Single Article: Over 200,000 circulation

Child prostitution is a very real, urban issue that most overlook because they can, but McKim takes the time to see it, understand it and reveal its underbelly. She studied court records, talked with federal and local law enforcement and gained the trust of “Jessica,” a young woman who took on her seeming protectors-turned-tormentors in court. Jessica’s story could have been one of victimization, but in the reporter’s hands, it becomes one of realistic triumph and taking back control. McKim’s eye-opening story is an unsentimental cautionary tale for would-be runaways and, at the same time, a hopeful story for those already on the streets.

This heartbreaking story endears 14-year-old Acia Johnson to strangers who have never met her. Acia and her sister lived a life of neglect in a troubled home, ultimately dying in a house fire. Once emotionally connected, readers are primed to grasp the shortcomings of the state’s system for protecting its children – usually from the children’s own family. Letters to the editor and an investigation of Acia’s case by the state’s new Child Advocate show the impact of this moving story. The piece brings home the tragedy not only of Acia’s life, but also those of countless children like her.

Exhaustive investigation and skilled storytelling combine in a devastating account of systemic problems within Washington’s child welfare system. The story goes beyond one terrible anecdote, giving sweep and lasting impact. It’s an increasingly rare example of a newspaper investing brawn and real resources in its watchdog role.

A sweeping look at a high school student's life as he helps raise his two sisters while his mother works two jobs; White shows that a child's grace and determination can help assure a family's survival. She brings some clarity to the collision between housing policies and homelessness in a way that only good writers can.