IndyStar wins top journalist, story, courage awards

Cindi Andrews, Indianapolis Star
·2 min read

IndyStar and its staffers took three top statewide awards and more than a dozen others Friday for 2022 stories, photos and other work.

The Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists honored health care reporter Shari Rudavsky with the Indiana Journalism Courage Award. Rudavsky's reporting on a 10-year-old rape victim who sought an abortion in Indiana drew national attention, bringing insults and threats from the public and scrutiny from elected leaders and other media outlets.

Sports enterprise reporter Dana Hunsinger Benbow was named SPJ’s Indiana Journalist of the Year. Benbow's coverage helped former ABA players finally receive their pensions, explored Hoosiers’ role in enacting Title IX and its impact here, and brought athletes’ tragedies and triumphs to life.

Kara Kenny (left), Indiana SPJ secretary, presents the award for Journalist of the Year to IndyStar reporter Dana Hunsinger Benbow.
Kara Kenny (left), Indiana SPJ secretary, presents the award for Journalist of the Year to IndyStar reporter Dana Hunsinger Benbow.

SPJ’s Story of the Year went to “Bottom Line,” an IndyStar investigation into the treatment of Indiana’s many RV workers at the beginning of COVID and the shoddy products created by high demand for recreation vehicles. Reporters Binghui Huang and Kristine Phillips teamed with visual journalist Mykal McEldowney on the project, which prompted the Indiana governor to propose increasing IOSHA funding.

See full list of SPJ winners 2022 Best of Indiana Journalism Contest

Bottom Line: Untold stories behind Indiana's RV boom: A punishing pace, safety issues and broken bodies

Scott Uecker (left), a SPJ board member, presents the award for Story of the Year to IndyStar reporters Binghui Huang and Kristine Phillips, and photographer Mykal McEldowney, for their work on Bottom Line, which explored the failures of IOSHA during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Scott Uecker (left), a SPJ board member, presents the award for Story of the Year to IndyStar reporters Binghui Huang and Kristine Phillips, and photographer Mykal McEldowney, for their work on Bottom Line, which explored the failures of IOSHA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other awards

Breaking news reporting, first place, Greenwood Park Mall shooting, IndyStar staff

Non-deadline story or series, second place, coverage of BMV chief’s resignation, Tony Cook and Kaitlin Lange

Education reporting, first place, Arika Herron

Criminal justice reporting, first place, “Two young mothers died of overdoses,” Tony Cook, Ryan Martin and Dayeon Eom; third place, Sarah Nelson

Features writing, first place, “The beer helped,” Rory Appleton; second place, “Who Killed Ann?,” Tim Evans

'The beer helped': The legendary 174-hour shower in an IU dorm bathroom

Arts and entertainment writing, first place, Rory Appleton

Sports reporting, first place, David Woods; second place, Nathan Brown; third place, Joel A. Erickson

Sports column writing, first place, Gregg Doyel

Sports photography, first place, College Football Playoff National Championship, Jenna Watson; second place, Girl kicker, Michelle Pemberton; third place, Take the field, Grace Hollars

Features photography, first place, Eid Al-Fitr, Kelly Wilkinson

Newspaper page one design, first place, Greenwood Park Mall shooting, Max Gersh

Multiple picture group, month of May, first place, Grace Hollars

Lisa Renze (left), Indiana SPJ president, presents the Indiana Journalism Courage Award to IndyStar reporter Shari Rudavsky.
Lisa Renze (left), Indiana SPJ president, presents the Indiana Journalism Courage Award to IndyStar reporter Shari Rudavsky.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyStar wins top journalist, story, courage awards