2020 Award Winners - Excellence in Journalism
2020 Award Winners - Excellence in Journalism
2020 Award Winners - Excellence in Journalism
Education Reporting
1 Lansing Eastern High's 'Flex WKAR Kevin Lavery I found this segment very interesting since I work in
Academy' Reflects 21st Century education. Good work presenting what is truly a novel
Work Models concept on the school district's part. Very engaging piece and
kept my attention until the end.
2 Home For Weeks, Families Adjust to WDET Laura Herberg, Sascha Raiyn
New Reality
3 One Detroit Education Specials Detroit Public Christy McDonald, Bill Kubota,
Television Will Glover, Chris Jordan, Zosette
Guir
Environment Reporting
1 Metro Detroit Reacts to 'Green WDET Laura Herberg, Russ McNamara Excellent reporting and structure. I enjoyed how this piece
Ooze' Contaminant With Humor, began with a little light-hearted humor to engage the
Concern audience and then led into the meat of the seriousness of the
issue being discussed.
2 Great Lakes Now: Lake Erie's Detroit Public David Ruck, Rob Green, Zach
Harmful Algal Blooms Television Passero, Laura Weber Davis, Ryan
Foundation Busch
3 As Toxic Algal Blooms Impact Lake WKAR Taylor Haelterman
Erie, Michigan Sees Agriculture As
Main Culprit
Feature Reporting
1 Detroit Jazz City Detroit Public Jim Toscano, Danny Gianino, Ed Wow! This took a lot of work and the quality is very
Television Moore, Zosette Guir impressive. It is informative with emotion-filled soundbites
Foundation and has good use of natural sound (music).
2 Great Lakes Now: In Isolation ... At Detroit Public Danielle Dabney, Nick Austin, Jim
Aquariums Television Toscano
Foundation
3 The Art of Losing Someone WDET Ryan Patrick Hooper
4 Local Drag Queens Get Creative In WKAR Sophia Saliby
Quarantine
General News Reporting
1 Human Trafficking In Michigan: WKAR Kevin Lavery An emotional topic and very informative. The soundbites
Turning Stigma Into Salvation chosen were very pertinent and edited together very
smoothly. A very well-done piece.
2 The DIA Millage Is Up For Renewal. WDET Laura Herberg
Here's What Students, Seniors Who
Benefit Think.
3 Tlaib vs. Jones: 13th Congressional WDET Quinn Klinefelter
Primary Pits “Squad―Member
Against City Council President
4 For Michigan Voters, Historic WDET Quinn Klinefelter
Election Is About the Man In The
White House
Health Reporting
1 Covid Survivors Series WDET Laura Herberg This series was so emotional and so good at making me feel
like I knew what it was like to have covid. Great use of
interviewee soundbites and editing.
2 Homeless During COVID-19: "I Wash WDET Laura Herberg
My Hands, If I Can Find Water. I
Don't Want to Die."•
3 Saving Lives: We Can't Wait Any Detroit Public Marty Fischhoff, Wes Jones ,
Longer Television Mariellen Chynoweth, Cynthia
Foundation Canty, Al Hibbert
4 Michigan State University COVID WKAR Kevin Lavery
Testing And Tracking
News Editing
0 No Winner
News Special and Documentary
1 Breed & Bootleg: Legends of Flint Michigan State Geri Alumit Zeldes, Andrea Raby, This documentary was SO interesting! The use of clips and
Rap Music University Olivia Hoover, Natasha Gist-Breed, live interviews was amazing. This is quality work and tells a
Jason Howard story that most might not have ever heard. Well done!
Newscast
1 WDET News 6 am 3/11/20 WDET Pat Batcheller Good voice quality for announcer and reporter with good
content. Flows nicely and energy is high.
2 WDET News 5 am 6/1/20 WDET Pat Batcheller
3 WDET News 5 am 7/24/20 WDET Pat Batcheller
Open-Government Reporting
1 'We Lifted Up Our Voices': The Public WKAR Abigail Censky Interesting story with a unique hook.
Comment After Michigan's
Canvassers Voted To Certify
Racial Justice Reporting
1 American Black Journal: Do Black Detroit Public Stephen Henderson, Orlando This series delved into so many different issues within the
Lives Matter in America? Television Bailey, Daphne Hughes, issue of racial injustice. Well done! I hope these segments
Foundation Christopher Jordan, Catherine reached a large audience.
Kelly
2 "Kneel With Us": Four Nights In, WDET Eli Newman
Detroit Protestors, Police Fight For
Narrative
3 Protesters Want Big Police Reforms. WKAR & Bridge Abigail Censky, Riley Beggin
Michigan Lawmakers Offer Small Magazine
Changes.
Sports reporting
1 Great Lakes Now: Island Basketball Detroit Public Sandra Svoboda, Dan Tyrell, Nick
Television Austin, Zach Irvin, Oliver Van
Foundation Assche
2 Tigers Enter Spring Training With WDET Pat Batcheller
High Expectations for 2020
3 Lansing Lugnuts Host First Game Of WKAR Sophia Saliby
Their 'Lemonade League' To Sold-
Out Crowd Of 100
Spot or Breaking News Reporting
1 Hundreds Protest Police Brutality At WKAR Abigail Censky, Karel Vega Great report. Good use of natural sound.
Capitol After Police Killing Of George
Floyd
2 Plot Discovered To Kidnap Governor WDET WDET News
Whitmer
Videography
1 Great Lakes Now: Chicago's Floating Detroit Public Doug Clevenger, Sandy McPhee, Nice variety of footage. Clean edits and great information.
Islands Television Jordan Wingrove, Laura Weber
Foundation Davis
DIGITAL
Breaking News via Social Media
1 Night 1 of police brutality protests in Detroit Free Press Detroit Free Press Staff Detroit AMAZING COVERAGE. Excellent photos. Extensive video.
Detroit - May 29, 2020 Free Press Staff Great job.
Collaborative Coverage
1 From Rust to Resilience: What Detroit Public Sandra Svoboda, Rob Green, This was such a hard category to judge! The collaboration
climate change means for Great Television Natasha Blakely, INN partners and integration of multimedia really sent this package into
Lakes cities Foundation first place. This is valuable reporting and a job well done.
2 The Hunger Files: How Detroiters Planet Detroit + Nina Ignaczak, Kate Abbey-
found solutions to feed their Detour Detroit Lambertz, Dorothy Hernandez,
communities throughout the Rhonda J. Smith, Anna Clark
pandemic
Community/Local News Reporting
1 Series: Building Communities Model D Kate Roff, Erin Miller This category of reports covering the effects of a situation on
specific communities or neighborhoods was full of impressive
entries, but this series about Detroit's minority-owned small
businesses amid the pandemic was captivating and engaging.
Not only did this series tell the stories of some tenacious
people during a trying time, but also provided information to
readers about valuable resources, such as the 0% Interest
Home Repair Loan Program. Excellent work telling dynamic
and diverse stories.
3 How Detroit is getting out the vote - Bridge Detroit Martina Guzman
one neighborhood at a time
2 Meet the people paving the way for Model D Kate Roff
minorities in Detroit construction
2 Bridge Lunch Break series Bridge Michigan Amber DeLind, Katheryn Dugal
Health Reporting
1 Beaumont Health coverage Deadline Detroit Eric Starkman This story had a tone that made it more enjoyable to read
without editorializing the content, which is difficult to
accomplish. The structure and length were great as well. And
it was an interesting and newsworthy topic to boot.
2 Email reader conversation starters Bridge Michigan Bridge Staff Interesting concept. I like the intro with content brief. Not
too cluttered.
3 Detour Media local newsletter Kate Abbey-Lambertz, Nina Nice design that is not distracting and not cluttered. The
Misuraca Ignaczak, Courtney Wise briefs could be a little shorter.
Randolph, Aaron Mondry, Allison
Jacobs
Racial Justice Reporting
1 Leelanau condemned the N-word, Bridge Michigan Kelly House
but the fight over racism had just
begun
2 Profiles in the fight for Planet Detroit Nina Ignaczak, Courtney Wise
environmental justice Randolph, Martina Guzman, Eric T.
Campbell, Jena Brooker
3 Hakim Littleton Was Killed For Deadline Detroit Violet Ikonomova
Shooting At Police. Detroit Was His
Undoing
4 New grocery in Grand Rapids is Bridge Michigan Paula Gardner
about more than food. It's about
equity too
Social Media Strategy
1 Detroit Free Press Election 2020 Detroit Free Press Detroit Free Press Staff Detroit The lengths this team went to correct misinformation and
social media strategy Free Press Staff inform the public was incredible.
2 Detour Detroit Facebook group Detour Detroit Alex Washington, Ashley Woods
Branch, Allison Jacobs
3 Great Lakes Now: The Facebook Detroit Public Colleen O'Donnell, Zach Allen,
Watch Parties Television Sandra Svoboda
Foundation
PRINT CLASS A
Community/Local News Reporting
1 Detroit neighborhood group sees Detroit Free Press John Carlisle
gentrification as the enemy
3 After flood reached Dow, Superfund The Detroit News Mike Martindale, Kalea Hall
pollution site, regulators have yet to
test water
Explanatory Story
1 Mill workers at Zug Island steel The Detroit News Neal Rubin
themselves for the end
2 Workers seek answers about their The Detroit News Kalea Hall, Jordyn Grzelewski
rights as pandemic rages on
4 Virus one more deadly risk in Freelance - The Emily Rose Bennett
shadows of Detroit's smokestacks New York Times
Feature Reporting
1 After the flood, residents of Sanford Detroit Free Press John Carlisle Carlisle's ability to turn relatable details ? mud, faded photos,
find their town wiped off the map even hot dogs ? into emotion-laden motifs brings an
immense natural disaster down to human scale in a way that
shows that though we all experience tragedies differently, we
all have so very much in common.
Health Reporting
1 Nurses protest conditions at Detroit Free Press Kristen Jordan Shamus, Darcie An incredibly engrossing behind-the-scenes look at the
Detroit's Sinai-Grace Hospital amid Moran nightmare facing healthcare workers ? and those they were
pandemic risking all to try to save ? during the early days of the
pandemic. These expos?s of a hospital in crisis did more than
inform the public ? they allowed loved ones of deceased
patients to get answers about what went so horribly wrong.
Heart-wrenching, vital work.
2 Death toll rises as coronavirus Detroit Free Press Gina Kaufman, Elisha Anderson,
sweeps through Michigan nursing Kristi Tanner, Christina Hall
homes
3 Addiction treatment becomes Detroit Free Press Georgea Kovanis
casualty of war on COVID-19
Investigative Reporting
1 Children were at risk so Detroit Detroit Free Press Kat Stafford, Kristi Tanner Brilliant, in-depth reporting. Exposed a serious health issue
promised to halt demolitions. But related to the removal of blighted structures in the city.
that didn't happen. Powerful story telling.
2 The investigation of Dr. Robert The Detroit News Kim Kozlowski
Anderson
3 Reversal of Fortune: Real estate Crain's Detroit Kirk Pinho
executive's lottery scheme collapses Business
when his luck runs out
4 Crisis in Michigan's nursing homes The Detroit News Craig Mauger
News Photography
1 Passionate patriot Detroit Free Press Ryan Garza Strong color and composition. Good timing and emotion. Full
frame without losing focal point.
2 Unimaginable Pain The Detroit News Todd McInturf
3 Pepper Sprayed Detroit Free Press Junfu Han
Open-Government Reporting
1 Investigations into mystery money The Detroit News Craig Mauger This is important information that needed to be shared with
and donor influence your state. This entry is certainly worthy of recognition.
3 Serve and Protect. Then go home. Crain's Detroit Chad Livengood, Annalise Frank
Business
Sports Column Writing
1 Jeff Seidel Detroit Free Press Jeff Seidel
Sports reporting
1 Rainer Sabin on University of Detroit Free Press Rainer Sabin
Michigan football
2 Making the green after a rough start Crain's Detroit Kurt Nagl
Business
3 10 years later, ex-Tiger Armando The Detroit News Tony Paul
Galarraga 'lucky to not be lucky' in
brush with perfection
4 Big and rich: Beefy Bryson The Detroit News Tony Paul
DeChambeau turns DGC into his
'bomber's paradise'
Spot or Breaking News Reporting
1 The plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Detroit Free Press Detroit Free Press Staff Detroit
Gretchen Whitmer Free Press Staff
2 Historic flood destroys mid-Michigan The Detroit News Francis Donnelly, James David
Dickson, Beth LeBlanc, George
Hunter
3 The alleged plot to kidnap a The Detroit News Robert Snell, Melissa Burke, Beth
governor, overthrow a government LeBlanc, Christine Ferretti, George
Hunter
4 Fights, drivers using woods as toilet, The Detroit News Ariana Taylor, Riley Beggin, Jordyn
workers out sick: USPS buried in Grzelewski
Metro Detroit mail
PRINT CLASS B
Community/Local News Reporting
1 Community/Local News - The New The Oakland Press Natalie Broda
Normal
2 Community/Local News Reporting - Macomb Daily Don Gardner
Family comes full circle
Consumer/Watchdog Reporting
1 Consumer/Watchdog - COVID-19 in The Oakland Press Aileen Wingblad These stories touched on a very underreported problem last
the jail system year as the pandemic raged. Would have liked better use of
personal anecdotal stories within the series.
Explanatory Story
1 Explanatory - How Biden Won The Oakland Press Mark Cavitt
2 Feature Page Design - April 17, 2020 The Oakland Press Nick Powers
Feature Reporting
1 Feature Reporting - Entertainment The Oakland Press Gary Graff
during pandemic
2 Feature - Hoarding toilet paper not The Oakland Press Anne Runkle
that different from squirrels
3 Feature Reporting - Who killed Gail The Oakland Press Aileen Wingblad
Webster?
4 Feature Reporting - Nurse The Oakland Press Paula Pasche
traumatized, Historic Moment,
Doctor keeps healing
General Column Writing
1 General Column Writing Macomb Daily Jeff Payne Good collection of columns that showed the importance of
local newspapers; I especially liked the one about the
newspaper navigating the pandemic. Loved the Caddyshack
reference re Lake St. Clair. I am really curious about Eric
Smith's 10 felony counts! I may have to read a follow-up of
that story!
Headline Writing
1 Headline Writing The Morning Sun Nick Powers This collection of headlines make clever use of wordplay and
alliteration. Eye-catching and easy to read while accurately
describing the stories.
Health Reporting
1 COVID-19 in northern Michigan Traverse City Sheri McWhirter The ledes and use of quotes in this set of stories were
Record-Eagle especially impressive. Good work!
Page One Design
1 Page One Design - April 5, 2020 The Oakland Press Joseph Pas The circular photos are clever with the subject matter, but
also very eye-catching and different than the standard
rectangles.
2 Page One Design - March 1, 2020 The Morning Sun Joseph Pas
3 Page One Design - March 8, 2020 Macomb Daily Joseph Pas
Racial Justice Reporting
1 Racial Justice Reporting - 'Baseless Macomb Daily Gina Joseph, Norb Franz Gripping story - great use of quotes and anecdotes.
hatred'
Sports Column Writing
1 Sports Column Writing The Morning Sun Jim Lahde
Sports Page Design
1 Sports Page Design - March 18, 2020 The Oakland Press Nick Powers Very clean design! Definitely worthy of recognition. The use
of photos here is impressive.
Sports Photography
1 Sports Photography - Romeo cross- Macomb Daily George Pohly Compelling emotion and reaction. Technically sound.
country win
Sports reporting
1 Sports Reporting - Joseph Peterson The News-Herald Frank Wladyslawski
Cover Design
1 Out Of Hiding Detroit Jewish Michelle Sheridan Very striking image and headline. Makes me want to flip
News immediately to this story.
2 Hues Of Jews Detroit Jewish Michelle Sheridan
News
3 June 2020: The Art Issue Seen Magazine Lamar Landers, Nicole Frehsee
Mazur
Editorial Writing
0 No Winner
Education Reporting
1 Ferndale, Berkley school districts Woodward Talk Michael Koury This series does an excellent job of looking at how these
adjust to COVID-19 pandemic school districts and teachers were impacted by the
pandemic. Localizing a national story is important for local
papers and this series brings that home. It lets readers see
that the districts and teachers are serious about their
responsibilities and making sure students are offered the
best education possible, despite the obstacles.
Explanatory Story
1 Virtual courts provide access to Michigan Lawyers Kelly Caplan The author's clear, concise writing and authoritative voice
justice during shutdown Weekly cuts through what could have been a difficult to understand
subject.
2 The Future Of Shul Detroit Jewish Shari Cohen
News
Feature Page Design- Newspapers Only
1 Hues of Jews Detroit Jewish Michelle Sheridan
News
2 Chevy Bel Air is always cruise-ready Farmington Press Jason Clancy
Investigative Reporting
1 Unknown Mishpocha Detroit Jewish Maya Goldman Captivating story telling. The author interwove several
News personal stories into this piece.
2 Nuclear waste & the Great Lakes The Voice Jim Bloch
Newspapers
Magazine Spread Design
1 Country Chic: Fall Fashion Spreas Seen Magazine Boswell Hardwick, Rachel Beautiful photos! The design for these spreads was exactly
Schostak, Michelle Sheridan, what it should be ? simple and elegant while it allows the
Nicole Frehsee Mazur photos to speak for themselves.
Open-Government Reporting
0 No Winner
Page One Design- Newspapers Only
1 Chandler Park Academy students Advertiser Times Jason Clancy
have experiment taken into space
Portrait Photography
1 Gerard Marti Rocks On Seen Magazine Darrel Ellis I like the contrast of Marti's smiling face looking away to the
serious, dead on faces in the artwork.
Racial Justice Reporting
1 Hues Of Jews Detroit Jewish Jennifer Lovy A superb piece highlighting the diversity of people of Jewish
News faith. It's hard to find stories about race, ethnicity and
religion as nuanced as this in our current charged
atmosphere. An enlightening read.
2 Actions Matter Detroit Jewish Robin Schwartz
News
3 Weekend protests call for racial The News-Herald Jim Kasuba
equality, support for Black Lives
Matter movement
Sports Page Design- Newspapers Only
1 State girls basketball playoffs set to Troy Times Jason Clancy Clipping is a little rough on the player no. 3. Hair and hand on
tip ball look odd. I also wish her legs weren't cut off.
2 Officials unveil $39M plan to build The News-Herald Jason Alley, Jackie Martin
bridge over infamous railroad
crossing
PRINT CLASS D
Cover Design
1 Inside Out & Outside In Kresge Foundation Kevin Martin, Jing Jing Tsong This is super creative and clearly took a lot of work to create.
Well done!
2 Perspectives Magazine: Summer Coaching Detroit Michelle Sheridan, Omarion Smith
2020 Cover Forward and The
Detroit Writing
Room
Education Reporting
1 Keeping Higher Ed Accountable The Kresge Natalie Gross Outstanding work. Obviously, a great deal of research went
Foundation into this account of Sarita Brown and Deborah Santiago and
their passion for Excelencia in Education. Beyond the
statistics, the story excellently weaves powerful quotes
throughout.
Environment Reporting
1 Water Warriors The Kresge Laurie Mazur This piece is very well-balanced and the layout and is both
Foundation engaging and easy to follow.
Feature Page Design
1 Turning Refuse Into Revenue Oakland County Mariisa Franz, Todd Haight, Great consistency and flow between pages. Good way to
Water Resources Michelle Franzen Martin make data more appealing.
Commissioner Year
in Review
2 A Pledge to the Next The Kresge Kevin Martin
Generation/Facing the Equity Foundation
Challenge
Feature Reporting
1 Freely Marie The Kresge Nichole Christian Strong, detailed writing with excellent use of historical
Foundation information and secondary sources. I have only taken one art
course in my life, but I was fascinated with Woo and what
she has created. "I became addicted." Beautiful story and
impactful photos. Excellent job!
2 After the Germans and Italians, can The Detroit News Breana Noble
Chrysler 'pull together' with the
French?
3 Chevrolet Impala's last run: The Detroit News Kalea Hall
Production ends, but spirit likely to
live on
4 Dealerships have fewer vehicles to The Detroit News Breana Noble
sell. Some like this 'new normal'
Car Review
0 No Winner
Cover Design
1 Crain's Detroit Business cover, Feb. Crain's Detroit David Kordalski Designer has strong understanding of use of color, text
17, 2020 Business placement and styles. Great work.
2 All About Orchids The Detroit News Diana McNary
3 Comfort & Joy The Detroit News Diana McNary
4 The Light Fantastic The Detroit News Diana McNary
Criticism
1 Criticism - Jesus Christ Superstar, The Oakland Press Gary Graff Excellent reviews that present good and bad, instilling in
Garth, Charlie and the Chocolate readers a desire to be there to see for themselves.
Factory
2 Music, a Movie, Picasso & the Blue Water Healthy Jim Bloch
Pandemic Living
3 The best of Melody Baetens The Detroit News Melody Baetens
4 Pop Culture Criticism by Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press Julie Hinds
Detroit Free Press
Editorial Cartoon
1 Dan Saad Editorial Cartoons Crain's Detroit Dan Saad Cleanly drawn, if a bit busy. Distinctive style and cleverly
Business presented opinion.
Informational Graphics
1 Miggy2K Detroit Free Press Ryan Ford I love the flow of this page. The cutout and pops of orange
give it a ton of visual interest.
2 Al Kaline: A Hall of a career Detroit Free Press Ryan Ford
Videography
1 Exhausted in a 'nightmare': A look MLive.com Neil Blake, Justin Hicks Great uses of natural sound. Loved that you let your subjects
inside a Michigan hospital COVID tell the story.
unit
2 Lake Michigan: The Deadliest Great MLive.com Lori Chapman, Neil Blake, Jeremy
Lake Marble, Dana Afana, Gillian
VanStratt
SOJOURNER TRUTH
Sojourner Truth Award in Topical Reporting
1 Detroit Free Press coverage of the Detroit Free Press Detroit Free Press Staff Detroit The Free Press coverage of the coronavirus pandemic isn't
COVID-19 pandemic Free Press Staff just excellent journalism. It's public service at its finest. At a
time when people need accurate information the most, the
Free Press delivered. The collection of work here would make
any community proud to support their local newspaper.