Reporter Mark Johnson has won an award for his story on a doctor who has become an expert on rare genetic diseases while serving Amish and Mennonite communities.
Mark Johnson has won the 2020 National Writing Award for his story on a Wisconsin country doctor who has become an expert on rare genetic diseases while serving Amish and Mennonite communities.
The award, administered annually by Ball State University’s Department of Journalism, has recognized excellence in journalistic writing for the last 60 years. It recognizes “distinguished work ... that shines light on significant and complex subjects, demonstrates a mastery of the topic, and reveals exceptional writing.”
Johnson’s narrative detailed the life and work of James DeLine, who has worked in the village of La Farge since 1983. In addition to being something of a throwback in health care, regularly making house calls, DeLine has become an expert on rare genetic diseases while serving Amish and Mennonite communities in the area. Judges called the work “captivating” and “a helluva good story.”
Johnson has written in-depth stories about health, science and research for the Journal Sentinel since 2000. He was part of a team that won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting for a series of reports on the groundbreaking use of genetic technology to save a 4-year-old boy. He was a finalist for three other Pulitzer Prizes as well, and has won a host of other national awards.
This is the fourth National Writing Award from the Muncie, Indiana, university won by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and the second won by Johnson. He also won in 2016 for his coverage of loneliness among seniors whose spouses are still alive but have Alzheimer’s.