking barriers in wrestling and as LGBTQ+ pioneer”
Arizona Republic
3rd place: Nick Piecoro
“Diamondbacks’ prospect Kristian Robinson’s career in limbo after sentencing”
Arizona Republic
Judge: LA Press Club
Sports Feature – Statewide
1st place: Sam McManis
“For former Flagstaff High School star, 5 seconds and a punch that still resonates”
Arizona Daily Sun
2nd place: Greg Moore
“The Phoenix Suns’ rise is the best turnaround story in sports; here’s how it happened”
Arizona Republic
3rd place: Jeff Metcalfe
“Their Arizona State volleyball dream crashed in 2015, replaced today by joy of motherhood”
Arizona Republic
Judge: Rob Chappell, Madison 365
Sports investigative – Community
1st place: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
“Coyotes’ Christian Fischer is a calming force”
Glendale Star
Judge: Rob Chappell, Madison 365
Sports investigative – Statewide
1st place: Craig Harris
“ASU athletics gave $641K in discretionary bonuses after reporting losses during COVID-19”
Arizona Republic
Judge: Rob Chappell, Madison 365
B21. Community feature/narrative writing
1st. Brian Smith
“Tucson Salvage: Song of David: Anything That’s Rock ’n’ Roll”
Tucson Weekly
Judge’s comments: Excellent profile. The devil is in the details and the details are richly described throughout this story. Consistently compelling and interesting.
2nd place: Emily Dieckman
“Are You There, Dog? It’s Me, Margaret”
Tucson Weekly
Judge’s comments: A quirky subject that is treated with respect and the story is all the better for it.
3rd place: Janie Magruder
“A Thanksgiving Story: Tempe employee made most of opportunities that gave him new life of dignity”
Wrangler News
Judge’s comments: Just a good human interest story.
Judge: Andy Coughlan, president, Press Club of Southeast Texas
C21. Statewide feature/narrative writing
1st place: Brian Smith
“Tucson Salvage: Song of David: Anything That’s Rock ’n’ Roll”
Tucson Weekly
Judge’s comments: Excellent profile. The devil is in the details and the details are richly described throughout this story. Consistently compelling and interesting.
2nd place: Henry Brean
“From saved to savior”
Arizona Daily Star
Judge’s comments: Excellent read that tells a fascinating human story.
3rd place: Katya Mendoza
“Tucson artists design fedoras”
Arizona Daily Star
Judge’s comments: Good story about creative community
Judge: Andy Coughlan, president, Press Club of Southeast Texas
B23. Community arts reporting
1st place: Emily Dieckman
“‘Jingle All The Way’ Director Speaks at 25th Anniversary Screening”
Tucson Weekly
Judge’s comments: A fun look back at a ‘failed’ movie and how time can change perceptions. At first it seems like an odd choice to focus on something that seemingly didn’t work, but the writing encourages the reader to continue to find the twist. A good ending.
Judge: Andy Coughlan, president, Press Club of Southeast Texas
C23: Statewide arts reporting
1st place: Ed Masley
“Chapel of Love”, “Funky Broadway”, “Alice Cooper”
Arizona Republic
Judge’s comments: Any of these three stories would be a worthy winner. Excellent writing and consistently interesting. Each was a deep dive into the music industry. A great example of “don’t tell me what I know, tell me what I don’t know.” Absorbing stuff.
2nd place: Emily Dieckman
“‘Jingle All The Way’ Director Speaks at 25th Anniversary Screening”
Tucson Weekly
3rd place: Raphael Romero Ruiz
“Resilience through art: Yaqui artists build community by honoring their ancestors’ narrative”
Arizona Republic
Judge: Andy Coughlan, president, Press Club of Southeast Texas
B24. Community Food and Beverage
1st place: Lorraine Longhi
7 Local Valley Restaurants That Opened During the Pandemic You Need to Check Out
Copper Courier
Judges’ comments: “Inspiring and informative and creates a desire to go visit these great places.”
Judges: Diana Ljungaeus, LA Press Club
B25. Community Headline Writing
1st place: Lee Shappell
You Idiots! There is a way to cure stupidity, W. Chandler experts counsel
Wrangler News
Judges’ comments: “Hilarious headline considering the unique business to which it refers. Great job!”
Judges: Diana Ljungaeus, LA Press Club
B26. Community Photojournalism – Picture Story
1st place: Donovan Quintero and Sharon Chischlly
Red Rock Balloon Rally
Navajo Times
2nd place: Donovan Quintero
“Wood Warriors”
Navajo Times
3rd place: Arianna Grainey
“Fit Families Mud Run”
Independent Newsmedia
Judges’ comments: “We chose the Balloon fest because of the variety of images. All beautiful and the event was worked with all focal lengths, light and angles.”
Judges: Nell Carroll, visuals editor, and photographers Jay Janner, Ricardo Brazziell, Aaron Martinez of the Austin American-Statesman
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C26. Statewide Photojournalism – Picture Story
1st place: Antranik Tavitian
Arizona Republic
“Turning Point USA Convention”
2nd place: Kelly Presnell
Arizona Daily Star
“First year volleyball team”
3rd place: Megan Mendoza
“Country Thunder”
Arizona Republic
Judges’ comments: “The photos from the Trump rally impressed us with the variety of images. Great moments, emotion, composition made this group of images a standout.”
Judges: Nell Carroll, visuals editor, and photographers Jay Janner, Ricardo Brazziell, Aaron Martinez of the Austin American-Statesman.
B27. Community Photojournalism – News
1st place : Cyrus Norcross
“Missing Woman March”
Navajo Times
2nd place: Sharon Chischilly
“Police Recruits”
Navajo Times
Judges’ comments: “The judges appreciated the look of determination in the woman’s face front and center for the march for the missing woman.”
Judges: Nell Carroll, visuals editor, and photographers Jay Janner, Ricardo Brazziell, Aaron Martinez of the Austin American-Statesman.
C27. Statewide Photojournalism – News
1st place: Rick Wiley
“Water Rescue”
Arizona Daily Star
2nd place: Kelly Presnell
“Anti-mask protest”
Arizona Daily Star.
3rd place: Mamta Popat
“Veteran funeral”
Arizona Daily Star
Judges’ comments: “The water rescue was hands down our favorite because we have flash flooding in Texas and know how hard it is to actually get to a water rescue before it is over. Tense moment capture well.”
Judges: Nell Carroll, visuals editor, and photographers Jay Janner, Ricardo Brazziell, Aaron Martinez of the Austin American-Statesman.
B28. Community Photojournalism – Feature
1st place: Jerod MacDonald-Evoy
“Memorial Prayer”
Arizona Mirror
2nd place: Billy Hardiman
“Valentine’s Day”
Wrangler News
3rd place: Sharon Chischilly
“Jill Biden”
Navajo Times
Judges’ comments: “The photo that caught our eye was the American flag with the woman seemingly in prayer behind it. The light was lovely, but we thought a stronger crop from the right would have helped zero in on the beautiful light and nuance of the image.”
Judges: Nell Carroll, visuals editor, and photographers Jay Janner, Ricardo Brazziell, Aaron Martinez of the Austin American-Statesman.
C28. Statewide Photojournalism – Feature
1st place: Antranik Tavitian
“COVID-19 vaccination”
Arizona Republic
2nd place: Kelly Presnell
“Terror Trail”
Arizona Daily Star
3rd place: Kelly Presnell
Graduation Leap”
Arizona Daily Star
Judges’ comments: “The team was particularly attracted to the image of the little girl hiding her eyes behind her mask. We didn’t know if it was to hide her tears or trying to make herself disappear but we felt for her. The tightness of the image meant you could not ignore it.”
B29. Community Photojournalism – Pictorial
1st place: Sharon Chischilly
“Diné of Dinétah”
Navajo Times
2nd place: Arianna Grainey
“Aldi Grocery Store”
Independent Newsmedia
3rd place: Sharon Chischilly
“Flying High”
Navajo Times
Judge’s comments: “Unanimously, we loved the photo of the skateboarder on the red hills. There was so much information in that photo and we wanted to study it as we enjoyed the scene.”
Judges: Nell Carroll, visuals editor, and photographers Jay Janner, Ricardo Brazziell, Aaron Martinez of the Austin American-Statesman.
C29. Statewide Photojournalism – Pictorial
1st place: Kelly Presnell
“Monsoon storm”
Arizona Daily Star
2nd place: Patrick Breen
“Saguaro lightning”
Arizona Republic
3rd place: Kelly Presnell
“Heron sunset”
Arizona Daily Star
Judges’ comments: “The monsoon photo wowed us. So much to look at and appreciate.”
Judges: Nell Carroll, visuals editor, and photographers Jay Janner, Ricardo Brazziell, Aaron Martinez of the Austin American-Statesman.
B30. Community Photojournalism
1st place: Arianna Grainey”
“Diving Catch”
Independent Newsmedia
2nd place: Sharon Chischilly
“Loose Ball”
Navajo Times
3rd place: Billy Hardiman
“Street Hoops”
Wrangler News
Judges’ comments: “The diving catch baseball shot was appreciated by all the sports shooters in our group. That is a tough shot to get and should be celebrated. Tighter crop would have been good.”
Judges: Nell Carroll, visuals editor, and photographers Jay Janner, Ricardo Brazziell, Aaron Martinez of the Austin American-Statesman.
C30. Statewide Photojournalism – Sports Action
1st place: Rob Schumacher
“Olympic Dive”
Arizona Republic
2nd place: Rob Schumacher
“Diamondbacks desperation leap”
Arizona Republic
3rd place: Patrick Breen
“Goalie save”
Arizona Republic.
Judges’ comments: “The diving photo at the swim meet was so beautiful. The color, the body language the levitation of the swimmers made it a stunner.”
Judges: Nell Carroll, visuals editor, and photographers Jay Janner, Ricardo Brazziell, Aaron Martinez of the Austin American-Statesman.
B31. Community Photojournalism – Sports Feature
1st place: Joshua Pearson
“Soccer jubilation”
Tucson Sentinel
2nd place: Joshua Pearson
“FC Tucson soccer”
Tucson Sentinel
3rd place: Krista Allen
“Football Conditioning”
Navajo Times
Judges’ comments: “Top two places in this category for the jubilation. Both got right in on the emotion.”
Judges: Nell Carroll, visuals editor, and photographers Jay Janner, Ricardo Brazziell, Aaron Martinez of the Austin American-Statesman.
C31. Statewide Photojournalism – Sports Feature
1st place: Patrick Breen
“Aari McDonald”
Arizona Republic
2nd place: Kelly Presnell
“Homerun silhouette”
Arizona Daily Star
3rd place: Antranik Tavitian
Arizona Republic
“Hamilton celebration”
Judges’ comments: “The images of the dejected basketball player with her head under the chair made us feel for her. That is an image that could easily be lost as photographers focus on the winning team. To see the depths of despair in this player was good journalism.”
Judges: Nell Carroll, visuals editor, and photographers Jay Janner, Ricardo Brazziell, Aaron Martinez of the Austin American-Statesman.
D1. Community Page Design
Olson Patterson
‘Something Good, Something Positive’
Navajo Times
Judges’ comments: “The page design takes classic format and makes it modern, with a clean look and easy-to-read layout.”
Judges: Diana Ljungaeus, LA Press Club
B24. Statewide Food and Beverage
1st place: Ellice Leuders
“One More Meal in Deutsches Eck, The Last Best German Deli in Southern Arizona”
Arizona Daily Star
Judge’s comments: “A remarkable walk down memory lane and the writer gives interesting insights into a cherished establishment.”
2nd place: Priscilla Totiyapungprasert
“Clam Digging Arizona Rivers a Cambodian Tradition”
Arizona Republic
3rd place: Tirion Morris
“Female bartenders defy expectations”
Arizona Republic
Judges: Los Angeles Press Club members
E1. Student investigative reporting
1st place: Morgan Fischer, Anna Campbell and Kirsten Dorman
“Viral confrontation in multicultural center”
The State Press
Judge: Michael Mercer, senior instructor for the Department of Communication Arts at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio and former reporter and editor at The Jackson Sun.
E2. Student news reporting
1st place: Nancy Lam and Jasmine Kabiri
“Talks for permanent food pantry stall”
The State Press
Judge: Michael Mercer, senior instructor for the Department of Communication Arts at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio and former reporter and editor at The Jackson Sun.
E3. Student features reporting
1st place: Kiera Riley
“The Devil in the Details”
The State Press
2nd place: Chris Scragg and Jessica Myers
“In the Business of Poking Holes”
The State Press
3rd place: Alexis Moulton
“ASU’s other Michael Crow”
The State Press
Judge: Julie Reed
E5. Student sports reporting
1st place: David Rodish
“The Forgotten Ones”
The State PressJudge’s comments: “This is a great subject. Stories of past heroes who did not receive the attention they might have gotten in today’s world of saturated sports coverage usually hit the mark. Mr. Rodish chose an excellent story that needed to be told.”
Judge: Geron Scates, Western Texas College
E6. Student photojournalism: News
1st place: Alex Gould
“Kyle Rittenhouse Protesters”
2nd place: Jason White
“ASU police officer at Rittenhouse protest”
3rd place: Alex Gould
“Shady Park lawsuit”
Judge: Los Angeles Press Club members
E7. Student photojournalism: Sports
1st place tie: Kevin Hurley
“ASU wins Territorial Cup
“Jason White
“ASU triathlon”
Judge’s comments: “Both images convey the excitement and emotion in their respective sports. Excellent work.”
Judge: Los Angeles Press Club members
E8. Student photojournalism: Features
1st place: Drake Presto
“Jack Harlow at Infernofest”
Judge’s comments: “This exciting image captures the energy of being in the crowd up close with the performer. Superb!”
2nd place: Alex Gould
“Michael Little Crow portrait”
Judge: Los Angeles Press Club members