SPJ’s Top of the Rockies winners 2020
Print: Circulation less than 10,000
| Category Name | Award | Credits | Organization | Entry Title |
| General Website Excellence | First Place | Durango Herald Development Team | Durango Herald | The Durango Herald |
| General Website Excellence | Second Place | Staff | Farmington Daily Times | The Farmington Daily Times |
| General Website Excellence | Third Place | Staff | Albuquerque Business First | Albuquerque Business First website |
| A&E and Food: Single Story | First Place | Billy Arnold, Allie Gross | Jackson Hole News&Guide | The Metal Mentality |
| A&E and Food: Single Story | Second Place | Stuart Melling | Gastronomic Salt Lake City | A seemingly fishy story sushi in the desert |
| A&E and Food: Single Story | Third Place | Collin Krabbe | Albuquerque Business First | Why choosing a name could make or break your brew game |
| Blog | First Place | Jeff Roberts | Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition | Freedom of Information articles and columns |
| A&E and Food: Enterprise Reporting | First Place | Staff | Albuquerque Business First | Meow Wolf could become New Mexico’s biggest startup story ever |
| A&E and Food: Criticism | First Place | Carolyn Dunmire | Four Corners Free Press | Just follow the directions; the insta-cooker revolution; responsible food-sharing |
| Breaking News Story | First Place | Allie Gross, Emily Mieure | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Blaze damages Genevieve building |
| Breaking News Story | Second Place | John C. Ensslin, Ernest Luning, Conrad Swanson, Andy Colwell | Colorado Politics | Denver Runoff 2019 |
| Breaking News Story | Third Place | John Livingston | Durango Herald | Hardrock 100 canceled |
| Sports: Columns | First Place | John Livingston | Durango Herald | Surviving life with Mom and the Rockies |
| Features: Short form | First Place | Jonathan Romeo | Durango Herald | The man who killed Colorado’s last grizzly bear |
| Features: Short form | Second Place | John Spina | Longmont Times-Call | Bartender’s liver saves child’s life |
| Features: Short form | Third Place | Bret Hauff | Durango Herald | A woodcutter’s bliss |
| Spot News Videography | First Place | Joseph Witham | St. George News | Widespread fighting at St. George youth facility results in multiple injuries |
| News Videography | First Place | Trennie Collins | The Southern Ute Drum | Back to School Round Dance |
| Legal: Enterprise Reporting | First Place | Emily Mieure, Allie Gross | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Groping victim feels let down by cops, prosecutors, courts |
| Legal: Enterprise Reporting | Second Place | Andrew Graham | Wyofile | Power play: Big investment firm escapes Blackjewel ‘unscathed’ |
| Legal: Enterprise Reporting | Third Place | Mike Easterling | Farmington Daily Times | Lack of mental health resources a major worry |
| Feature Videography | First Place | Trennie Collins | The Southern Ute Drum | 45th Annual Denver March Powwow |
| General Podcasting Excellence | First Place | Anythink Innovations , The Studio , Anythink Wright Farms | SPARK | The Kitchen Table |
| General Podcasting Excellence | Second Place | John Livingston | Durango Herald | Living Sports by John Livingston Episode 13: Professional soccer player Lauren Milliet |
| General Podcasting Excellence | Third Place | Bret Hauff, Katie Chicklinski-Cahill | Durango Herald | The Durango Herald in your Ear by Bret Hauff and Katie Chicklinski-Cahill: Eps. 2: Aliens, ninjas and adoptions, Eps. 3: Voters, and early Christmas and wolf rescues, Eps. 4: Tiny homes, Santa v. Krampus death match and teaching young’uns |
| Single Page Design | First Place | Andy Edwards | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Wondering if you should pet that dog? |
| Single Page Design | Second Place | David Buck | Durango Herald | Feature page design David Buck 2 |
| Single Page Design | Third Place | David Buck | Durango Herald | Feature page design David Buck 4 |
| Front Page Design | First Place | Andy Edwards | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Spark sets butte ablaze |
| Front Page Design | Second Place | Melissa Edwards | Colorado Springs Business Journal | Co$t of a data breach |
| Front Page Design | Third Place | Michael Hicks | Clear Creek Courant | A dog-gone good time |
| Info Graphic | First Place | Rachel Baca, Juliana Vadnais | Albuquerque Business First | So you want to see New Mexico like a visitor would |
| Info Graphic | Second Place | Samantha Nock | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Budget 2020 |
| Info Graphic | Third Place | Rachel Baca, Juliana Vadnais | Albuquerque Business First | Equality is good for your business |
| Marijuana General Reporting | First Place | Jeanne Davant | Colorado Springs Business Journal | Want weed with that? |
| Marijuana General Reporting | Second Place | Jeanne Davant | Colorado Springs Business Journal | New law could end cannabis clubs legal limbo |
| Special Section | First Place | Staff | Albuquerque Business First | Legislative Preview |
| Special Section | Second Place | Michael Hicks, Deb Hurley Brobst, Deborah Swearingen, Corinne Westeman, Alissa Noe, Sara Hertwig, Page Hatcher | Canyon Courier | Kids who will change the world |
| Special Section | Third Place | Mike Koshmrl, Andy Edwards | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Headwaters |
| Marijuana Enterprise Reporting | First Place | Mikayla Shoup | St. George News | Weeding out employees: How will medical marijuana legalization affect workplace drug testing? |
| Marijuana Enterprise Reporting | Second Place | Patrick Armijo | Durango Herald | A mission of uncertainty |
| Health: General Reporting | First Place | Mikayla Shoup | St. George News | Opioid addiction clinic closes with short notice; staff, patients scramble for alternatives |
| Health: General Reporting | Second Place | Mary Shinn | Durango Herald | Ending the cycle of ER visits |
| Politics: General Reporting | First Place | Zak Podmore | Four Corners Free Press | Winning a seat at the table |
| Politics: General Reporting | Second Place | Ryann Richardson | St. George News | Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force Coverage (Series) |
| Politics: General Reporting | Third Place | Andrew Graham | Wyofile | 2019 Wyoming legislative session coverage |
| Investigative/Enterprise Reporting | First Place | Andrew Graham , Seth Klamann | Wyofile | Trustees quietly investigated Nichols before unexplained dismissal/Nichols: Any investigation was unfair, but keep it hidden either way |
| Investigative/Enterprise Reporting | Second Place | Andrew Graham | Wyofile | Series: Coal company’s bankruptcy ripples across Wyoming |
| Investigative/Enterprise Reporting | Third Place | Allie Gross, Melodie Edwards | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Injured at work, some go unaided |
| Politics: Enterprise Reporting | First Place | Andrew Graham | Wyofile | Wyo politicians respond to Blackjewel and coals black times |
| Politics: Enterprise Reporting | Second Place | Mikayla Shoup | St. George News | Surviving the shutdown; How Zion and its park rangers are making do |
| Politics: Enterprise Reporting | Third Place | Lucas Peerman, John Moses, Algernon D’Ammassa, Hannah Grover, Josh Kellogg, Nathan Fish, Damien Willis, Sam Ribakoff | Farmington Daily Times | Donald Trump Rally coverage, Rio Rancho, New Mexico |
| Best Solutions Journalism | First Place | Tom Hallberg | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Colorado family planning sets high standard |
| Best Solutions Journalism | Second Place | Alayna Alvarez | Colorado Politics | Denver Police co-responder program |
| Best Solutions Journalism | Third Place | Maggie McGuire | Moab Sun News | Addressing the Nation: Overcoming extreme challenges to voter registration in San Juan County |
| General Reporting- Series or Package | First Place | Andrew Graham , Angus M. Thuermer Jr. , Dustin Bleizeffer, Katie Klingsporn | Wyofile | Re-regulation: Examining Wyomings response to coals decline |
| General Reporting- Series or Package | Second Place | Joey Bunch | Colorado Politics | The influencers: Lobbying at the Capitol |
| General Reporting- Series or Package | Third Place | Andrew Graham, Angus M. Thuermer Jr. , Katie Klingsporn | Wyofile | Powering down: Examining coals shaky ground from Jim Bridger |
| News Column | First Place | John Hazlehurst | Colorado Springs Business Journal | Its a citizens job to identify leadership; New communities to be safe, boring, predictable; Branding our city shouldnt be this hard |
| News Column | Second Place | Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics | Ernest Luning: Trail Mix |
| News Column | Third Place | Kerry Drake | Wyofile | Casper shooting confirms worst aspects of stand-your-ground law |
| Sports: General Reporting | First Place | Joel Priest | The Southern Ute Drum | Sangster on year one at IHS |
| Sports: General Reporting | Second Place | Alissa Noe | Canyon Courier | Thomas makes history on the English Channel |
| Sports: General Reporting | Third Place | John Livingston | Durango Herald | Dropping into Durango |
| Editorials | First Place | Christopher Wood | BizWest | Editorials: Universities should end …; Limit jobs? …; Colorado lawmakers |
| Editorials | Second Place | Regan Foster, Bryan Grossman, Mary Jo Meade, Amy Gillentine Sweet, John Weiss, Ralph Routon | Colorado Springs Business Journal | Online, frogs hit boiling point/Last at bat for baseball?/Keep entertainment out of politics |
| Editorials | Third Place | Robert Meyerowitz | Durango Herald | Robert Meyerowitz Editorials 3 |
| Feature Page Design | First Place | David Holub | Durango Herald | Feature page design David Holub 1 |
| Feature Page Design | Second Place | Andy Edwards | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Targhee Fest |
| Feature Page Design | Third Place | Andy Edwards | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Service dogs |
| Legal: General Reporting | First Place | Emily Mieure | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Jennifer Nalley’s killer sentenced to 25 years to life |
| Legal: General Reporting | Second Place | Emily Mieure | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Judge allows defendant to avoid courthouse, feds |
| Science and Technology: Enterprise Reporting | First Place | Andrew Graham | Wyofile | Blockchain: Can Wyo woo a digital revolution? Should it?/Links drive allegation of insiders writing crypto bills |
| Science and Technology: Enterprise Reporting | Second Place | Angus M. Thuermer Jr. | Wyofile | Pavillion water experts fault leaky gas wells, unlined pits |
| Science and Technology: Enterprise Reporting | Third Place | Andrew Graham | Wyofile | Can Mark Gordon save coal (and stop climate change)? |
| Ag and Environment: Enterprise | First Place | Jonathan Romeo | Durango Herald | Tainted by uranium |
| Ag and Environment: Enterprise | Second Place | Angus M. Thuermer Jr. | Wyofile | Sage grouse populations declining across the West |
| Ag and Environment: Enterprise | Third Place | Jonathan Romeo | Durango Herald | A changing Mesa Verde |
| Ag and Environment: General Reporting | First Place | Gail Binkly | Four Corners Free Press | Move over for e-bikes |
| Ag and Environment: General Reporting | Second Place | Jonathan Romeo | Durango Herald | Rancher or tax scofflaw? |
| Ag and Environment: General Reporting | Third Place | Liz Weber | Durango Herald | Bringing back the wolf |
| Sports Photography | First Place | Andrew Graham, Mike Vanata | Wyofile | Pomp, pageantry and politicians at the Daddy of em all |
| Sports Photography | Second Place | Jerry McBride | Durango Herald | Iron Horse |
| Sports Photography | Third Place | Bradly J. Boner | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Corbet’s Couloir |
| Feature Photography | First Place | Ryan Dorgan | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Elk at the Teton County Fairgrounds |
| Feature Photography | Second Place | Matthew Jonas | Longmont Times-Call | Sunset Stunner |
| Feature Photography | Third Place | Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum | Ute Tribe ushers in spring with Bear Dance |
| News Photography | First Place | Joseph Witham | St. George News | Trapped Coyote |
| News Photography | Second Place | Bradly J. Boner | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Targhee Elk Study |
| News Photography | Third Place | Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum | Shining light on domestic violence |
| Spot News Photography | First Place | Bradly J. Boner | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Roadkill |
| Spot News Photography | Second Place | Ryan Dorgan | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Saddle Butte Fire |
| Spot News Photography | Third Place | Ryan Dorgan | Jackson Hole News&Guide | Wilson Wreck |
| Headline Writing | First Place | Christopher Ortiz, Collin Krabbe | Albuquerque Business First | Doughnuts, millennials and the Doyenne of Death |
| Headline Writing | Second Place | David Buck | Durango Herald | Trails of destruction – David Buck |
| Headline Writing | Third Place | David Buck | Durango Herald | The ketamine cure – David Buck |
| Public Service | First Place | Bret Hauff, Mary Shinn, Jonathan Romeo | Durango Herald | Homeless sustained coverage |
| Public Service | Second Place | Angus M. Thuermer Jr. | Wyofile | Permit proposes to release tainted water into Boysen, Wind River |
| Public Service | Third Place | Andrew Graham | Wyofile | Immigration detention proposal prompts questions, drives debate |
| Health: Enterprise Reporting | First Place | Shannon Mullane | Durango Herald | Leaning on their peers |
| Health: Enterprise Reporting | Second Place | Faith Miller | Colorado Springs Business Journal | Medicaid bottlenecks hurt home health agencies |
| Business: Enterprise Reporting | First Place | Dan Mika, Lucas High, Paula Aven Gladych, Doug Storum, Ken Amundson | BizWest | Cannabis: The Next Frontier |
| Business: Enterprise Reporting | Second Place | John Spina | Longmont Times-Call | South Main Station |
| Business: Enterprise Reporting | Third Place | Mike Easterling | Farmington Daily Times | WHERE PAST, PRESENT MEET Once-plentiful Old West trading posts near Four Corners offer goods, history |
| Sports: Enterprise Reporting | First Place | Angus M. Thuermer Jr. | Wyofile | Snowmobilers now top Wyo avalanche fatality list |
| Sports: Enterprise Reporting | Second Place | Ryne Williams | St. George News | Top hurdler and dual-sport athlete, Darcy Jackson, working to take leaps over lupus |
| Sports: Enterprise Reporting | Third Place | Ryne Williams | St. George News | Why not us? How a toy unicorn embodied Dixie volleyballs Cinderella run in 4A playoffs |
| Business: General Reporting | First Place | Andrew Graham | Wyofile | In coal country, Blackjewel’s bankruptcy touches many |
| Business: General Reporting | Second Place | Ken Amundson, Paula Aven Gladych, Lucas High, Jensen Werley | BizWest | Workforce Woes |
| Business: General Reporting | Third Place | Helen Robinson | Colorado Springs Business Journal | Trade war hikes prices, squeezes businesses |
| Education: Enterprise Reporting | First Place | Ellis Arnold | Centennial Citizen | A united voice |
| Education: Enterprise Reporting | Second Place | Katie Klingsporn | Wyofile | Guns, schools and Wyoming communities divided |
| Science and Technology: General Reporting | First Place | Collin Krabbe | Albuquerque Business First | Former Amazon exec will help lead ABQ startup’s national rollout |
| Science and Technology: General Reporting | Second Place | Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum | Does electric drive the future? |
| Education: General Reporting | First Place | Sam Ribakoff | Farmington Daily Times | To fill teaching positions, Aztec looks towards contracted teachers from the Philippines |
| Education: General Reporting | Second Place | Casey Van Divier | Golden Transcript | Bus driver shortage |
| Education: General Reporting | Third Place | Ryann Richardson | St. George News | Pine View Middle promotes mental wellness with designated room for distressed students |
| Column Personal/Humor | First Place | Joey Bunch | Colorado Politics | Joey Bunch columns |
| Column Personal/Humor | Second Place | Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics | Marianne Goodland humor columns |
| Column Personal/Humor | Third Place | David Feela | Four Corners Free Press | Have a GFF New Year; derelicts; fowl language |
| Feature: Long form | First Place | Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics | Pain over preservation |
| Feature: Long form | Second Place | Andrew Graham | Wyofile | Unable to diversify, Legislature doubles down on energy |
| Feature: Long form | Third Place | Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics | CU’s Fantastic Four |
| News Reporting- Single Story | First Place | Angus M. Thuermer Jr. | Wyofile | Lawmakers quietly explore storing spent nuclear fuel |
| News Reporting- Single Story | Second Place | Bret Hauff | Durango Herald | Iced out |
| News Reporting- Single Story | Third Place | Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics | Polis recall group hands out $11,000 in contributions to board members, employees |
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