The Durango Herald won 29 newspaper awards this year at the Top of the Rockies journalism contest – more than any other publication for its circulation size in a four-state region.
The awards were given for general news reporting, agricultural reporting, page design, photography and investigative reporting.
The contest was sponsored by the Colorado chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and included media outlets in four states, including Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The Herald competed with 18 other media outlets in the “large newsrooms” category.
The newspaper won first-place awards for news reporting, feature writing, legal news and social justice photography. A total of 10 staff members won awards.
“It’s wonderful to have such talented writers, editors and page designers who frequently win awards,” said Richard G. Ballantine, chair of the Herald’s board of directors. “We will continue to do the best we can, but it requires readers and advertisers to make this quality work possible. Thanks to everyone who supports the newspaper and its digital offerings.”
Other Colorado publications that competed in the large newsroom category included 5280, Aurora Sentinel, Boulder Daily Camera, Capital & Main, Denver Business Journal, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Rocky Mountain PBS, St. George News and Westword, among others.
Other big winners included Rocky Mountain PBS with 20 awards, 5280 with 21, Denver Gazette with 26, Salt Lake Tribune with 27, The Colorado Sun with 27, Desert News with 30 and WyoFile with 32 awards.
The Cortez Journal won two awards, including a first-place award for social justice reporting and a second-place award for general reporting on a sex assault case involving former Ute Mountain Ute tribal official Lyndreth Wall.
The Southern Ute Drum took eight awards, including seven in photography.
Top of the Rockies recognized stories, photos and other editorial content published during the 2025 calendar year. It does not cover advertising or opinion submissions.
The Herald awards include:
Legal feature: “Female victims speak out about alleged invasion of privacy at La Plata County Jail,” by Elizabeth Pond, first place.
News reporting-single story: “Women's Resource Center staff, volunteers quit alleging ethical concerns with board,” by Pond, first place.
Social justice photography/videography: “Illegal Camp sweep,” by Jerry McBride, first place.
Features: Short form: “Cybertrucks elicit strong reactions, but Durango owners stand firm,” by Jessica Bowman, first place.
Sports columns: For a series of sports columns by Bryce Kelly, second place.
Business enterprise reporting: “A fight for minimum wage increase,” by Christian Burney, second place.
Religion news: “Durango Vineyard Church purchases Nissan dealership after spending over a decade adrift,” by Burney, second place.
Politics news: “Durango school board candidate deletes blog before seeking election,” by Pond, second place.
Information graphic: “Slicing up Durango's sales tax,” by Gabriel Glenn and Shane Benjamin, second place.
News photography/videography: “To honor those,” by McBride, second place.
Sports photography/videography: “Flying down Molas,” by McBride, second place.
Investigative reporting: “Claims of slurs, bullying led to Fort Lewis College basketball coach’s resignation,” by Jessie Bowman, second place.
Education news: “’Am I foolish?' Durango teachers reflect on careers as contract talks resume,” by Reuben Schafir, second place.
Health news: “As measles outbreak grows in Texas, fears increase in Southwest Colorado,” by Schafir, second place.
Legal news: “Widespread sexual harassment found after resignation of La Plata County Jail commander,” by Schafir, second place.
Climate reporting: “What role does climate change play in extreme weather events like flooding at Vallecito?” by Scout Edmondson, second place.
Education feature: “How do La Plata County schools explain the ‘why’ behind shooting drills?” by Pond, third place.
Investigative reporting: “Female victims speak out about alleged invasion of privacy at La Plata County Jail,” by Pond, third place.
Politics feature: “FLC Turning Point USA chapter president says he has ‘thick skin’ amid controversy,” by Pond, third place.
Solutions journalism: “La Plata County family finds purpose through fostering and adoption,” by Pond, third place.
Spot news photography/videography: “Raft caught in flood debris,” by McBride, third place.
A&E and food: news or feature: “Dutch ovens, cowboy hats and biscuits: Chuckwagon dinner returns to La Plata County,” by Bowman, third place.
Ag and environment: News: “Calving season arrives – but vets are in short supply in Southwest Colorado,” by Bowman, third place.
Feature page design: “Magic Rocks, Full Circle, Record Swap,” by Katie Chicklinski-Cahill, third place.
Front page design: “A flicker in the Marsh,” by Chicklinski-Cahill, third place.
Headline writing: For a series of headlines by Chicklinski-Cahill, third place.
Single page design: “The Perfect Home,” by Chicklinski-Cahill, third place.
Science and technology feature: “A flicker in the marsh: Building community and learning about La Plata County's fireflies,” by Edmondson, third place.
Breaking news story: “Federal agents use pepper spray, rubber bullets on Durango protesters,” by Edmondson and Burney, third place.
