2014 Sigma Delta Chi Award Honorees
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The Society of Professional Journalists is proud to announce the recipients of the 2014 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in journalism.

Judges chose the winners from more than 1,600 entries in categories covering print, radio, television and online. The awards recognize outstanding work published or broadcast in 2014.

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 26 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Newspaper/Wire Services

Deadline Reporting
(Daily Circulation of 100,001+)

“Ferguson: No Indictment,” by staff, The Associated Press
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Deadline Reporting
(Daily Circulation of 50,001-100,000)

“Ex-Mayor Nagin Guilty,” by Gordon Russell, The Advocate
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Deadline Reporting
(Daily Circulation of 1-50,000)

“Marysville Pilchuck High School shootings,” by staff, The Daily Herald
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Deadline Reporting
(Non-Daily Publication)

“Firestorm rips through valley,” by Ann McCreary and Marcy Stamper, Methow Valley News
Download [PDF]

Non-Deadline Reporting
(Daily Circulation of 100,001+)

“Water's Edge,” by Ryan McNeill, Deborah J. Nelson, Duff Wilson, Alister Doyle and Bill Tarrant, Reuters
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Non-Deadline Reporting
(Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)

“Children In Danger,” by Matt Stout and Erin Smith, Boston Herald
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Non-Deadline Reporting
(Daily Circulation 1-50,000)

“Killers & Pain,” by Mary Beth Pfeiffer, Poughkeepsie Journal
Download [PDF]

Non-Deadline Reporting
(Non-Daily Publication)

“Shock and Awe,” by Michael E. Miller, Miami New Times
Read online

Investigative Reporting
(Daily Circulation 100,001+)

“Child Abuse,” by Holbrook Mohr and Garance Burke, The Associated Press
Download [PDF]

Investigative Reporting
(Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)

“Costly Claims,” by Jamie Satterfield, Knoxville News Sentinel
Download [PDF]

Investigative Reporting
(Daily Circulation 1-50,000)

“Pensions in Peril,” by Terrie Morgan-Besecker, The Times-Tribune
Download [PDF]

Investigative Reporting
(Non-Daily Publication)

“Private Money, Public Schools,” by Jeremy Adam Smith, Michael Stoll, Lila LaHood and staff, San Francisco Public Press
Read online

Feature Reporting
(Daily Circulation 100,001+)

“For Richard family, loss and love,” by David Abel, The Boston Globe
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Feature Reporting
(Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)

“Fragments of Hate,” by Sam Venable, Knoxville News Sentinel
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Feature Reporting
(Daily Circulation 1-50,000)

“Death Detachment,” by Martin Kuz, Stars and Stripes
Download [PDF]

Feature Reporting
(Non-Daily Publication)

“Love and Disability,” by Halle Stockton, PublicSource
Download [PDF]

Editorial Writing
(Daily Circulation 100,001+)

“After Ferguson,” by Tony Messenger, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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Editorial Writing
(Daily Circulation of 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication)

“Prescription: Addiction,” by Jeffery Gerritt, The Blade
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Washington Correspondence

“Breaking Points,” by David A. Fahrenthold, The Washington Post
Download [PDF]

Foreign Correspondence

“Underwriting Jihad,” by Rukmini Callimachi, The New York Times
Download [PDF]

General Column Writing
(Daily Circulation 100,001+)

Laurie Roberts, Arizona Republic
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General Column Writing
(Daily Circulation 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication)

Patricia Calhoun, Westword
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Sports Column Writing
(Daily Circulation 100,001+)

Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Sports Column Writing
(Daily Circulation 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication)

Thom Loverro, The Washington Times
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Public Service Journalism
(Daily Circulation 100,001+)

“Fatally Flawed,” by Ames Alexander, Gavin Off, Fred Clasen-Kelly and Elizabeth Leland, The Charlotte Observer
Download [PDF]

Public Service Journalism
(Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)

“State of Intoxication: FASD,” by Marc Lester, Kyle Hopkins, Patrick Dougherty, Pam Dunlap-Shohl and Anne Raup, Anchorage Daily News
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Public Service Journalism
(Daily Circulation 1-50,000)

“Hard Look at Hard Time,” by staff, The Clarion-Ledger
Download [PDF]

Public Service Journalism
(Non-Daily Publication)

“State of Mind series,” by staff, Pacific Northwest Inlander
Download [PDF]

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Magazines

Magazine Investigative Reporting
(National Circulation)

“Revolution on Sorority Row,” by Kayla Webley, Marie Claire
Download [PDF]

Magazine Investigative Reporting
(Regional/Local Circulation)

“The Truth about Chicago’s Crime Rates,” by David Bernstein and Noah Isackson, Chicago Magazine
Read online: Link 1 | 2

Magazine Writing
(National Circulation)

“The Ghosts of Rana Plaza,” by Jason Motlagh, Virginia Quarterly Review
Download [PDF]

Magazine Writing
(Regional/Local Circulation)

“Their Town,” by Ashley Powers, The California Sunday Magazine
Download [PDF]

Public Service in Magazine Journalism
(National Circulation)

“The High Cost of Cheap Chicken,” by Christie Aschwanden, Ellen Kunes and Urvashi Rangan, Consumer Reports
Download [PDF]

Public Service in Magazine Journalism
(Regional/Local Circulation)

“How We Kill,” by William Powell, St. Louis Magazine
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Art/Graphics

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

“Wounded in Gaza,” by Khalil Hamra, The Associated Press

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

“The Whole House Shook,” by Paul Efird, Knoxville News Sentinel

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

Stephen Benson, Arizona Republic
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Editorial Cartooning (Newspaper Circulation 1-100,000, Regional Magazine, Non-Daily Publication or Online Independent)

Walt Handelsman, The Advocate
Download [PDF]

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

“Pipeline of Children,” by Michael Chow and David Wallace, Arizona Republic
Download [PDF]

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

“Little Man and the Pursuit of Happiness,” by Dania Maxwell, Naples Daily News
Download [PDF]

Informational Graphics (Newspaper Circulation 100,001+, Affiliated Website, National Magazine)

“For Capitol dome, overdue repairs,” by staff, The Washington Post
View online

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

“Fracking Boom Spews Toxic Air Emissions on Texas Residents,” by Paul Horn and Lisa Song, InsideClimate News
View online

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

“Goal line stretch,” by Barry Reeger, Tribune-Review

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

“Almost Home,” by Scott A. Drake, Philadelphia Gay News

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Radio

Breaking News Reporting
(1-100 Market or Network Syndication)

“Ebola Healthworker Defies Quarantine,” by Patty Wight, Susan Sharon and Mal Leary, Maine Public Broadcasting Network

Read/listen online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Breaking News Reporting
(101+ Market)

“The Disappearance of Hannah Graham,” by Sandy Hausman, Hawes Spencer and Connie Stevens, WVTF Public Radio

Read story and listen online

Investigative Reporting
(1-100 Market or Network Syndication)

“A Citizenry Left in the Dark: China’s Nuclear Power Industry,” by Radio Free Asia Cantonese Team, Radio Free Asia

Investigative Reporting
(101+ Market)

“Dangerous Chemical Invades West Wichita Drinking Water,” by Sean Sandefur, KMUW

Read story and listen online

Feature Reporting
(1-100 Market or Network Syndication)

“The Dark Arts of Politics: Changing political history, in a closet near you,” by Alex Keefe and Cate Cahan, WBEZ

Feature Reporting
(101+ Market)

“Finding Soldierstone,” by Grace Hood, Brian Larson and Jim Hill, KUNC-FM

Read story and listen online

Documentaries
(1-100 Market or Network Syndication)

“Betrayed by Silence: How three archbishops hid the truth,” by Madeleine Baran, Sasha Aslanian, Mike Edgerly and Chris Worthington, MPR News

Read story and listen online

Documentaries
(101+ Market)

“Heartland, Missouri,” by Abigail Keel, Ryan Famuliner, Janet Saidi and Casey Morell, KBIA

Read story and listen online

Public Service in Radio Journalism
(1-100 Market or Network Syndication)

“NYPD Bruised,” by Robert Lewis, Noah Veltman and David Lewis, WNYC

Public Service in Radio Journalism
(101+ Market)

“Dangerous Cargo Riding the Rails,” by Sandy Hausman and Connie Stevens, WVTF Public Radio
Read story and listen online

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Television

Breaking News Coverage
(Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)


“FSU Shooting,” by Jacqueline Ingles, Carson Chambers, Ashley Yore and staff, WFTS-TV
Watch online

Breaking News Coverage
(Small-Market Station, 51+ market)


“Gun Battle in La Joya, Texas,” by staff and Jenny Martinez, KRGV-TV
Watch online

Breaking News Coverage
(Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)


“Flashpoint: Gaza,” by Ayman Mohyeldin, Martin Fletcher, Richard Engel, Kate Snow and staff, NBC Nightly News and NBC News
Watch online

Documentaries
(Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)


“The Real Death Valley” and “Muriendo por Cruzar (Dying to Cross),” by John Carlos Frey, Marisa Venegas, Solly Granatstein, Esther Kaplan, Neil Katz, Shawn Efran and Greg Gilderman, Investigative Fund/Weather Channel/Telemundo/Efran Films
View entry: Weather Channel documentary | Telemundo documentary (with English subtitles) | Investigative Fund story

Documentaries
(Small-Market Station, 51+ market)


“Holding Officials Accountable,” by Lee Zurik, Tom Wright, Jon Turnipseed and Greg Phillips, WVUE-TV
Watch online

Documentaries
(Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)


“Breathless,” by Izhar Harpaz and Lester Holt, Dateline NBC
Watch online

Feature Reporting
(Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)


“Only in Indiana,” by Kevin Rader and Steve Rhodes, WTHR
Watch online

Feature Reporting
(Small-Market Station, 51+ market)


“For the Love of Laura,” by Eric Hanson, Glen Biermann and Michael Sims, KCCI-TV
Watch online

Feature Reporting
(Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)


“Stolen Childhood,” by David Muir, Christine Romo, Almin Karamehmedovic and Michael Corn, ABC News
Watch online

Investigative Reporting
(Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)


“Injured Heroes, Broken Promises,” by Scott Friedman, Eva Parks, Peter Hull and David Tarrant/KXAS-TV in partnership with The Dallas Morning News
Watch online

Investigative Reporting
(Small-Market Station, 51+)


“Downfall of a Dynasty,” by Lee Zurik, Tom Wright, Jon Turnipseed and Heather Nolan, WVUE-TV
Watch online

Investigative Reporting
(Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)


“The Lead: UNC Report: 18 Years of Academic Fraud,” by Sara Ganim, Katie Hinman, Brian Rokus, John Murgatroyd and Devon Sayers, CNN
More information

Public Service in Television Journalism
(Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)


“Inside Sysco: Exposing North America's Food Sheds,” by Vicky Nguyen, Kevin Nious and NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit, KNTV NBC Bay Area
Watch online

Public Service in Television Journalism
(Small-Market Station, 51+ market)


“SCDSS: The System Failed,” by Clark Fouraker, Jennifer Bellamy, Darci Strickland and Marybeth Jacoby, WLTX-TV
Watch online

Public Service in Television Journalism
(Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)


“Hooked: America's Heroin Epidemic,” by Kate Snow, NBC News
Watch online

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Newsletters

Public Service in Newsletter Journalism

“Power Morcellation: A Hazardous Practice,” by Matthew Bin Han Ong, The Cancer Letter
Read online

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Research

Research about Journalism

“Alternate History: Robert Capa on D-Day,” by A. D. Coleman, J. Ross Baughman and Rob McElroy, Photocritic International
Read online

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Online Reporting

Deadline Reporting (Affiliated)

“The Disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370,” by staff, The Wall Street Journal
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Deadline Reporting (Independent)

“Jennifer Del Prete Released from Prison,” by staff, The Medill Justice Project
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3

Investigative Reporting (Affiliated)

“Betrayed by Silence,” by Madeleine Baran, Meg Martin, Eric Ringham and Jon Gordon, MPR News
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Investigative Reporting (Independent)

“Battered, Bereaved, and Behind Bars,” by Alex Campbell, BuzzFeed
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Non-Deadline Reporting (Affiliated)

“Native American Veterans,” by Tristan Ahtone, Nicole Tung and staff, Al Jazeera America
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Non-Deadline Reporting (Independent)

“China's Generation Green,” by Faculty and Fellows of the International Reporting Program
Read story and listen online

Online Column Writing (Affiliated)

Jill Filipovic, Cosmopolitan.com
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Online Column Writing (Independent)

Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists blog, by Stephen Rynkiewicz, David Craig and Casey Bukro, Ethics AdviceLine for Journalists
Visit website

Digital Audio

“A Fear Of Going To School: 5 Former Boston Students Reflect On Busing,” by Asma Khalid and Shawn Bodden, WBUR
Read story and listen online: Link 1 | 2 | 3

Audio Slide Show

“A Life Apart: The Toll of Obesity,” by Lisa Krantz, San Antonio Express-News
Read story and listen online

Digital Video

“Time Is Money,” by Eleanor Bell and Daniel Wagner, The Center for Public Integrity
Watch online

Public Service in Online Journalism (Affiliated)

“Medicare Unmasked: Behind the Numbers,” by staff, The Wall Street Journal
Read online: Read online

Public Service in Online Journalism (Independent)

“Segregation Now: Investigating America's Racial Divide,” by Nikole Hannah-Jones, ProPublica
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Specialized Journalism Site

“InfoGuide: Child Marriage,” by Jeremy Sherlick, Brianna Lee, Hagit Ariav and Robert McMahon, Council on Foreign Relations
Visit Website

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