2012 Sigma Delta Chi Award Honorees

The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2012 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in journalism.

Judges chose the winners from more than 1,700 entries in categories covering print, radio, television and online. The awards recognize outstanding work published or broadcast in 2012.

Dating back to 1932, the awards originally honored six individuals for contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939, when the Society granted the first Distinguished Service Awards. The honors later became the Sigma Delta Chi Awards.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

Sigma Delta Chi award winners will be honored at an awards banquet on June 21 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

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Newspaper/Wire Services

Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation of 100,001+)
“Superstorm Sandy,” by Staff, The Wall Street Journal
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Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation of 50,001-100,000)
“Superstorm Sandy at the Jersey Shore,” by Staff, Asbury Park Press
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Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation of 1-50,000)
“Former soldier held in deaths,” by Mark Collette, Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Download [PDF]

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Deadline Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)
“Death Trap,” by Michael E. Miller, Miami New Times
Download [PDF]

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Non-Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation of 100,001+)
“Zero Day,” by Robert O'Harrow, Jr, The Washington Post
Download [PDF]

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Non-Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)
“Storm of Money,” by Tony Bartelme, The Post and Courier
Download [PDF]

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Non-Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“The atrocity of forced, live organ harvesting in China,” by Matthew Robertson, The Epoch Times
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Non-Deadline Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)
“Exclusive interview with Hamas,” by Larry Cohler-Esses, Forward
Read online: Link

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Investigative Reporting (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
“Prognosis: Profits,” by Ames Alexander, Karen Garloch, Joseph Neff and David Raynor, The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer
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Investigative Reporting (Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)
“Cash Crop,” by Marc Perrusquia and Grant Smith, The Commercial Appeal
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Investigative Reporting (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“No Small Thing,” by Mary Beth Pfeiffer, Poughkeepsie Journal
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Investigative Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)
“Exposing sex abuse in the Orthodox community,” by Paul Berger, Forward
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Feature Reporting (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
“Never Let Go,” by Kelley Benham, Tampa Bay Times
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Feature Reporting (Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)
“Tempest in My Soul,” by Joan Garrett, Chattanooga Times Free Press
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Feature Reporting (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“12-14-12,” by Staff, The News-Times
Download [PDF]

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Feature Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)
“The Battle of Remington Lane,” by Terrence McCoy, Houston Press
Read online: Link

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Editorial Writing (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
Tom Condon, Maura Casey, Henry McNulty and Robert K. Schrepf, The Hartford Courant
Download [PDF]

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Editorial Writing (Daily Circulation of 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication)
“War on coal,” by Jamie Lucke, Lexington Herald-Leader
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Washington Correspondence
“Capitol Assets,” by David S. Fallis, Scott Higham, Kimberly Kindy and Dan Keating, The Washington Post
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Foreign Correspondence
“Honduras,” by Alberto Arce, The Associated Press
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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General Column Writing (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
Jim Dwyer, The New York Times
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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General Column Writing (Daily Circulation 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication)
Steve Matrazzo, The Dundalk Eagle
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Sports Column Writing (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
Tom Archdeacon, Dayton Daily News
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Sports Column Writing (Daily Circulation 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication)
Matt Calkins, The Columbian
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Public Service Journalism (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
“Forensic Science,” by Spencer S. Hsu, The Washington Post
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Public Service Journalism (Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)
“Children in Peril,” by Marisa Kwiatkowski, The Times of Northwest Indiana
Download [PDF]

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Public Service Journalism (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“Making a Difference in the Life of Every Child,” by Staff, Springfield News-Leader
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

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Public Service Journalism (Non-Daily Publication)
“Fire and failure: the Waldo Canyon tragedy,” by Pam Zubeck, Colorado Springs Independent
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Magazines

Magazine Investigative Reporting (National Circulation)
“Duping the Donors,” by David Evans, Bloomberg Markets
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Magazine Investigative Reporting (Regional/Local Circulation)
“Crime, No Punishment,” by Lilly Rockwell, Florida Trend
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Magazine Writing (National Circulation)
“The Yankee Comandante,” by David Grann, The New Yorker
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Magazine Writing (Regional/Local Circulation)
“New York vs. Boston: The End Game,” by Neil Swidey, The Boston Globe Magazine
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Public Service in Magazine Journalism (National Circulation)
“Danger on Your Dinner Plate,” by Stephanie Armour, John Lippert and Michael Smith, Bloomberg Markets
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Public Service in Magazine Journalism (Regional/Local Circulation)
“Life On the List,” by Emily DePrang, The Texas Observer
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Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography (Newspaper Circulation 100,001+, Affiliated Website, National Magazine)

“Death at a Birthday Party,” by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune

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Breaking News Photography (Newspaper Circulation 1-100,000, Regional Magazine, Non-Daily Publication or Online Independent)

“Tropical Storm Debby,” by Brad McClenny, The Gainesville Sun

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Editorial Cartooning (Newspaper Circulation 100,001+, Affiliated Website, National Magazine)

Scott Stantis, Chicago Tribune
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Editorial Cartooning (Newspaper Circulation 1-100,000, Regional Magazine, Non-Daily Publication or Online Independent)

Phil Hands, Wisconsin State Journal
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Feature Photography (Newspaper Circulation 100,001+, Affiliated Website, National Magazine)

“Beyond 7 Billion,” by Rick Loomis, Los Angeles Times
Download [PDF]

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Feature Photography (Newspaper Circulation 1-100,000, Regional Magazine, Non-Daily Publication or Online Independent)

“Tom Douglas,” by Marcus Donner, Puget Sound Business Journal
Download Section [PDF]

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Informational Graphics (Newspaper Circulation 100,001+, Affiliated Website, National Magazine)
“Conventional Wisdom,” by Don Morris, Lee Glynn, Steve Madden and Darla Cameron, Tampa Bay Times
View online: Link

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Informational Graphics (Newspaper Circulation 1-100,000, Regional Magazine, Non-Daily Publication or Online Independent)
“Tragedy on I-75,” by Staff, The Gainesville Sun
Download [PDF]

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Sports Photography (Newspaper Circulation 100,001+, Affiliated Website, National Magazine)

“Gift of Gabby,” by Peter Read Miller, Sports Illustrated

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Sports Photography (Newspaper Circulation 1-100,000, Regional Magazine, Non-Daily Publication or Online Independent)

“Saturday Bloody Saturday,” by Doug Finger, The Gainesville Sun
View Gallery Online: Link

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Radio

Breaking News Reporting (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
“Los Angeles VA Has Made Millions on Rental Deals,” by Ina Jaffe, Quinn O’Toole and Steven Drummond, NPR
Read story and listen online: Link

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Investigative Reporting (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
“Shell's Arctic Oil-Spill Gear ‘Crushed Like A Beer Can’,” by John Ryan and Jim Gates, KUOW-FM
Read story and listen online: Link

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Investigative Reporting (101+ Market)
“Naming the Fralin,” by Sandy Hausman, WVTF and Radio IQ

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Feature Reporting (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
“The weight of the city's violence, on one school principal,” by Linda Lutton, Cate Cahan and Sally Eisele, WBEZ Chicago Public Media

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Feature Reporting (101+ Market)
“My Cancer,” by Lance Orozco, KCLU AM/FM
Read story and listen online: Link

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Documentaries (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
“As Black as We Wish to Be,” by Lu Olkowski, Laura Spero, Taki Telonidis and Al Letson, NPR's State of the Re:Union distributed by PRX
Read story and listen online: Link

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Documentaries (101+ Market)
“Winds of Change,” by Pat Duggins, Ryan Vasquez, Maggie Martin and Stan Ingold, Alabama Public Radio

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Public Service in Radio Journalism (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
“If it's legal: Five ways legal pot could affect your life,” by Staff, KPLU Public Radio
Listen/Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Public Service in Radio Journalism (101+ Market)
“State struggled at fire prevention ahead of Manorville blaze,” by Charles Lane and Naomi Starobin, WSHU Public Radio

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Television

Breaking News Coverage (Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)
“Chardon School Shooting,” by Staff, WKYC

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Breaking News Coverage (Small-Market Station, 51+ market)
“Hubig's Pie Factory Fire,” by Travers Mackel, Bryan McCann, Keith Bliven and Jonathan Shelley, WDSU

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Breaking News Coverage (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
“Hurricane Sandy,” by Staff of NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, NBC Nightly News

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Documentaries (Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)
“Heat and Harvest,” by Mark Schapiro, Serene Fang, Gabriela Quiros and Craig Miller, KQED and the Center for Investigative Reporting

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Documentaries (Small-Market Station, 51+ market)
“Disappearing Defenses,” by John Snell and Paul Rodgers, WVUE-TV

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Documentaries (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
“Semper Fi: Always Faithful,” by Rachel Libert, Tony Hardmon, Vicki Sufian and Scott Hooker, MSNBC

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Feature Reporting (Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)
“Ali's Guiding Lights,” by Joe Fryer, Matt Mrozinski, Pete Cassam and Eric Wold, KING-TV

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Feature Reporting (Small-Market Station, 51+ market)
“Who Are Those Guys?” by Eric Hanson and Glen Biermann, KCCI-TV

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Feature Reporting (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
The CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley, “On The Road,” Steve Hartman and Miles Doran, CBS Evening News

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Investigative Reporting (Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)
“Critical Delays: Dallas County’s Response to the West Nile Epidemic,” by Scott Friedman, Eva Parks, Peter Hull and Shane Allen, NBC 5/KXAS-TV

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Investigative Reporting (Small-Market Station, 51+)
“Got Guardrails,” by Jordan Williams, Israel Alfaro and Jenny Martinez, KRGV-TV

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Investigative Reporting (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
“Crossing the Line at the Border,” by John Larson, Brian Epstein, John Carlos Frey and Marc Rosenwasser, Need to Know/WNET in partnership with The Investigative Fund at The Nation Institute


Watch online [pbs.org]

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Public Service in Television Journalism (Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)
“Guessing Pensions: San Jose's Fuzzy Math,” by Jenna Susko, Julie Putnam and Mark Villarreal NBC Bay Area/KNTV


Watch online [nbcbayarea.com]

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Public Service in Television Journalism (Small-Market Station, 51+ market)
“Newtok: Village on the Edge,” by Rhonda McBride and Eric Sowl, KTUU-TV Anchorage


Watch online [ktuu.com]: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Public Service in Television Journalism (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
“ENDGAME: AIDS in Black America,” by Renata Simone, WGBH/FRONTLINE


Watch online [pbs.org]

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Newsletters

Public Service in Newsletter Journalism
“The Ugly Side of the U.S. Oil and Gas Boom,” by Brian Hansen, The McGraw-Hill Companies/Platts
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Research

Research about Journalism
“Out of the News: Former Journalists Discuss a Profession in Crisis,” by Celia Viggo Wexler

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Online Reporting

Deadline Reporting (Affiliated)
“All clear: CSU Fullerton lockdown lifted,” by Olsen Ebright, Melissa Pamer, Samantha Tata and Vikki Vargas, NBC4 Southern California
Read online: Link

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Deadline Reporting (Independent)
SCOTUSblog’s coverage of the Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act, by Staff, SCOTUSblog
Download [PDF]

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Investigative Reporting (Affiliated)
“Big Sky, Big Money,” by Staffs, WGBH/FRONTLINE, ProPublica and Marketplace
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

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Investigative Reporting (Independent)
“Skin & Bone: The Shadowy Trade in Human Body Parts,” by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Center for Public Integrity
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Non-Deadline Reporting (Affiliated)
“America Under the Gun: A Special Report on Gun Laws and the Rise of Mass Shootings,” by Mark Follman, Gavin Aronsen and Deanna Pan, Mother Jones
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Non-Deadline Reporting (Independent)
“Hard Labor,” by Jim Morris, Chris Hamby and Ronnie Greene, Center for Public Integrity
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Online Column Writing (Affiliated)
Chrystia Freeland, Reuters
Download [PDF]

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Online Column Writing (Independent)
Bianca Bosker, The Huffington Post
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Digital Audio
“Taken for a Ride in Jerusalem,” by Daniel Estrin, Tablet Magazine
Read story and listen online: Link

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Audio Slide Show
“Suburban junkies,” by Center for Investigative Reporting, KQED and independent reporters and producers
View online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Digital Video
“Fertile Ground,” by Thanh Tan, Emily Ramshaw and Justin Dehn, Texas Tribune Watch Online: Link

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Public Service in Online Journalism (Affiliated)
“Beef's Raw Edges,” by Mike McGraw and Alan Bavley, Kansas City Star
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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Public Service in Online Journalism (Independent)
“Mystery in the Fields,” by Sasha Chavkin, Anna Barry-Jester and Ronnie Greene, Center for Public Integrity
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

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Specialized Journalism Site
Black Gold Boom, by Todd Melby, Prairie Public, Zeega, AIR
Visit Website

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