Society of Professional Journalists

Sigma Delta Chi Awards General Info Categories Honorees 2015 Winners 2014 Winners 2013 Winners 2012 Winners 2011 Winners 2010 Winners 2009 Winners 2008 Winners 2007 Winners 2006 Winners 2005 Winners 2004 Winners 2003 Winners 2002 Winners 2001 Winners 2000 Winners 1999 Winners 1997 Winners 1996 Winners Awards All Awards Sigma Delta Chi Mark of Excellence New America Award Foundation Awards Questions? Contact Awards Coordinator Abbi Martzall via email or by phone 317/927-8000, ext. 210. Awards & Honors Committee Chair The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in journalism. Jump to: Newspaper/Wire Services Magazines Art/Graphics Radio Television Newsletters Research Online Reporting 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 20 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. 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 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 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 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 Project, The Investigative Fund and other media partners, The Center for Public Integrity 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 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 and David Lewis, WNYC Public Service in Radio Journalism (101+ Market) “Shortage in rich land,” by Kristofor Husted, Bram Sable-Smith, KBIA Read story and listen online 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, 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 Cetta, Robert Zimet and Stephanie Palewski Brumbach, 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, The Virginian-Pilot newspaper; Anna Schecter, NBC News Investigative Unit; Cynthia McFadden, NBC News Investigative Unit; Jason Paladino, 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) “Broken trust: Failures in the foster system,” by Vicky Nguyen, Michael Bott, and Mark Villarreal, KNTV Watch online 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] 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] 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 of 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