Free Press' Detroit Tigers beat writer Evan Petzold wins 2021 Young Journalist of the Year

The Society of Professional Journalists Detroit Chapter has presented the Free Press with a multitude of awards this year, including naming the Free Press’ Evan Petzold 2021 Young Journalist of the Year.

Petzold, the Detroit Tigers beat writer, is a graduate of Central Michigan University who joined the Free Press as a reporting intern in 2020 after interning with The Gazette in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Cary Junior II of the Free Press was a finalist for the award.

The Detroit News’ Craig Mauger was named Journalist of the Year, while the Free Press’ David Jesse was runner-up for the award.

Keith Matheny and Kristi Tanner of the Free Press won first place for the Sojourner Truth Award in Topical Reporting, which honors excellence in journalism covering racial justice. The Sojourner Truth Award seeks to recognize reporting that is revealing and impactful in tackling new subject matter. Matheny and Tanner were recognized for their story about how poorer, minority neighborhoods are becoming 'sacrifice zones' for increased pollution.

Darren Nichols of the Free Press received third place in the Sojourner Truth award for his piece "White Boy Rick shouldn't forget about Black men when cashing in on marijuana"

Among other Free Press winners of SPJ’s Excellence in Journalism awards:

• First Place, Digital, Community/Local News Reporting, Cary Junior II, Tad Davis, Darcie Moran, Maryann Struman, Anjanette Delgado: The Detroit Free Press weekly podcast "On The Line"

• First Place, Digital, Digital Media Presentation, Kimberly Mitchell, Angie Jackson, Darcie Moran, Cary Junior II, Tad Davis: "How 6 metro Detroit moms are coping more than a year into COVID-19 pandemic"

• First Place, Digital, Newsletter Strategy, Elissa Robinson

• First Place, Print Class A, Consumer / Watchdog Reporting, Keith Matheny: "Neglect, mismanagement, dangerous mistakes doomed Benton Harbor's water"

• First Place, Print Class A, Community / Local News Reporting, Jeff Seidel: "The flowers had to be perfect for the Oxford funerals. They made it happen."

• First Place, Print Class A, Education Reporting, David Jesse: "Michigan's small liberal arts colleges are in fight for survival"

• First Place, Print Class A, Environment Reporting, Keith Matheny

• First Place, Print Class A, Feature Reporting, John Carlisle: "In Oxford, tragedy forever changes small-town life"

• First Place, Print Class A, General Column Writing, Nancy Kaffer

• First Place, Print Class A, Headline Writing, Bill Cain

• First Place, Print Class A, Health Reporting, Free Press Staff: "The truth about COVID-19 vaccines"

• First Place, Print Class A, Inside Page Design, newspapers only, Ryan Ford

• First Place, Print Class A, News Photography, Ryan Garza

• First Place, Print Class A, Racial Justice Reporting, Teresa Baldas: "Officer says racism at Port Huron-Canada border happens daily: 'It needs to be exposed'"

• First Place, Print Class A, Sports Reporting, Jeff Seidel: "Ex-MLB player from Michigan's family shares emotions, embarrassing details of his death"

• First Place, Open, Automotive Reporting, Jamie LaReau

• First Place, Open, Criticism, Julie Hinds

• First Place Open, Information Graphics, Ryan Ford

• Second Place, Print Class A, Editorial Writing, Nancy Kaffer: "Racism in the criminal justice system requires our attention"

• Second Place, Print Class A, General News Reporting, Paul Egan: "Law firm used X-ray scanners on Flint residents for 6 months with no state oversight"

• Second Place, Print Class A, Feature Photography, Kimberly P. Mitchell

• Second Place, Print Class A, Open Government Reporting, Paul Egan: "Top Michigan State Police officials using encryption messaging apps that can evade FOIA"

• Second Place, Print Class A, Portrait Photography, Kimberly P. Mitchell

• Second Place, Print Class A, Racial Justice Reporting, Darcie Moran, Cary Junior II: "COVID-19 shined a light on racial health disparities. What comes next?"

• Second Place, Print Class A, Sports Page Design, newspaper only, Ian Young

• Second Place, Open, Car Review, Mark Phelan

• Third Place, Digital, Collaborative Coverage, Miriam Marini, Jewel Gopwani

• Third Place, Print Class A, Breaking/Spot News Reporting, Free Press Staff: "Parents of alleged Oxford teen gunman charged, flee court appearance and are arrested"

• Third Place, Print Class A, Community/Local News Reporting, Darcie Moran: "Sexual assaults at Eastern Michigan University"

• Third Place, Print Class A, Feature Photography, Ryan Garza

• Third Place, Print Class A, Open Government Reporting, Clara Hendrickson and Free Press Staff: "Free Press takes legal action to open proceedings of Michigan Redistricting Commission"

• Third Place, Print Class A, Education Reporting, David Jesse: "Tensions between U-M regents, President Mark Schlissel may have reached a boiling point"

• Third Place, Print Class A, General Column Writing, Susan Tompor

• Third Place, Print Class A, News Photography, Eric Seals

• Third Place, Print Class A, Sports Column Writing, Shawn Windsor

• Third Place, Print Class A, Sports Reporting, Dave Birkett: "Inside the Penei Sewell pick and Brad Holmes' tone setting first draft as Detroit Lions GM"

• Third Place, Print Class A, Headline Writing, Ryan Ford

• Fourth Place, Digital, Collaborative Coverage, Darcie Moran, Tad Davis, Cary Junior II, Maryann Struman, Anjanette Delgado

• Fourth Place, Digital, Social Media Strategy, Brian Manzullo

• Fourth Place, Print Class A, Breaking/Spot News Reporting, Free Press Staff

• Fourth Place, Print Class A, Explanatory Story, David Jesse, Emma Stein: "A Michigan university spent $88 on a women's basketball team dinner. Men got $397 in snacks"

• Fourth Place, Print Class A, Feature Page Design, newspaper only, Branden Barker

• Fourth Place, Print Class A, Feature Reporting, John Carlisle: "Detroit neighborhood's only store struggles to stay open"

• Fourth Place, Print Class A, Investigative Reporting, Gina Kaufman, Kristi Tanner, Brian Kaufman: "Resisting and race: Black residents are disproportionately accused of obstructing police"

• Fourth Place, Print Class A, Sports Column Writing, Jeff Seidel

• Fourth Place, Print Class A, Sports Photography, Junfu Han

The Journalist of the Year honors and Excellence in Journalism awards were selected by a jury of veteran journalists and educators from several news media outlets outside Metro Detroit.

For more information and to see the full list of awards, visit spjdetroit.org.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Free Press Staff picks up dozens of 'Excellence in Journalism' awards