Green Bay Press-Gazette staff wins 16 state journalism awards, including rookie reporter of the year
MADISON - The Green Bay Press-Gazette won Wisconsin's top journalism awards for investigative reporting, general news coverage, breaking news coverage, feature writing, photography and videography in an annual contest.
In addition, Press-Gazette business reporter Alexandria Bursiek Kloehn was named a first-place winner in the daily newspaper division for Rookie Reporter of the Year. Bursiek Kloehn, who joined the Press-Gazette staff in September 2020, covers the "Streetwise" beat that focuses largely on local retail and restaurant developments.
"She does good work," one contest judge wrote. "She is finding exciting things to cover and to make news for readers."
The Press-Gazette took home a total of 16 honors in the 2021 Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation contest, which received 2,117 entries from 98 newspapers. Eligible entries were published between Sept. 1, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2021, and were judged by members of the West Virginia Press Association.
The Press-Gazette competed in the category for the largest newspapers by circulation.
In addition to Rookie Reporter of the Year, the staff won the following awards:
Investigative reporting, first place. Reporter Haley BeMiller, now with the Columbus Dispatch, won for her story, "First came sex abuse allegations at the abbey. Then secret payments. Then a suicide."
Feature story (profile), first place. Reporter Kendra Meinert won for her story, "Meet Charlie, the therapy dog who puts patients at ease at Howard clinic."
General news story, first place. Reporter Doug Schneider won for his story, "Gov. Evers signs Ethan's Law, honoring Manitowoc boy slain after being placed with man who had admitted child abuse."
Breaking news reporting, first place. The Press-Gazette staff won for its coverage of a May 2021 shooting that left three men dead, including the gunman, and a fourth man injured at the Radisson Hotel attached to the Oneida Casino.
General news photo, first place. Sarah Kloepping won for her image, "Man in a helmet votes during the Nov. 3 elections."
Best video, first place. Sarah Kloepping won for her "Video of health care worker heroes in 2020."
Reporting on local education, second place. Doug Schneider won for a selection of stories on local schools amid the pandemic.
Photo essay, second place. Samantha Madar won for her gallery of photos, "See the boxers of Soaring Eagle Boxing Club in action."
General Excellence, third place, staff.
Ongoing/extended coverage, third place. Reporter Doug Schneider won for his story, "As Ethan Hauschultz's 10th birthday nears, cases against his accused killers continue in court system."
Reporting on local government, third place. Haley BeMiller won for a series of stories about the controversy involving Green Bay's handling of the 2020 election.
Feature story (profile), honorable mention. Visual journalist Sarah Kloepping won for her story, "It started with a Wizard of Oz plate. Three decades later, Garry Parrett's Land of Oz Museum in Wausaukee has about 15,000 items."
Sports action photo, third place. Samantha Madar won for her image, "Green Bay Notre Dame player dragging along Bay Port player in football game."
Environmental reporting, honorable mention. Reporter Madeline Heim was honored for her story, "The bay of Green Bay, the world's largest freshwater estuary, could become a national reserve to protect its waters and habitats."
Local column, honorable mention. Packers business beat reporter Richard Ryman was honored for a selection of columns.
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin wins six statewide awards
In addition to the local awards collected by the Press-Gazette, the newspaper is part of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin group that won six statewide awards, including three firsts:
Community engagement, first place, for its school COVID-19 crowdsourcing on districts that were closing during the pandemic, or offering hybrid or in-person options.
Ongoing/extended coverage, first place. Reporters Natalie Brophy and Nusaiba Mizan won for the "Help Wanted" series on Wisconsin's labor shortage and potential solutions.
Coronavirus coverage, first place. Reporter Madeline Heim won for a selection of stories including, “As Wisconsin hospitals fill up with COVID patients, front-line workers sound the alarm” and “Contact tracers were supposed to be key players in fighting COVID-19. But as Wisconsin’s cases surge, they’re overwhelmed.”
Feature story (non-profile), third place. Reporter AnnMarie Hilton won for her story “Everything you need to know about Wisconsin’s water towers: The good, the ‘evil,’ and the people who swim in your drinking water.”
Enterprise/interpretive reporting, third place. Reporters Jeff Bollier, Brophy and Mizan won for their series on Wisconsin's housing crisis, “Unaffordable: No place to call home.”
Investigative reporting, honorable mention. Reporter Frank Vaisvilas, a Report For America corps member at the Press-Gazette who covers Indigenous affairs for the network, was honored for his story “American Indians incarcerated at among highest rates in Wisconsin, as many as half the inmates in some jails.”
Contact Mark Treinen at mtreinen@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MarkTreinen, Instagram at @mark_treinen or Facebook at @Mark Treinen.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Press-Gazette wins 16 Wisconsin newspaper awards, top rookie
