The Durango Herald earned 34 press awards in the annual Top of the Rockies contest, including for breaking news, general reporting, feature writing, sports columns, photography, page design and editorial cartoons.
The contest was sponsored by the Colorado chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and covered media outlets in four states, including Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The Herald competed in the “large newsroom” category, which included at least 24 other media outlets, including Boulder Daily Camera, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Pueblo Chieftain, Rocky Mountain PBS, among others.
The Herald won more awards than any other media outlet in its size classification.
“The Herald’s reporters, editors and page designers do excellent work, but their skills wouldn’t have a place in La Plata County if it weren’t for readers and advertisers,” said Richard G. Ballantine, chairman of the board of Ballantine Communications Inc., the parent company of the Herald. “Thanks to those who enjoy a print paper or online access – or a combination of both – and to the advertisers that know that using a community newspaper strengthens their business and services.”
Several awards recognized the newspaper for its reporting and photography in specialized fields, including legal affairs, science and technology, and climate change.
The contest was for stories, photos and other editorial content published during the 2021 calendar year.
The awards include:
Legal news: “What impact could a Supreme Court ruling have on Colorado gun laws?” about how a U.S. Supreme Court ruling could affect concealed carry permits in La Plata County and Colorado, by Christian Burney, first place.
“What a clear, concise and captivating breakdown of how gun laws stand to change nationwide,” judges wrote. “From the graphics to the experts, this is well-written explanatory journalism.”
Legal feature: “New La Plata County judge places emphasis on rehabilitation, not prison,” about newly appointed La Plata County Judge Annie Woods, by Jonathan Romeo, first place.
“Through a profile of a young judge with a progressive platform who is trying to keep her word about doing things differently, this piece opens up a thoughtful conversation about criminal justice reform on a larger scale,” the judges wrote. “It also does a fantastic job of highlighting the tension that builds both locally and nationally as attempts to change the system actually start working.”
Science and Technology news: “Can you see climate change? Mapping tools turn millions of data points into visual representations,” about how scientists are using mapping to help people visualize and understand the effects of climate change, by Aedan Hannon, first place.
Arts and Entertainment News or Feature: “Durango does drag: Free expression takes center stage,” about Durango’s drag scene, Shannon Mullane, first place.
Sports Column: “Livi on the Lift: Everyone deserves a chance to play in the snow,” about what Adaptive Sports is doing to help those with physical or cognitive disabilities be able to make turns at Purgatory Resort, by John Livingston, first place.
Feature Photography/Videography: “Cat bath,” photos of Jasper, a 2-year-old Maine coon/gray tabby mix getting a bath, by Jerry McBride, first place.
“Classic definition of a feature photo!” the judges wrote.
Feature Page Design: “An Homage to Louis L'Amour,” about the Jamestown Revival band paying tribute to Louis L’Amour with an album, by Katie Chicklinski-Cahill, first place.
Headline Writing: “Go ahead, tread on me,” a print headline on a story about 5.5 miles of repaired trails after the 416 Fire, by David Buck, first place.
Editorial Cartoon: a collection of cartoons for the Herald, by Wes Rowell, first place.
“These editorial cartoons made me smile as all three poke fun at Colorado weather, which can be unpredictable on a good day,” the judges wrote.
News Reporting – Single Story: “Snowplowing pinch,” about the so-called Great Resignation hitting city, county and state snowplow drivers, by Aedan Hannon, second place.
Business News: “Nugget Mountain Bar and La Plata County spar over permitting,” about the hurdles a local business was facing in dealing with La Plata County regulations, by Aedan Hannon, second place.
Science and Technology News: “Durango nonprofit helps build mapping tool to visualize climate, biodiversity of public lands,” about a local company using mapping to help policymakers make decisions, including those related to conservation efforts, by Aedan Hannon, second place.
Headline Writing: “Silverton back on track,” a print headline about the Silverton economy recovering after the worst of the pandemic, thanks in part to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, by David Buck, second place.
Single Page Design: “Saving wild landscapes,” a print page for Southwest Life that included a column by Andrew Gulliford about saving great landscapes of the American West, by David Buck, second place.
Climate Photography/Videography: “Fire Mitigation,” a series of photographs by Jerry McBride, second place.
News Photography/Videography: “Jadah’s Memorial,” a series of photographs showing grieving family members of Jadah Willmett, a 21-year-old gas station attendant who was killed in Bayfield, by Jerry McBride, second place.
Podcast: “Living Sports with John Livingston – Sam Vickery,” about Sam Vickery riding 357 miles of gravel, by John Livingston, second place.
Sports Column: “Livi on the Lift: Could it be love on the lift?” about two strangers who may have found love in the lift line at Purgatory Resort, by John Livingston, second place.
“One my superpowers is eavesdropping; I find it impossible to tune out the conversations of those around me,” Livingston wrote. “So, as a woman in front of me detailed past relationships that had started by chance encounters at Purgatory, my ears were tuned in.”
Feature Page Design: “To the moon,” a print page for the Arts & Entertainment second that featured a story about a Durango artist’s painting that will be launched in space as part of lunar time capsule, by Katie Chicklinski-Cahill, second place.
Business Enterprise Reporting: “Beer can shortage hits Durango brewers,” about supply chain disruptions affecting microbreweries, by Patrick Armijo, second place.
Breaking News Story: “Colorado father sentenced to prison for killing 13-year-old son, Dylan Redwine,” about the 48-year prison term given to Mark Redwine, by Shane Benjamin, second place.
Ag and Environment Feature: “Bees vs Mites,” about honeybees and beekeepers battling deadly parasite in Southwest Colorado, by Shannon Mullane, second place.
Health News: “Getting back to normal,” about COVID-19 vaccines helping to return a sense of normalcy to La Plata County nursing homes, by Shannon Mullane, second place.
Mental Health Feature: “Caring for the dead,” about the emotional toll local coroners and morticians faced in dealing with COVID-19 deaths, by Shannon Mullane, second place.
“It just impacts you sometimes mentally with all these people passing away and you can’t do anything about it,” said La Plata County Corner Jann Smith. “With our job ... you kind of put that wall up to not be quite so affected by the death. But when you have so many, it starts to eat on you a little bit.”
Health News: “Unfulfilled Promise,” about rapid testing remaining elusive in the fight against COVID-19, by Aedan Hannon, third place.
Single Page Design: “Wolf pack’s fate a mystery,” a Southwest Life page a wolf packs rapid disappearance in northwest Colorado that may foreshadow challenges of a reintroduction effort, by David Buck, third place.
Climate Photography/Videography: “Colorado's drought: How one tribe is getting by,” a series of photographs about water scarcity and the impact on the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, by Jerry McBride, third place.
Sports Photography/Videography: “Bronc Busting” a series of photographs by Jerry McBride, third place.
News Photography/Videography: “Injured hawk,” photos of an injured red-tailed hawk in Hermosa, by Jerry McBride, third place.
Podcast: “Living Sports with John Livingston – Riley Amos,” about a rising star in international mountain biking, by John Livingston, third place.
Sports Column: “Livi on the Lift: Celebrating an old season and new life,” about the end of the ski season, by John Livingston, third place.
Features Short Form: “Young Durango book store owner navigates pandemic,” about Evan Schertz taking over ownership and operations of Maria’s Bookshop, by Jonathan Romeo, third place.
Science and Technology News, “What went wrong? Local propulsion engineer weighs in on ISS tumble,” a story talking with a local propulsion engineer’s insights about what may have happened when a Russian spacecraft inadvertently fired its thrusters sending the International Space Station tumbling 1½ times, by Patrick Armijo, third place.
General Reporting – Series or Package: “Labor Shortage Series,” a package of stories examining the labor shortage in Durango’s service industry, by Shannon Mullane, Patrick Armijo and Aedan Hannon, third place.
