DENVER – The Durango Herald won more than 90 awards in Colorado’s two major newspaper contests Friday night, including honors for public service journalism and a number of awards for online reporting.
The Herald won the general excellence award for its website, as well as numerous awards for online breaking news for its reporting on wildfires and the disappearance of Dylan Redwine.
Journalists in Arkansas and Virginia judged the work of their Colorado peers in contests sponsored by the Colorado Associated Press Editors and Reporters (CAPER) and the Colorado Press Association (CPA). Winners were announced Friday night at the Westin Hotel in downtown Denver.
City editor Shane Benjamin won first place in public service in the CAPER contest for his examination of school security. Denver reporter Joe Hanel won second for “Fire trap,” a series about federal wildfire policy. In the CPA contest, “Fire trap” took first in public service, and the school security investigation took second.
Advertising designer Hanah Noland won four awards, including a one-two-three sweep of the category for small-space ads.
“Our readers and advertisers deserve thanks for using and relying on the Herald and Cortez Journal in the way they do,” said Richard Ballantine, chairman of the board of Ballantine Communications Inc. “It takes a full staff from all departments to do the work we do.”
Other Southwest Colorado newspapers had strong showings, as well.
The Pagosa Springs SUN won the general excellence award for mid-sized weeklies, given to the paper with the most all-around awards in advertising, editorial, photo, design and online categories.
The Southern Ute Drum won sweepstakes awards for photo, design and online journalism for monthly newspapers.
And the Herald’s sister paper, the Cortez Journal, won the photo and design sweepstakes award in its circulation class.
“The awards won by the Herald news staff are great recognition for a team of dedicated journalists,” said Don Lindley, Ballantine Communications editor. “I’m especially proud of the honors for public service and for our ongoing efforts to develop an outstanding news website.”
In the Herald’s circulation class, the Vail Daily won overall honors in the CAPER contest, and the Steamboat Pilot and Today won in CPA.
Here are the Herald’s award winners:
CAPER awards
Beat reporting: First place, Shane Benjamin, Dale Rodebaugh, Emery Cowan, Jordyn Dahl and Robert Galin for coverage of Dylan Redwine’s disappearance
Business story: First place, Emery Cowan, “Dollars and gas.” Third place, Shane Benjamin, “Durango moniker”
Editorial writing: First place, Bill Roberts. Second place, Megan Graham
Feature photo: First place, Steve Lewis, Blues Traveler. Second place, Jerry McBride, “Eye on the fly”
Headline writing: First place, Aaron Unterreiner. Third place, John Peel
Informational graphic: First place, Cliff Vancura
Investigative reporting: First place, Joe Hanel, for a series on a Durango Ponzi scheme. Third place, Shane Benjamin, “How safe are our schools?”
News column: First place, Bill Roberts. Second place, Carol Huser
Online breaking news: First place, Herald staff
Online general excellence: First place, Herald staff
Photo coverage of a continuing story: First place, Dave Bergeland, for coverage of the Democratic National Convention. Second place, Shaun Stanley, School security coverage
Photo illustration: First and second place, Jerry McBride, “Banned” and “Olive oil”
Portrait/personality photo: First place, Shaun Stanley, “Smartphone repair.” Second place, Steve Lewis, “Tower of power”
Public service: First place, Shane Benjamin, “How safe are our schools?” Second place, Joe Hanel, “Fire trap”
Series: First place, Joe Hanel, “Fire trap.” Second place, Shane Benjamin, “How safe are our schools?”
Sports photo: First place, Jerry McBride, “Get your race on.” Third place, Shaun Stanley, “Chapman free day”
Sports story: First place, Dale Rodebaugh, “Finding freedom in free falling.” Second place, Jim Sojourner, “Local cycling legends shun Armstrong, Danielson”
Spot news story: First place, Jordyn Dahl and Emery Cowan, “Dylan’s remains found”
Online special package: Second place, Jordyn Dahl, Cliff Vancura, Josh Stephenson, “A path paved in coal”
Photography portfolio: Second place, Shaun Stanley
Spot news photo: Second place, Steve Lewis, Highway 550 accident
Environmental story: Third place, Dale Rodebaugh
General excellence: Third place, Herald staff
Colorado Press Association awards
Best Editorial Cartoon-Daily: First place, Cliff Vancura. Second place, Judith Reynolds
Best Deadline News Reporting: First place, Shane Benjamin, Emery Cowan, Jordyn Dahl for the story of the discovery of Dylan Redwine’s body
Best Investigative Story Package: First place, Chase Olivarius-McAllister, “Finding of bodies upsets Ignacio school construction”
Best Series: First place, Joe Hanel, “Fire trap.” Second place, Chase Olivarius-McAllister “Mining in Silverton: A legacy that won’t die”
Best Online Update of Breaking News: First place, Herald staff, for wildfire coverage. Second place, Herald staff, Dylan Redwine’s remains found
Best Business Feature Story: First place, Shane Benjamin, “What do these items have in common? From sunglasses to SUVs, the Durango moniker is used to sell.” Third place, Emery Cowan, “A road more traveled: Driven by economics, commuters crisscross state line”
Best Sports Event Story: First place, Ryan Owens, “Skyhawks soar into rarified air: FLC men find the right formula to topple No. 1 Metro State”
Multimedia: First place, Herald staff, Mining in the Southwest. Second place, Herald staff, Wildfire coverage. Third place, Herald staff, “How safe are our schools?”
Use of Social Media in Breaking News: First place, Herald staff, Dylan Redwine’s remains found
Best Online Video Interview: First place, Shaun Stanley, Emery Cowan, “Who is Dylan Redwine?” Third place, Jerry McBride, The Red and Bonita Mine
Best Feature Page Design: First place, Amy Maestas, Nov. 7, 2012. Second place, Cliff Vancura, Feb. 26, 2013
Best Environmental Story: First place, Emery Cowan, “Stung by mystery die-offs: Beekeepers report greater colony losses this year”
Best Small Space Ad: Hanah Noland swept all three awards. First place, Durango’s Bears. Second place, Haunted House. Third place, Durango Coffee Festival
Website-Daily-Interactivity: First place, Herald staff
Best Feature Photograph: First place, Josh Stephenson, A special dance for local students
Best Public Service: First place, Joe Hanel, “Fire trap.” Second place, Shane Benjamin, “How safe are our schools?”
Best News Page Design: Second place, Amy Maestas, Aug. 4, 2013. Third place, Cliff Vancura, Aug. 25, 2013
Best Agriculture Story: Second place, Luke Groskopf, “From the Andes to the Rockies: Ranchers turn to South Americans to watch over sheep.” Third place, Emery Cowan, “A thirst for innovation: Lack of water prompts Ute Mountain Ute farm to think outside the box”
Best Business News Story: Second place, Jordyn Dahl, “Path paved with coal: Navajo Nation looks to old energy to break from past”
Online Breaking News: Second place, Herald staff, for wildfire coverage
Website-Daily-Community: Second place, Herald staff
Best Black & White Ad: Second place, Hanah Noland, Animas Trading Co.
Best Sports Photograph: Second place, Josh Stephenson, “One way only: A new home for downhill bikers?”
Best Photo Essay: Second place, Josh Stephenson, “King Coal wants to grow.” Third place, Steve Lewis, Creede Repertory Theatre
Website-Daily-Multimedia: Second place, Jordyn Dahl, Josh Stephenson, “A path paved in coal”
Best Editorial Layout & Design: Second place, Herald staff, May 14, 2013; August 4, 2013
Best News Photograph: Second place, Shaun Stanley, Car vs. Bike
Website-Daily-Content: Third place, Herald staff
Best Feature Story: Third place, Emery Cowan, “How to live an analog life ... in a digital world”
Website-Daily-Design: Third place, Herald staff
Photo Slideshow or Gallery: Third place, Jerry McBride, Shaun Stanley, Steve Lewis, The search for Dylan Redwine
Best Health Enterprise Story: Third place, Jim Haug, “When religion and reproductive choices collide”
Breaking News or Non-Deadline Video: Third place, Shaun Stanley, Sarah Ford, Vigil for Dylan Redwine
Website-Daily-Advertising: Third place, Herald staff
jhanel@durangoherald.com
