Thank you to all of our sponsors!








Thank you to all of our judges!

Judges:
– Sonny Albarado
– Alexandria Alejandro
– Ira Allen
– Claudia Amezcua
– Jonathon Anderson
– Gena Asher
– Kats Barry
– Leah Betancourt
– Art Blazer
– Rob Branch
– Amy Cherry
– Jigsha Desai
– Steve Dunkelberger
– Debra Dylan
– Jay Evensen
– Dave Foran
– Robert Franklin
– Ginny Frizzi
– Eddye Gallagher
– Khalil Garriott
– Samantha Grant
– Irwin Gratz
– Matt Grubs
– Matt Hall
– Kelly Hawes
– David Haynes
– Robert Hernandez
– Jacob Kanclerz
– Jennifer Karchmer
– Sue Kopen Katcef
– Stephen Komives
– Michael Koretzky
– Robert Leger
– Hagit Limor
– Jonathan Make
– Tony Mastriani
– Suzanne McBride
– Patrick McGrath
– Tom McKee
– Mac McKerral
– Danielle McLean
– Debbie Michel
– Taylor Mirfendereski
– Tom Moore
– Patti Newberry
– Sergy Odiduro
– Ryan Parkhurst
– Sue Porter
– Jane Primerano
– Joe Radske
– Christopher Ritchie
– McKenzie Romero
– Andy Schotz
– Steve Schuster
– Charles Sennett
– Lori Shontz
– Kevin Smith
– Megan Toland
– Elle Toussi
– Chris Vaccaro
– Alex Veeneman
– Meg Wagner
– Lynn Walsh
– Rick Wilson
– Amanda Womac
– Steve York

Special Thanks:
– Association of Opinion Journalists
– Society for News Design
– SPJ Pittsburgh Pro Chapter
– SPJ Florida Pro Chapter

Associate Judges:
– Steven Asbury
– Chris Barry
– Mariah Beckman
– John Boel
– Helen Brandt
– Bonnie Brownlee
– John Brummett
– Doug Buchanan
– Kim Bui
– Steve Burgin
– Gabrielle Burkhart
– Dave Burns
– Barbara Cariddi
– Chris Carl
– Vera Chan
– Bekka Chaplin
– Cheryl Clark
– Michelle Clemens
– Gilber Corsey
– Steve Cosio
– Caitlin Cruz
– Doug Cumming
– Carmelyn Daley
– Dave Delozier
– Aimee Edmonson
– Ed Esposito
– Tim Ethridge
– Tyson Evans
– Manny Fantis
– Chris Faraone
– Meghann Farnsworth
– Frank Fellone
– Sandra Fiore
– Jim Fisher
– Nora Flaherty
– Adrienne Flynn
– Dave Foran
– Beverly Ford
– Michael Gannon
– Manny Garcia
– Khalil Garriott
– Lauren Gibbons
– Stephen Goforth
– Margo Greenman
– Kevin Hall
– Lisa Halverstadt
– Lorie Hearn
– Joe Hinshaw
– Julanne Hohbach
– Kim Holland
– Mike Horan
– Venita James
– George Johnson
– Patrice Jones
– Buck Kahler
– Karen Kasler
– Kirstie Keate
– Anne Kibbler
– Kristen Kraemer
– Dave Kuhn
– Young Kwak
– Lila LaHood
– Jack Lail
– Curtis Lawrence
– Paul Levikow
– Frank Lockwood
– Larry Lough
– Carolyn Lumsden
– Ross Maghielse
– Merlin Mann
– Gaddiel Martinez
– Shelley Mays
– DJ McAneny
– Stan McKinney
– Kate McMahon
– Don Meyers
– Evan Millward
– Lysee Mitri
– Dan Mourain
– Mark Mourer
– Tommy Mumert
– Courtney Munther
– Dana Neuts
– Vanessa Nguyen
– Jessica Noll
– David North
– Ryan O’Connor
– Douglas Okasaki
– Kelly Olson
– Becky Parker
– Dawn Parker
– John Partipilo
– Silvia Pereida
– Eric Peterson
– Sara Quinn
– Dan Riker
– Chris Riva
– Jorge Rodas
– Richard Ruelas
– Chloe Sayers
– Trent Seibert
– George Seversen
– Steven Siff
– Lee Steele
– Mizell Stewart
– Will Sullivan
– Dr. Susan
– Scott Swafford
– Scott Taylor
– Sue Toth
– Christian Trejbal
– Gregg Trusty
– Chris Turner
– Bow Tweh
– Scott Underwood
– Alex Veeneman
– George Vogel
– Susan Waring
– David Wells
– Ginny Whitehouse
– Jenny Wohlfarth
– Cindy Wright

Sigma Delta Chi Awards
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2009 Winners
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Awards
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Mark of Excellence
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Questions?
Contact us here.

Awards & Honors Committee Chair

Peter Rasmussen
Email

2015 Sigma Delta Chi Award Honorees

The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in journalism.

Judges chose the winners from nearly 1,500 entries in categories covering print, radio, television and online. The awards recognize outstanding work published or broadcast in 2015.

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

Note: An earlier version of this list incorrectly credited an entry that, upon further review, was not eligible to win in that category.

Newspaper/Wire Services

Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation of 100,001+)

San Bernardino terrorist attack, by staff, Los Angeles Times
Download [PDF]

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

San Bernardino mass shootings, by staff, The Press-Enterprise
Read online

Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation of 1-50,000)

San Bernardino terror attack, by staff, The Sun
Download [PDF]

Deadline Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)

Coverage of SCOTUS marriage ruling, by Jen Colletta, Scott A. Drake and Sean Dorn, Philadelphia Gay News
Download [PDF]

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

“2050 Demographics,” by staff, The Wall Street Journal
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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

“Warehousing our children,” by Lauren Sausser, The Post and Courier
Download [PDF]

Non-Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)

“Call waiting,” by staff, The Advocate
Download [PDF]

Non-Deadline Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)

“The re-education of New Orleans,” by Education Week
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Investigative Reporting (Daily Circulation 100,001+)

“Seafood from slaves,” by Esther Htusan, Margie Mason, Robin McDowell and Martha Mendoza, The Associated Press
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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

“Line of fire,” by Lawrence Mower, Pat Beall and Katie LaGrone, The Palm Beach Post/WPTV
Download [PDF]

Investigative Reporting (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)

“Violation of trust,” by George Pawlaczyk and Beth Hundsdorfer, Belleville News-Democrat
Download [PDF]

Investigative Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)

“The shell game,” by Matthew Kish, Portland Business Journal
Download [PDF]

Feature Reporting (Daily Circulation 100,001+)

“American survivors,” by Eli Saslow, The Washington Post
Download [PDF]

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

“Innocence found,” by Jacob Baynham, The Christian Science Monitor
Download [PDF]

Feature Reporting (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)

“Call of the wildfire,” by Tristan Baurick, Kitsap Sun
Download [PDF]

Feature Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)

“Jason Genova: The saga of a YouTube bodybuilding broscience celebrity,” by Kyle Swenson, New Times Broward-Palm Beach
Read online

Editorial Writing (Daily Circulation 100,001+)

“Breaking down a police stonewall,” by Lee Hockstader, The Washington Post
Download [PDF]

Editorial Writing (Daily Circulation of 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication)

The Corey Jones shooting, by Rick Christie, Stacey Singer and Howard Goodman, The Palm Beach Post
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Washington Correspondence

“Divided nation,” by Michael Kranish, The Boston Globe
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Foreign Correspondence

“The outlaw ocean,” by Ian Urbina, The New York Times
Download [PDF]

General Column Writing (Daily Circulation 100,001+)

Kevin Cullen, The Boston Globe
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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

“A city's voice,” by Ronnie Polaneczky, Philadelphia Daily News
Download [PDF]

Sports Column Writing (Daily Circulation 100,001+)

John Canzano, The Oregonian/OregonLive
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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

Geoff Calkins, The Commercial Appeal
Download [PDF]

Public Service Journalism (Daily Circulation 100,001+)

Fatal shootings by police, by staff, The Washington Post
Download [PDF]

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

Tax crisis, by Projects staff, Asbury Park Press
View online

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

“Misuse of public money at McAlester Public Schools,” by staff, McAlester News-Capital
Download [PDF]

Public Service Journalism (Non-Daily Publication)

“That which divides us,” by Nick Swartsell, CityBeat
Read online

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Magazines

Magazine Investigative Reporting (National Circulation)

“Inside the hack of the century,” by Peter Elkind, Fortune
Download [PDF]

Magazine Investigative Reporting (Regional/Local Circulation)

“Graves of Shame,” by John Carlos Frey, Texas Observer / The Investigative Fund
Download [PDF]

Magazine Writing (National Circulation)

“Cleavers at Ten Paces,” by Erika Fry, Fortune
Download [PDF]

Magazine Writing (Regional/Local Circulation)

“Homeland insecurity,” by Melissa del Bosque, Patrick Michels, The Texas Observer and The Investigative Fund
Download [PDF]

Public Service in Magazine Journalism (National Circulation)

“America's antibiotic crisis,” by Consumer Reports Health & Food CFA, Consumer Reports
Download [PDF]

Public Service in Magazine Journalism (Regional/Local Circulation)

“Why food allergy fakers need to stop,” by Neil Swidey, The Boston Globe
Read online

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Art/Graphics

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

“Death and Compassion,” by Tumay Berkin, Scott Mc Kiernan and James K. Colton, ZUMA Press

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

“Marred by tragedy,” by David Bitton, Stillwater News Press

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

Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News
Download [PDF]

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

Angelo Lopez, Philippines Today
Download [PDF]

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

“Coming Ashore,” by Muhammed Muheisen and Santi Palacios, The Associated Press

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

Photography from “Evicted and Abandoned: The World Bank’s Broken Promise to the Poor,” by The Center for Public Integrity's International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, The Huffington Post, The Food & Environment Reporting Network, The Investigative Fund and other media partners, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists

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

“Discovering Gale Crater,” by Armand Emamdjomeh, Los Angeles Times
View online

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

“Exxon: The Road Not Taken,” by Paul Horn, InsideClimate News
View online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

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

“Face Time,” by Thomas Eisenhuth, Scott Mc Kiernan and James K. Colton, ZUMA Press

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

No winner Chosen

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Radio

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

“Live from The Washington Wildfires,” by Anna King and Phyllis Fletcher, Northwest News Network

Breaking News Reporting (101+ Market)

“A historic day on the University of Missouri campus,” by KBIA News, KBIA

Investigative Reporting (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)

“Unholy water,” by Doug Sovern, Ed Cavagnaro, KCBS Radio

Investigative Reporting (101+ Market)

“Why is justice for Garrett Phillips so complicated?,” by Natasha Haverty, David Sommerstein and Martha Foley, North Country Public Radio

Feature Reporting (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)

“She remembers it all,” by Erika Lantz, WBUR
Read story and listen online

Feature Reporting (101+ Market)

“Western Kentucky a birthplace of steel,” by Todd Hatton, Chad Lampe and Allison Crawford, WKMS
Read story and listen online

Documentaries (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)

“Hooked: Tracking Heroin's hold on Arizona,” by staff, Cronkite News, Arizona PBS, KAET-TV, Arizona PBS
Read story and listen online

Documentaries (101+ Market)

“Puerto Rico to Chicago drug treatment pipeline,” by Adriana Cardona-Maguigad, Ira Glass, Cate Cahan, Kari Lydersen, Bill Healy and Nancy Updike, Social Justice News Nexus at Medill - Northwestern
Read story and listen online

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

“Incredible cops,” by Robert Lewis, Noah Veltman, Xander Landen, David Lewis and John Keefe, WNYC

Public Service in Radio Journalism (101+ Market)

“Shortage in rich land,” by Kristofor Husted, Bram Sable-Smith, KBIA
Read story and listen online

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Television

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


“Tragedy on the tracks,” by staff, News 12 Westchester
Watch online

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


“We're just hoping,” by Christopher Wood, John Craven, Matt Grindle and Mike Marrero, News 12 Connecticut
Watch online

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


“Desperate Journey: Europe’s migrant crisis,” by The CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley, CBS News
Watch online

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


“The injustice system: Cops, courts and greedy politicians,” by Craig Cheatham, Jim Thomas and Ryan Bellamy, KMOV-TV
Watch online

Documentaries (Small-Market Station, 51+ market)


“Chronicle: Children Of Katrina,” by Jonathan Shelley, Warren Stewart, Marcy O’Leary, Megan Mackel, Travers Mackel, Gina Swanson, Heath Allen, Randi Rousseau, Jeremy Burson, Ethan Broussard, Mark Chapman and Norman Robinson, WDSU TV
Watch online

Documentaries (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)


“Killing cancer,” by Scott Pelley, Michael Radutzky, Denise Schrier Cetta, Stephanie Palewski Brumbach, Robert Zimet and Michael Kaplan, 60 Minutes, CBS News
Watch online

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


“Sing me a story,” by Jason Lamb and Catherine Steward, WTVF-TV
Watch online

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


“Eric Hanson's This is Iowa,” by Eric Hanson, Glen Biermann and Michael Sims, KCCI-TV
Watch online

Feature Reporting (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)


“Water, water,” by Lee Cowan, Sari Aviv, David Small and Rand Morrison, CBS Sunday Morning, CBS News
Watch online

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


“LA's nuclear secret,” by Joel Grover, Matthew Glasser, Matt Goldberg and Andres Pruna, KNBC-TV
Watch online

Investigative Reporting (Small-Market Station, 51+)


“Swiped: Financial mismanagement,” by Lee Zurik, Jon Turnipseed, Tom Wright and Greg Phillips, WVUE-TV
Watch online

Investigative Reporting (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)


“Sea dragon down,” by Mike Hixenbaugh, Anna Schecter, Cynthia McFadden, Jason Paladino and Rob Kaplan, UC Berkeley Investigative Reporting Program, NBC News, the Virginian-Pilot, UC Berkeley I.R.P.
Watch online

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


“Police and the public,” by KSL-TV, KSL
Watch online

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


“Trafficked: Web of despair,” by staff, KRGV TV
Watch online

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


“The Storm After the Storm,” by Sharyn Alfonsi, Michael Rey, Oriana Zill de Granados, Patrick Lee and Jack Weingart, CBS News
Watch online

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Newsletters

Public Service in Newsletter Journalism

“Communications Daily on FCC Transparency,” by Howard Buskirk, John Hendel, Jonathan Make and Jacob Rund, Warren Communications News
Download [PDF]

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Research

Research about Journalism

“How to make J-School matter (Again): A blueprint for the future of journalism education,” by Nieman Foundation for Journalism and Amy Webb, Nieman Reports
Download [PDF]

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Online Reporting

Deadline Reporting (Affiliated)

San Bernardino Terrorist Attack: The online report, by staff, Los Angeles Times
Read online

Deadline Reporting (Independent)

“Liberating Sinjar from ISIS,” by staff, Iraq Oil Report
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3

Investigative Reporting (Affiliated)

“Tragic harvest,” by Jeff Meitrodt, Renée Jones Schneider, Star Tribune
Read online

Investigative Reporting (Independent)

“Rape on the night shift,” by Bernice Yeung, Daffodil Altan, Sasha Khokha, Andres Cediel and Lowell Bergman, Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, The Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley, FRONTLINE, Univision and KQED
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3

Non-Deadline Reporting (Affiliated)

“Unsolved: A murdered teen, a 40-year mystery,” by staff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Non-Deadline Reporting (Independent)

“Drug Problems: Dangerous decision-making at the FDA,” by John Crewdson, David Hilzenrath, Michael Smallberg and Charles R. Babcock, Project On Government Oversight
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Online Column Writing (Affiliated)

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

Online Column Writing (Independent)

“Race in America,” by Adam Serwer, BuzzFeed News
Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Digital Audio

No winner chosen

Audio Slide Show

“Starstruck,” by staff, The Texas Tribune
Read story and listen online

Digital Video

“Post script,” by Ariane Wu, Amanda Pike, Michael Corey and Murray Carpenter, “Reveal” from The Center for Investigative Reporting
Read story and watch online

EBooks

“Frozen in History: Amazing Tales from Minnesota’s Past,” by Curt Brown and Mike Rice, Star Tribune
More information

Public Service in Online Journalism (Affiliated)

“The counted,” by Jon Swaine, Oliver Laughland and staff, Guardian US
Read online: Read online: Link 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Public Service in Online Journalism (Independent)

“Left for dead,” by G.W. Schulz, Michael Corey, Michael Montgomery and Michael I Schiller, “Reveal” from The Center for Investigative Reporting
Read online: Link 1 | 2

Specialized Journalism Site

“Buying Democracy,” by Zach Toombs, Andrew Lawler and Ted Noelker, Newsy
Visit Website

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