El Paso Times staff members win top honors in Texas Managing Editors journalism contest

El Paso Times
·4 min read

The El Paso Times received top honors for its 2022 work focused on mass migration at the U.S.-Mexico border, the bankrupt private border wall, a special report seeking binational solutions to reduce the impact of the next pandemic, and the city's vibrant arts culture.

In all, El Paso Times reporters and photographers received 14 awards, including first place in five categories during the recent Texas Managing Editors conference.

The annual awards recognize the top journalism in Texas. The Times competed in the contest’s Class AA, which is for media organizations with nine to 19 journalists.

It was a strong showing for El Paso journalists.

Dino Chiecchi, an El Paso native, received the Jack Douglas Award for service to Texas journalism. Chiecchi, a former top editor at the Times, is known for his work helping Texas journalists and serving as the auctioneer for the organization's Buster Haas Minority Internship and Scholarship fundraiser.

El Paso Matters and El Paso Inc. journalists also won top awards for investigative and feature journalism in the statewide contest, respectively.

Reporter Lauren Villagran won two first-place awards for her video reporting and specialty reporting. Villagran was part of a team that documented a migrant family's trip on one of the last buses sent to New York City during the migrant asylum crisis.

"This is simply extraordinary work. Lauren weaves together the policy and the impact on people seamlessly," the judge's citation reads. "Lauren writes with the authoritative voice that comes from knowing your subject thoroughly. Lauren is a master storyteller, whose writing is just gorgeous."

Maria de Los Angeles Croce is carried by her fellow Venezuelan migrants to a health clinic after she suffered an asthma attack and lost consciousness soon after being expelled from the U.S. to Juárez on Oct. 14, 2022. Croce was one of many migrants who have been expelled from the U.S after hoping to seek asylum.
Maria de Los Angeles Croce is carried by her fellow Venezuelan migrants to a health clinic after she suffered an asthma attack and lost consciousness soon after being expelled from the U.S. to Juárez on Oct. 14, 2022. Croce was one of many migrants who have been expelled from the U.S after hoping to seek asylum.

Visual journalist Omar Ornelas shared the first-place video award with Villagran. He also won first place in news photography for his photo of a migrant woman who collapsed shortly after being returned to Mexico.

The judge wrote: "A great image. There is such a sense of urgency on those carrying her and anguish on her face."

Reporter Vic Kolenc won first place for business reporting for a story on the bankrupt private border wall project in West El Paso.

"Excellent reporting from Vic Kolenc detailing the folly of just a small segment of the great border wall Trump proposed," the judge wrote: "A nicely written and well-executed story on the local impact of a national political ploy."

Diego "Robot" Martinez works on the exterior of the building that houses the art space he is renovating near Buddy's Beer Barn on the East Side. His exhibit, “Peace Love Dope Death,” was Sept. 9, 2022, to Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022.
Diego "Robot" Martinez works on the exterior of the building that houses the art space he is renovating near Buddy's Beer Barn on the East Side. His exhibit, “Peace Love Dope Death,” was Sept. 9, 2022, to Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022.

Lead content coach Samuel Gaytan is the driving force behind a campaign by the El Paso Times to use its platforms to showcase the city's vibrant art culture and talented local artists. The coverage is regularly featured on 1A each Friday.

Gaytan won first place in comment and criticism for a piece on El Paso artist Diego "Robot" Martinez's art exhibition, "Peace Love Dope Death."

"A perfect blend of insight into the artist's work and interpretation by the writer," the judge's citation reads. "Rather than relying solely on critique and commentary, Gaytan allows the artist to show what drives the creativity in his own words, which provides a deeper understanding to the art."

A special report by Villagran and former El Paso Times Reporter Martha Pskowski that sought binational solutions in preparation for the next pandemic was the runner-up in community journalism. The multipart report included this headline: "'Too many people died for us to walk away': Renewed US, Mexico cooperation vital to saving lives in next pandemic."

Times Editor Tim Archuleta called the results from the 2022 contest "a tribute to talented journalists in our community and their significant impact to Texas journalism."

"I'm happy our journalists' work was recognized as among the best, but I'm even more thrilled we helped connect El Paso to Texas, our nation and Mexico," Archuleta said. "We have fewer journalists in our community, but those that remain show a deep commitment to sharing El Paso's story and celebrating the Borderland's culture and special people."

Here is a breakdown of the El Paso Times' other award-winning work:

  • Villagran, deadline writing, second place, Migrants cross in masse

  • Villagran, star breaking news report of the year, second place, Migrants cross in masse

  • Staff, star online report of the year, second place, Tale of two mass shootings

  • Ornelas, photojournalism, third place, Entry not listed

  • Former El Paso Times Reporter Monica Ortiz Uribe, specialty reporting, third place, Latino Diversity

  • Martha Pskowski, deadline writing, honorable mention, Entry not listed

  • Ornelas, photojournalism, honorable mention, Entry not listed

  • Staff, team effort, honorable mention, Walmart mass shooting anniversary coverage

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Times staff honored in Texas Managing Editors journalism contest