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Investigative work one of many areas recognized
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Albuquerque Journal staff took home first-place awards for investigative and news writing, breaking news, feature writing and sports coverage as well as top honors for photography and more in the 2016-2017 Better Newspaper Contest.
The Journal competed in the Daily Class 1, or large newspaper, category, also winning best overall news coverage, best overall sports coverage and the Public Service award. The Arizona Press Association judged the contest.
The winners of the contest, which is sponsored jointly by the New Mexico Press Association and the New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors, were announced Saturday night at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa at Santa Ana Pueblo as part of the association’s convention.
Journal investigative reporter Colleen Heild, contributing reporter Diane Dimond and the Journal won the Public Service award for “Who guards the guardians,” which judges called “an important and heartbreaking series of stories. The paper should be commended for giving up time and space to pursue an issue that many people don’t even think about until it is too late. This entry truly lived up to the spirit of public service.” The entry included stories, editorials, photos, graphics and editorial cartoons, which have prompted officials to reexamine the state’s guardianship system and seek solutions.
Journal reporters Mike Gallagher and Lauren Villagran won first place in the investigative reporting category for their work on “Cartels next door,” in which contest judges said the writers gave a “face and voice to the cartel and victims.” Photographer Roberto E. Rosales took home a firstplace award for his series of photographs with this story.
Journal reporters Robert Browman and Nicole Perez took home first-place awards for news writing for their work on “Police worried, looking for women in old sex tapes,” in which judges said they “shamed local police into doing their jobs in investigating a cold serial killer case. Great hustle, great reporting, great writing.” And the two also took first place along with reporter Elise Kaplan for their breaking news-digital work for their story “Mom, 2 others drugged 10-year-old before killing her,” which was part of their coverage of the death of 10-year-old Victoria Martens.
Reporter Dan McKay took home first place for series or continuing coverage for his “persistent use of public records and ... digging beyond the immediate story,” judges said, for the story “Jail abuse,” about a jail guard accused of mistreating and injuring inmates.
Columnist Joline Gutierrez Krueger won first place for what judges called her “brave journalism” in
her column “A mother’s anguish,” about the overdose death of her son.
Sports section staffers took home three first-place awards with a first in overall sports coverage and another for assistant sports editor Mark Smith’s column, “Rooting for Ex-Lobo,” and a baseball action photo from Jim Thompson. Judges noted Thompson’s photo made them “say WOW out loud.”
Photographer Greg Sorber also won a first-place mark for his St. Baldrick’s Day photo.
Ollie Reed Jr. won first place in obituary news for his remembrance of Mark Holm in “Photographer, mentor, who had incredible talent dies at 63.” Judges called it “a wonderful tribute!”
A number of Journal staff members and a contributor also received runner-up awards. They were: Dan McKay for breaking news story; Diane Dimond and Colleen Heild for investigative reporting; D’Val Westphal for editorials; Rick Nathanson for feature writing; Chris Quintana for education writing; Jim Thompson for sports photo; Greg Sorber for photo series; overall staff for design and typography; and Sally Trigg for best headline.
The New Mexico Associated Press Member of the Year, which is given for outstanding cooperation, went to The Eastern New Mexico News.