18:47
Commentary
Commentary
Source NM takes home awards for stories and columns from our first four months as an outlet
There’s not a journalist out there who does it for the awards. That’s maybe hyperbolic, sure. I’m pretty certain though.
Still, I’m glad for a chance to celebrate the hardworking and talented Source New Mexico staff and freelancers who made this outlet from scratch — if they’ll tolerate me bragging on them real quick.
With four staff members, we compete in the small newsroom division. I selected content to enter regional contests from our launch on Aug. 31, 2021 through the last day of the year. And four months of stories and columns managed to win or place in many categories.
That speaks to just how devoted these reporters and columnists are to serving their communities with clear, high-quality, thoughtful reporting that sees stories not only from the vantage point of government halls, but from where policy meets the dirt road out in front of your house.
Some of the articles that won awards explore embedded social and systemic problems, and the resulting hardships. As I read through the stories again, I’m thinking of the people who took time to speak with Source reporters about their experiences and knowledge. Thank you for sharing your expertise.
As always, questions, concerns and complaints can be sent to [email protected]. I’ll take story tips, too, and get them assigned to one of the reporters I’m so lucky to work with.
Top of the Rockies awards from the Society of Professional Journalists
First Place, Agriculture Feature
Patrick Lohmann — ‘It’s my livelihood’: Drought and restrictions could kill farms along Rio Grande, farmers say
First Place, Extended Coverage
Shaun Griswold for his reporting on the gravesite under 4-H Park, including this story:
Indigenous communities face choices about Indian School gravesite in Albuquerque
First Place, Legal Feature
Austin Fisher for the series Young and Incarcerated
First Place, Politics News
Patrick Lohmann — In a scramble to spend federal funds, lawmakers make million-dollar errors
First Place, Business Feature
Patrick Lohmann — New state law banned a county’s gas stations from selling liquor. So some stopped selling gas.
First Place, Health News
Lissa Knudsen — Rise in newborn syphilis cases prompts DOH intervention
Second Place, Health Feature
Lissa Knudsen — Anti-DWI tech to be installed in all new vehicles and New DWI detection tech might alter the law’s disproportionate impacts
Second Place, Enterprise Reporting
Patrick Lohmann — ‘Rust’ cast member: Production was rushed, crew overworked before fatal shooting
Second Place, Short-Form Feature
Margaret Wright — Another difficult journey
Second Place, Series or Package
Patrick Lohmann and Austin Fisher for the housing series, including this story:
Emergency rent relief application difficult and misleading, organizers say
Second Place, Legal News
Austin Fisher — New Mexico militia compares itself to NAACP, prosecutors liken it to the KKK
Second Place, Politics Feature
Patrick Lohmann — Tribal coalition left in the dark as redistricting nears, member says
Second Place, Science and Tech News
Shaun Griswold — New Mexico PBS to broadcast educational materials to 100 students’ computers
Third Place, Science and Tech Feature
Shaun Griswold — New Mexico’s lone shark attack
Third Place, Education News
Shaun Griswold for District policies blocked students from learning remotely
Third Place, Best Solutions Journalism
Arlyssa Becenti — Volunteers deliver firewood before the snow hits
The New Mexico Press Women’s Communications Contest
First Place, News Story, Online Publication
Austin Fisher — Appeals court: Silver City PD brushed its own domestic violence policy aside
First Place, Feature Story, Online Publication
Shaun Griswold — Former superintendent files discrimination lawsuit against Four Corners school district
First Place, Agriculture Writing, Online Publication
Patrick Lohmann — ‘It’s my livelihood’: Drought and restrictions could kill farms along Rio Grande, farmers say
First place, In-Depth Reporting, Online Publication
Austin Fisher and Patrick Lohmann for all of their coverage of housing during the pandemic, including this one:
First Place, Editorial / Opinion
Margaret Wright — Decline an invitation to any party eating its own
Second Place, Personal Column
Barbara Jordan — What was it all for?
Second Place, Continuing Coverage / Unfolding News
Shaun Griswold for all of his stories about the Albuquerque Indian School gravesite, including this one:
Indigenous leaders seek an apology about the mass grave in Albuquerque
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site.
Marisa Demarco