Winning stories offer a fresh take on a significant issue, show enterprise in research and reporting and demonstrate masterful storytelling and impact. Judging is conducted by respected journalists and journalism educators. First-place winners receive $1,000 and are honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in October. Runners-up and honorable mentions receive a certificate of merit.
Winners
Recent Award Winner Highlights
Photo by Tampa Bay Times Kathleen Flynn
Some parents believe their challenging child will benefit from time in a faith-based facility that promotes discipline, respect and good behavior. Yet, too many of these group homes and boot camps are run by authoritarian individuals who use religion as a justification for physically punishing and humiliating unruly children into submission. A tenacious reporter spent a year investigating this hidden segment of Florida’s foster care industry, which operates largely outside of government regulation. As a result of this exhaustive coverage, the Governor signed a law increasing oversight of unlicensed homes, including mandatory background checks of staff.
The Times of Northwest Indiana Jon L. Hendricks
Families across the U.S. who have mentally ill or developmentally disabled children struggle to get services. In Indiana, some parents are forced to “abandon” their kids or plead guilty to neglect in order to get needed intervention from the state. This series exposed a deeply dysfunctional system that is failing everyone. The reporting led public officials to invest $25 million to solve the services gap. The judges called the stories an extraordinary package, a crushing portrait that was gripping in every way a story could be.
The Washington Post Photo by Nikki Kahn
A moving and intimate story of parental love and acceptance recounts one couple’s decision to allow their daughter to enroll in kindergarten as a boy. The article caused a sensation in print and online, generating hundreds of thousands of pageviews, more than two thousand comments and hundreds of emails, including from people who have struggled with gender identity and parents who suspect their own child may be transgender. The judges applauded the author for gaining the trust of the family and crafting an eye-opening, accessible, elegant piece.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Kristyna Wentz-Graff
Her first sentence at age two -- “I Boy” -- was repeated so often that Izzy’s family could no longer deny their daughter’s declaration of male identity. This story blended the latest scientific debates over gender with the familiar rhythms of daily life, challenging readers’ assumptions and beliefs. The judges called it an evocative, nuanced and fresh look at the soul of gender identity, a compelling and beautifully written article that deepens our understanding, and builds sensitivity and acceptance of transgender people.
The Des Moines Register Photo courtesy of the Register
A revelatory and accessible series of editorials highlighting the consequences of criminalizing youth. The series covered racial disparities in sentencing, police presence in public schools, and the impact of a juvenile record on college and job applications. These editorials garnered interest from state lawmakers and led to a new Court Watcher program in which volunteers are trained to observe and document the goings-on in juvenile court.
WNYC Radio Rookies WNYC Radio Rookies
Highly original first person accounts that bring honesty and humor to the complex dramas of teenage life today: “slut-shaming” on the Internet, stop and frisk by police, living with sickle cell anemia, and trying to beat the odds of graduating while black and male. The judges called this series of audio pieces candid, raw and compelling.
New York Magazine Photo By Andres Serrano
An investigation of how a mentally disabled teenager was rendered catatonic after six hours of punishing electroshocks inflicted by staff at a residential facility for behavior modification. After the publication of this story, the Food and Drug Administration warned the Rotenberg Center to stop using the shock device, and elected officials in two states challenged the practice. The judges in this category called this story an extraordinary piece of watchdog reporting that breaks through compassion fatigue and holds individuals and institutions accountable for their appalling treatment of children.
The Philadelphia Inquirer April Saul
Camden has been named the poorest and most violent city in the United States, but it has captured the heart of this photojournalist, who has made the city and its residents her unofficial beat. The judges praised her tenacity and grace in capturing the tragic consequences of living in persistent poverty, but also the hope and joy found in the community. They called it a stellar body of work that evokes empathy.
