2012 SPJ NW Excellence in Journalism winners

Published May 19, 2013 1:03pm ET



SEATTLE (AP) — Winners of the 2012 Society of Professional Journalists Northwest Excellence in Journalism contest were announced Saturday night. The annual contest is held by Region 10 of SPJ to honor journalism in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.

The winners were:

Alternative Weeklies

Crime and Justice Reporting

1st place

Andrea Damewood

Willamette Week

“The first 30 seconds”

2nd place

Jessica Mayrer

Missoula Independent

“What happened to Gabriel?”

3rd place

Jamie Rogers

Missoula Independent

“Dead man waiting”

Government & Politics Reporting

1st place

Aaron Mesh

Willamette Week

“When stacks attack”

2nd place

Aaron Mesh

Willamette Week

“Block busters”

3rd place

Joe O’Sullivan

Pacific Northwest Inlander

“Homeland droneland”

Environment and Science Reporting

1st place

Corey Pein

Willamette Week

“Fisherman’s wrath”

2nd place

Aaron Mesh

Willamette Week

“What the muck?”

3rd place

Matthew Frank

Missoula Independent

“Pulp fiction”

Social Issues Reporting

1st place

Dameon Pesanti

Missoula Independent

“It’s every Montanan’s land.”

2nd place

Nina Shapiro

Seattle Weekly

“Cedar Grove: reduce, reuse, revolting”

3rd place

Nina Shapiro

Seattle Weekly

“Alison Holcomb”

Arts Reporting

1st place

Staff

Willamette Week

“Art breaker”

2nd place

Matthew Singer

Willamette Week

“Buried alive”

3rd place

Tiffany Harms

Pacific Northwest Inlander

“Communal vibe”

Lifestyles Reporting

1st place

Martin Cizmar

Willamette Week

“Beer of the future”

2nd place

Leah Sottile

Pacific Northwest Inlander

“American beauty”

Personalities Reporting

1st place

Corey Pein

Willamette Week

“The evolution of Eileen Brady”

2nd place

Nigel Jaquiss

Willamette Week

“The smartest guy in the room”

3rd place

Leah Sottile

Pacific Northwest Inlander

“Holy war on women”

Critiques & Reviews

1st place

Chris Stamm

Willamette Week

“Aged and warped”

2nd place

Lillian Young

Seattle Chinese Times

“Vulgaria takes on a unique Hong Kong flair”

3rd place

Lillian Young

Seattle Chinese Times

“A simple life.”

Business Reporting

1st place

Andrea Damewood

Willamette Week

“Rent a pup”

2nd place

Aaron Mesh

Willamette Week

“Who killed KPOJ?”

3rd place

Daniel Walters

Pacific Northwest Inlander

“The meat grinder”

Sports Reporting

1st place

John Locanthi

Willamette Week

“Chip Kelly’s secret offense”

2nd place

Casey Jarman

Willamette Week

“Last man standing”

3rd place

Mike Bookey

Pacific Northwest Inlander

“Big football”

Special Section

1st place

Staff

Willamette Week

“Take me to the river”

2nd place

Mike Bookey

Pacific Northwest Inlander

“Dining out”

3rd place

Martin Cizmar

Willamette Week

“The caffeinator”

Nondaily Newspapers

General Excellence

1st place

The Chronicle

2nd place

Bainbridge Island Review

3rd place

Issaquah Press

General News Coverage

1st place

Rosette Royale

Real Change

“Gravity of abuse”

2nd place

Edith Walden

The Guemes Tide

“Clark Point fire”

3rd place

Jessie Stensland

Whidbey News-Times

“Did ‘voices’ drive him.?”

Spot News Reporting

1st place

Stephanie Schendel

The Chronicle

“Cold case cracked”

2nd place

Stephanie Schendel

The Chronicle

“Police: dead toddler ‘systematically tortured'”

3rd place

Charles Lam & Will Livesley-O’Neill

Northwest Asian Weekly

“Yesler Terrace redevelopment”

Government and Politics Reporting

1st place

Lisa Broadt

The Chronicle

“Conflicts of interest”

2nd place

Rosette Royale

Real Change

“The ride is over”

3rd place – TIE

Charles Lam & Tiffany Ran

Northwest Asian Weekly

“Tweet from McKenna policy aide.”

3rd place – TIE

Carrie E. Rodriguez & Matt Phelps

Kirkland Reporter

“Eastside pastor vows to fight same-sex marriage legislation:

Education Reporting

1st place

Amy Nile

The Chronicle

“Outrage in Onalaska”

2nd place

Amy Nile

The Chronicle

“Pe Ell teacher accused”

3rd place – TIE

Kevin Birnbaum

Catholic Northwest Progress

Struggling school to start bilingual academy

3rd place – TIE

Lillian O’Rorke

Issaquah Press

Cougar Ridge students study zombies to hunt honeybee killer

Health Reporting

1st place

Celeste Gracey

Issaquah Reporter

“Kindering helps special needs babies”

2nd place

Bianca Fortis

The Chronicle

“Twenty years later, victims recall the pain”

3rd place

Breanne Coats

Business Examiner

“Private practices become endangered species”

Environment and Science Reporting

1st place

Kyle Spurr

The Chronicle

“The river draws closer”

2nd place

Holly Smith Peterson

Business Examiner

“Aquaculture gets boost”

3rd place

Raechel L. Dawson

Kirkland Reporter

“Residents, City of Kirkland seek solution”

Business Reporting

1st place

Marc Stiles

Puget Sound Business Journal

“Sodo inflation”

2nd place

Cary Rosenbaum & Julie Bock

The Omak-Okanogan Chronicle

“Gas war”

3rd place

Amy Nile

The Chronicle

“Seniors fuming over experience with Centralia travel company”

Social Issues Reporting

1st place

Kevin Birnbaum

Catholic Northwest Progress

“Have Catholics come home?”

2nd place

Vera M. Chan-Pool

Pacific Publishing Co.

“Sexual abuse: the silent epidemic”

3rd place

Lisa Broadt

The Chronicle

“Breaking the cycle of addiction”

Personalities Reporting

1st place

Dee Camp

The Omak-Okanogan Chronicle

“He’s always ready to tie one”

2nd place

Lillian O’Rorke

The Issaquah Press

“Harvard grad leaves Microsoft”

3rd place

Valerie Bauman

Puget Sound Business Journal

“Tom Douglas, executive of the year”

Lifestyles Reporting

1st place

Aaron Burkhalter

Real Change

“The people’s library checks out”

2nd place

Lisa Broadt & Diana Torres

The Chronicle

“Guadalupe bridges language”

3rd place

Dee Camp

The Omak-Okanogan Chronicle

“Growing up as a ‘dam kid'”

Arts Reporting and Criticism News & Features

1st place

Jennifer Karchmer

Whatcom Watch

“Take a look at Iceland.”

2nd place

Vera M. Chan-Pool

Pacific Publishing Co.

“Finding art in the afterlife”

3rd place

Charles Lam & Evangeline Cafe

Northwest Asian Weekly

“Musical legend Lea Salonga rises from Manila to Broadway”

Sports Reporting

1st place

Josh Suman

Sound Publishing

“After sports program puts Bellevue’s disadvantaged on equal footing”

2nd place

Lillian O’Rorke

Sammamish Review

“Skyline graduate Tela Crane sets U.S.”

3rd place

Al Camp

The Omak-Okanogan Chronicle

“Horse dies in suicide race”

Editorial & Commentary

1st place

Michael Dashiell

Sequim Gazette

2nd place

Matt Phelps

Kirkland Reporter

3rd place

Brian Mittge

The Chronicle

General Column

1st place

Brian Mittge

The Chronicle

2nd place

Patrick Clifton Wilkins

West Side Newspaper

3rd place

Roger Harnack

The Omak-Okanogan Chronicle

Page Design

1st place

Jon Williams

Real Change

2nd place

Devon Marie Bergeron

The Chronicle

3rd place

Jon Williams & Amy Pelz

Real Change

News Photography

1st place

Roger Harnack

The Omak-Okanogan Chronicle

“Optimism grows on fireline”

2nd place

Pete Caster

The Chronicle

“The hand of love and life”

3rd place

Cary Rosenbaum

The Omak-Okanogan Chronicle

“In the life of fire”

Feature Photography

1st place

Pete Caster

The Chronicle

“Race day jitters”

2nd place

Jon Williams

Real Change

“Waterfront for all?”

3rd place

Marcus Donner

Puget Sound Business Journal

“Coco pie baker”

Sports Photography

1st place

Pete Caster

The Chronicle

“Somewhere under the rainbow”

2nd place

Pete Caster

The Chronicle

“Heads up”

3rd place

Al Camp

The Omak-Okanogan Chronicle

“Rocky landing prevented”

Photo Portfolio

1st place

Pete Caster

The Chronicle

2nd place

Damian Mulinix

The Chinook Observer

3rd place

Al Camp

The Omak-Okanogan Chronicle

Portrait Photography

1st place

Anthony Bolante

Puget Sound Business Journal

“Luly Yang Portrait”

2nd place

Stephen Brashear

Catholic Northwest Progress

“Ready to serve God’s people”

3rd place

Steven James Wyble

Nisqually Valley News

“Portrait of Virginia”

Magazines

General Excellence

1st place

Montana Quarterly

2nd place

Seattle Met

3rd place

Portland Monthly

General Reporting

1st place

James Ross Gardner

Seattle Met

“Fire at Sanctuary of the Apes”

2nd place

Matthew Halverson

Seattle Met

“The smartest sucker in the room”

3rd place

Kris Farmen

Alaska Magazine

“Red roofs and black bread.”

Government and Politics Reporting

1st place

Josh Feit

Seattle Met

“Inslee’s challenge”

2nd place

Matthew Halverson

Seattle Met

“Should he stay or should he go?”

3rd place

Matthew Halverson

Seattle Met

“Crash course”

Environmental Affairs

1st place

Maria Dolan

Seattle Magazine

“Taking a dive”

2nd place

Tim Sohn & Corey Arnold

Portland Monthly

“Red Sea”

3rd place

Eric Lucas

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Desert Allure”

Science and Health Reporting

1st place

Ann Hedreen

Seattle Met

“Laughter and forgetting”

2nd place

Maureen O’Hagan

The Seattle Times

“Seattle’s sage bionetworks seeks a drug-discovery.”

3rd place

Michelle Martin

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Fitting in fitness”

Social Issues Reporting

1st place

James Ross Gardner

Seattle Met

“Mean kids”

2nd place

Kyle Hopkins

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Cultural heritage”

3rd place

Alison Barnwell

Portland Monthly Magazine

“Dark journey”

Personalities

1st place

James Ross Gardner

Seattle Met

“The law and John Henry.”

2nd place

Allison Williams

Seattle Met

“The Brothers Whitaker”

3rd place

Eric Hansen

Portland Monthly

“The lion’s song”

Personal Service Reporting

1st place

Carol Tice

Horizon Edition Magazine

“Ready for retirement”

2nd place

Ben Raker

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Scholarship savvy”

3rd place

Michelle Martin

Horizon Edition Magazine

“Rest up”

Magazine Departments

1st place

Kathryn Robinson

Seattle Met

“Back fence”

2nd place

Zach Dundas & Marty Patail

Portland Monthly

“Mudroom”

3rd place

Aaron Scott

Portland Monthly

“Culturephile”

Travel Reporting

1st place

Allison Williams, Laura Dannen & Kathryn Robinson

Seattle Met

“Trippin'”

2nd place

Allison Williams

Seattle Met

“2012 Northwest Travel Awards”3rd place

Allison Williams, Charlotte Austin, Bruce Barcott & Craig Romano

Seattle Met

“Mount Rainier National Park.”

Leisure and Lifestyle Reporting

1st place

Rachel Ritchie & Karen Brooks

Portland Monthly

“Best restaurants”

2nd place

Allecia Vermillion

Seattle Met

“BeerBook 2012”

3rd place

Leslie Forsberg

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Time travel”

Arts and Entertainment Reporting

1st place

Kristin Kendle

South Sound Magazine

“Ghosts in downtown Tacoma”

2nd place

Bill Reader

The Seattle Times

“Seattle’s Bob Rivers.”

3rd place

Lora Shinn

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Rocking the cradle”

Business and Consumer Affairs Reporting

1st place

Lisa Wogan

Seattle Business

“Chasing vitality”

2nd place

Eric Gold

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Portland goes global”

3rd place

Laura Dannen, James Ross Gardner, Matthew Halverson & Karen Quinn

Seattle Met

“Insider’s guide to gaming”

Sports Reporting

1st place

Ken Marsh

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“An extraordinary catch”

2nd place

Erika Frederickson

Montana Headwall

“Long shots”

3rd place

Craig Hill

Horizon Edition Magazine

“Rough riders”

Editorial and Commentary

1st place

Knute Berger

Seattle Magazine

“Furry, pampered – and diabetic”

2nd place

Bill Virgin

Seattle Business

“Terminal illness”

3rd place

John Levesque

Seattle Business

“Handle with care”

Headlines

1st place

Ethan Chung, Lisa Patterson & Lauren Foster

425 magazine

2nd place

Staff

Seattle Magazine

3rd place

Staff

Alaska Airlines Magazine

Cover Design

1st place

Margaret Elson

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Alaska grandeur”

2nd place

Andre Mora

Seattle Met

“100 best bottles of Washington wine”

3rd place

Kate Madden & Michael Novak

Portland Monthly

“The food lover’s guide to Portland”

Spread Design/Photo Essay

1st place

Andre Mora

Seattle Met

“The law and John Henry.”

2nd place

Dennis Wunsch & Deborah Richardson

Scotsman Guide Media

“Don’t be deviled by details”

3rd place

William Greenlaw

Alaska Magazine

“Novarupta”

Cartoons and Illustrations

1st place

Dennis Wunsch

Scotsman Guide Media

“Gazing into the future.”

2nd place

Dennis Wunsch

Scotsman Guide Media

“Clear a path to close on distressed properties”

3rd place

Dennis Wunsch

Scotsman Guide Media

“Saddle up for lending’s ups and downs”

Sports Photography

1st place

Patrick J. Endres

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Touring the last frontier”

2nd place

Daniel Root & Michael Novak

Portland Monthly

“The big bet”

3rd place

Jeff Schultz

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Team spirit”

Feature Photography

1st place

John McDonald

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Showcase 2012”

2nd place

Jon Cornforth

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Natural forces”

3rd place

Eric Kauszenski

Alaska Airlines Magazine

“Showcase 2012”

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