2016 Sigma Delta Chi Award Honorees
The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in journalism.
Newspaper/Wire Services
Magazines
Art/Graphics
Radio
Television
Newsletters
Research
Online Reporting
Judges chose the winners from entries in categories covering print, radio, television and online. The awards recognize outstanding work published or broadcast in 2016.
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.
Newspaper/Wire Services
Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation of 100,001+)
Ghost Ship warehouse fire, by staff, San Francisco Chronicle
Download [PDF]
Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation of 50,001-100,000)
“Death of a jurist,” by staff, San Antonio Express-News
View online
Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation of 1-50,000)
“Heinrich confesses to Wetterling's death,” by David Unze, Kirsti Marohn, Stephanie Dickrell and Jenny Berg, St. Cloud Times
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4
Deadline Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)
“Philly, nation respond to Orlando massacre” by Jen Colletta, Paige Cooperstein and Scott Drake, Philadelphia Gay News
Download [PDF]
Non-Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation of 100,001+)
“From Burma to Buffalo,” by Jerry Zremski, The Buffalo News
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4 |
Link 5
Non-Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)
“Bias on the bench,” by Josh Salman, Emily Le Coz and Elizabeth Johnson, Sarasota Herald Tribune
Download [PDF]
Non-Deadline Reporting (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“Redefining Justice,” by staff, The Villages Daily Sun
Download [PDF]
Non-Deadline Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)
“What Ever Became of the Children of Jerusalem?” by Naomi Zeveloff, Forward
View online
Investigative Reporting (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
“The DEA Dilemma,” by Lenny Bernstein, David S. Fallis and Scott Higham, The Washington Post
Download [PDF]
Investigative Reporting (Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)
“Lead, arsenic contamination in East Chicago, Indiana's West Calumet Housing Complex,” by Sarah Reese and Lauren Leone-Cross, The Times of Northwest Indiana
View online
Investigative Reporting (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“Mississippi Child Care Crisis,” by Sarah Butrymowicz and Jackie Mader, The Hechinger Report & The Clarion-Ledger
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4 |
Link 5
Investigative Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)
“Neglecting Wisconsin's Vets,” by Katelyn Ferral, The Capital Times
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3
Feature Reporting (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
“Framed,” by Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times
View online
Feature Reporting (Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)
“The Hardest Test,” by Stephanie Innes, Arizona Daily Star
View online
Feature Reporting (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“Edward Snowden's Guardian Angels,” by Sönke Iwersen, Handelsblatt
Download [PDF]
Feature Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)
“Kush City,” by Leif Reigstad, Houston Press
View online
Editorial Writing (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
Ambush in Dallas, by editorial team, The Dallas Morning News
Download [PDF]
Editorial Writing (Daily Circulation of 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication)
“The Jailhouse Death of Jamycheal Mitchell,” by Brian Colligan, The Virginian-Pilot
Download [PDF]
Washington Correspondence
“A Portrait of Donald Trump,” by David A. Fahrenthold, The Washington Post
Download [PDF]
Foreign Correspondence
“The Desperate Trek,” by staff, Los Angeles Times
View online
General Column Writing (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
Erika D. Smith, The Sacramento Bee
Download [PDF]
General Column Writing (Daily Circulation 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication)
Mark D. Harmon, Knoxville News Sentinel
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4
Sports Column Writing (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
Jason Gay, The Wall Street Journal
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4 |
Link 5
Sports Column Writing (Daily Circulation 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication)
Tom Archdeacon, Cox Media Group Ohio
Download [PDF]
Public Service Journalism (Daily Circulation 100,001+)
“Denied: How Texas Keeps Tens of Thousands of Children Out of Special Education,” by staff, Houston Chronicle
Download [PDF]
Public Service Journalism (Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)
“Flawed responses to campus sexual assault,” by staff, The Salt Lake Tribune
Download [PDF]
Public Service Journalism (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“Obfuscation and Ignorance,” by Jonathan D. Austin, The Virgin Islands Daily News
Download [PDF]
Public Service Journalism (Non-Daily Publication)
Flint water crisis, by staff, MLive
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4 |
Link 5 |
Link 6 |
Link 7 |
Link 8
[ BACK TO TOP ]
Magazines
Magazine Investigative Reporting (National Circulation)
“How to Hack an Election,” by Jordan Robertson, Michael Riley and Andrew Willis, Bloomberg Businessweek
Download [PDF]
Magazine Investigative Reporting (Regional/Local Circulation)
“Who Guards the Guardians?” by Patrick Michels and Gus Bova, Texas Observer
View online
Magazine Writing (National Circulation)
“Trump Days,” by George Saunders, The New Yorker
Download [PDF]
Magazine Writing (Regional/Local Circulation)
“The Reckoning,” by Neil Swidey, The Boston Globe Magazine
View online
Public Service in Magazine Journalism (National Circulation)
“Fractured Lands,” by Scott Anderson, Paolo Pellegrin and Ben Solomon, New York Times Magazine
Download [PDF]
Public Service in Magazine Journalism (Regional/Local Circulation)
“Hopes, Dreams, Debt,” by Neil Swidey, The Boston Globe Magazine
View online
[ BACK TO TOP ]
Art/Graphics
Breaking News Photography (Newspaper Circulation 100,001+, Affiliated Website, National Magazine)
“An Assassination,” by Burhan Ozbilici, Associated Press
Breaking News Photography (Newspaper Circulation 1-100,000, Regional Magazine, Non-Daily Publication or Online Independent)
“Homeless,” by Aleppo Media Center via ZUMA Wire Service
Editorial Cartooning (Newspaper Circulation 100,001+, Affiliated Website, National Magazine)
Nate Beeler, The Columbus Dispatch
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)
“Brazil: Living With Zika,” by Felipe Dana, Associated Press
Feature Photography (Newspaper Circulation 1-100,000, Regional Magazine, Non-Daily Publication or Online Independent)
“Flint Water Crisis,” by Jake May, The Flint Journal/MLive.com
Informational Graphics (Newspaper Circulation 100,001+, Affiliated Website, National Magazine)
“Blue Feed/Red Feed,” by Jonathan Keegan, The Wall Street Journal
View online
Informational Graphics (Newspaper Circulation 1-100,000, Regional Magazine, Non-Daily Publication or Online Independent)
“Rivers of Tennessee,” by Kent Travis, The Tennessean
Download [PDF]
Sports Photography (Newspaper Circulation 100,001+, Affiliated Website, National Magazine)
“The Save,” by Lindsey Wasson, The Seattle Times
Sports Photography (Newspaper Circulation 1-100,000, Regional Magazine, Non-Daily Publication or Online Independent)
“The War is NOT Over!” by Scott Mc Kiernan, ZUMA Wire Service
[ BACK TO TOP ]
Radio
Breaking News Reporting (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
Pulse Nightclub, by CBS Radio News Staff, CBS Radio News
Breaking News Reporting (101+ Market)
“Inferno Threatens Santa Barbara County Homes,” by Lance Orozco, KCLU AM/FM
Read story and listen online
Investigative Reporting (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
“Advanced Black Lung Cases Surge in Appalachia,” by Howard Berkes, Robert Little, Nicole Beemsterboer, Benny Becker, Ohio Valley ReSource/National Public Radio
Investigative Reporting (101+ Market)
“FAA Plan to Shift Weather Observations at Airport Raises Safety Concerns,” by Deborah Shaar, KMUW Wichita Public Radio
Read story and listen online:
Link 1 |
Link 2
Feature Reporting (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
“A Life of Predictable Emergencies: Undocumented on Dialysis,” by Jake Harper, Side Effects Public Media
Read story and listen online
Feature Reporting (101+ Market)
“Not All Felons Want to Vote: A Community Worn Down by Politics,” by Mallory Noe-Payne, WVTF/RadioIQ
Read story and listen online:
Link 1 |
Link 2
Documentaries (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
“America Works,” by staff, CBS Radio News
Documentaries (101+ Market)
“...and justice for all,” by Pat Duggins, Stan Ingold, Alex Aubuchon and MacKenzie Bates, Alabama Public Radio
Public Service in Radio Journalism (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
“Wells Fargo Hurts Whistleblowers: NPR Investigation Sparks Senate Inquiry,” by Chris Arnold, Robert Smith and Elizabeth Kulas, National Public Radio, Planet Money
Read story and listen online:
Link 1 |
Link 2
Public Service in Radio Journalism (101+ Market)
“Small Town Justice: The Nick Hillary Trial,” by David Sommerstein, Lauren Rosenthal, Brit Hanson and Martha Foley, North Country Public Radio
Television
Breaking News Coverage (Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)
“Charlotte Riots: Chaos in the Queen City,” by Bill Melugin, WJZY-TV FOX46 Charlotte
Watch online
Breaking News Coverage (Small-Market Station, 51+ market)
Flood 2016 Breaking News Coverage, by Kevin Barry, Aaron Gerhardt, Matt Larsen and Jason Meyer, KGAN/KFXA
Watch online
Breaking News Coverage (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
“Standoff at Standing Rock: Epic Native resistance to Dakota Access Pipeline,” by Amy Goodman, Laura Gottesdiener, John Hamilton and Denis Moynihan, Democracy Now!
Watch online
Documentaries (Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)
“Dying For Change: Domestic Violence Victims and Law Enforcement Failures,” by Tony Kovaleski, Brittany Freeman, Andy Miller, Lindsay Radford, Ryan Luby, Jason Foster and Peter Lipomi, KMGH-TV
Watch online
Documentaries (Small-Market Station, 51+ market)
“No Room In Paradise,” by Anthony Aalto, Mike Hinchey, Gopinatha Hope Duran and Rick Blangiardi, Green Island Films
Watch online
Documentaries (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
“48 Hours: Live to Tell: The Long Road Home,” by Vladimir Duthiers, Judy Tygard, Chris Young Ritzen, Michelle Fanucci, Nancy Kramer, Ruth Chenetz and Susan Zirinsky, CBS News
Watch online
Feature Reporting (Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)
“Bringing Back Bruce,” by Lara Greenberg and Kyle Cooper, WHP CBS 21
Watch online
Feature Reporting (Small-Market Station, 51+ market)
“Weathering the Storm of Autism,” by Blake Essig and Albert Lutan, KTUU-TV
Watch online
Feature Reporting (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
“The Climate Diaries,” by Mark Phillips, Lynne Edwards, Thorsten Hoefle and Andy Stevenson, CBS News
Watch online
Investigative Reporting (Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)
“Failing at Fire Drills,” by Mitch Blacher, Jim O'Donnell, Dan Lee and Charlie Wellock, NBC Philadelphia
Watch online
Investigative Reporting (Small-Market Station, 51+)
No winner chosen
Investigative Reporting (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
“Kayla Mueller: The Girl Left Behind,” by Brian Ross, James Gordon Meek, Brian Epstein, Megan Christie and Rhonda Schwartz, 20/20, ABC News
Watch online
Public Service in Television Journalism (Large-Market Station, 1-50 market)
“Toxic Safety: Investigating Car Seat Chemicals,” by Julie Watts and ConsumerWatch Team, KPIX
Watch online
Public Service in Television Journalism (Small-Market Station, 51+ market)
“Medical Waste,” by Lee Zurik, Jon Turnipseed, Tom Wright and Greg Phillips, WVUE-TV
Watch online
Public Service in Television Journalism (Network/Syndication Service/Program Service)
EpiPen Price Uproar, by CBS This Morning, CBS News
Watch online
[ BACK TO TOP ]
Newsletters
Public Service in Newsletter Journalism
“Challenges Facing Pacific Gas & Electric,” by Mavis Scanlon, California Energy Markets
Download [PDF]
[ BACK TO TOP ]
Research
Research about Journalism
“The New Newsrooms,” by Charles Lewis, Pietro Lombardi, Daniel Farber-Ball and Kelly Martin, Investigative Reporting Workshop
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4 |
Link 5
[ BACK TO TOP ]
Online Reporting
Deadline Reporting (Affiliated)
Brussels attacks, by Cassandra Vinograd, David Wyllie, Alastair Jamieson, Jason Cumming, Alex Smith, Matt Grimson and Lisa McNally, NBC News
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3
Deadline Reporting (Independent)
“An ISIS Surprise Attack,” by Iraq Oil Report
View online
Investigative Reporting (Affiliated)
“Great Land Rush,” by Tom Burgis, Pilita Clark and Michael Peel and Charlie Bibby, The Financial Times
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3
Investigative Reporting (Independent)
“Failure at the Faucet,” by staff and UW-Madison J475 students, Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4 |
Link 5
Non-Deadline Reporting (Affiliated)
“The Long Walk Home From War,” by John Luciew and Joe Hermitt, PennLive/Patriot-News
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4 |
Link 5
Non-Deadline Reporting (Independent)
“Electionland,” by staff, ProPublica and the Electionland Coalition
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4 |
Link 5
Online Column Writing (Affiliated)
Molly Ball, The Atlantic
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4 |
Link 5
Online Column Writing (Independent)
Eric Black, MinnPost
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4 |
Link 5
Digital Audio
“In the Dark,” by Madeleine Baran, Samara Freemark, Natalie Jablonski and Catherine Winter, APM Reports
Audio Slide Show
“After the Boom,” by Marie Cusick, Ian Sterling, Tom Downing and Tim Lambert, StateImpact Pennsylvania
View online
Digital Video
“Toxic Lake: The Untold Story of Lake Okeechobee,” by Kait Parker, Marcus Stern, Spencer Wilking, Greg Gilderman and Craig Wilson, weather.com
Read story and watch online
EBooks
“Madaya Mom,” by Dan Silver, Xana O'Neill, Rym Momtaz, Dalibor Talajic and Miroslav Mrva, ABC News
View online
Public Service in Online Journalism (Affiliated)
“PolitiFact,” by staff, Tampa Bay Times
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4 |
Link 5 |
Link 6
Public Service in Online Journalism (Independent)
“Busted,” by Ryan Gabrielson and Topher Sanders, ProPublica
View online:
Link 1 |
Link 2 |
Link 3 |
Link 4 |
Link 5
Specialized Journalism Site
“Divided America,” by staff, The Associated Press
Visit website
[ BACK TO TOP ]