The Rocky Mountain News won 17 of 33 first place awards Friday in the annual Colorado Society of Professional Journalists' journalism contest.

The honors included top prizes for the News' coverage of the school shooting in Bailey, an investigation into the runways at Denver International Airport and reporting on the opening of a new wing at the Denver Art Museum.

The News won a total of 46 awards. The Denver Post won 16 first place awards and a total of 49 awards, including best of show for a story on the state juvenile justice system. The Associated Press won two awards.

Denver Business Journal Editor Neil Westergaard won SPJ's Lowell Thomas Award for journalist of the year and Brad Bradbury, former editor of Evergreen Newspapers, won the Keeper of the Flame award for career achievement.

The contest was judged by the San Diego SPJ chapter.

Here are the awards presented at a banquet at the University Club:

• News reporting/single story:

First: Staff, News, "Bailey shooting"

Second: Karen Crummy, Post, "Cops double dip"

Third: Staff, News, "Mass appeal"

• General reporting/series:

First: Miles Moffeit, Kevin Simpson, Post, "Teen crime, adult time"

Second: Mike Littwin, News, "Targeting Colorado"

Third: Erin Emery, Post, "Home Front"

• Investigative:

First: Lou Kilzer, Alan Gathright, News, "DIA Runways"

Second: Laura Frank, Burt Hubbard, Fernando Quintero, Rosa Ramirez, Daniel Chacon, Barry Gutierrez, Myung Oak Kim, John Accola, News, "The Border Within"

Third: Eric Gorski, Post, "Gospel of Prosperity"

• News Feature:

First: Jim Sheeler, News, "Wake of an Indian Warrior" and "Tiny Reminders"

Second: William Porter, Craig F. Walker, Post, "Where we stand"

Third: Jenny Dean, Post, "Mother tongue"

• Reader:

First: Jim Sheeler, News, "Amputee in it for the long run"

Second: Jim Sheeler, News, "Honoring the Fallen"

Third: Robert Sanchez, Post, "Cookie Sale Commandos"

• Personal Columns:

First: Mike Littwin, News

Second: David Harsanyi, Post

Third: Tina Griego, News

• Editorials:

First: Peter Blake, News

Second: Rick Henderson, News

Third: Vincent Carroll, News

• Cartoon:

First: Ed Stein, News

Second: Mike Keefe, Post

• Education Reporting:

First: Karen Rouse, Jennifer Brown, Allison Sherry, Post, "Faith, Hope, Unclarity"

Second: Nancy Mitchell, Berny Morson, News, "How districts stack up"

Third: Karen Rouse, Allison Sherry, Post, "Parents and Protest"

• Political Reporting:

First: M.E. Sprengelmeyer, News, "Big bucks going to little towns"

Second: Karen Crummy, Post, "Early votes blunt October 'surprises' "

Third: Lynn Bartels, News, "Senator resigns amid ethics flap"

• Legal Affairs Reporting:

First: Alicia Caldwell, Post, "Post 9-11 cases pit security, rights"

Second: Lynn Bartels, News, "Smoking loophole"

Third: Burt Hubbard, News, "Others use farm trespass charge"

• Science/Environment:

First: Nancy Lofholm, Kim McGuire, Post, "Boom Life"

Second: Todd Hartman, News, "Running hog wild"

Third: Steve Raabe, Post, "Coal's power surge"

• Sports/general reporting:

First: Thomas George, Post, "Nuggets in Turmoil"

Second: Marc Spears, Post, "Fading from the game"

Third: B.G. Brooks, News, "CU sits golfers, coach"

• Sports/feature writing:

First: Bill Briggs, Post, "Round Two"

Second: John Henderson, Post, "Waves of Fear"

Third: (tie) Bill Briggs, Post, "Right on Cue," Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press, "Billy Mills"

• Sports columns:

First: Dave Krieger, News

Second: Mark Kizla, Post

• Business reporting:

First: Steve McMillan, David Olinger, Post, "In the dark"

Second: James Paton, News, "Immigration wage debate rages"

Third: Gargi Chakrabarty, News, "Ethanol energizes farmers"

• Business features:

First: Tom McGee, Post, "What's good for Wyoming is good for Michiganders"

Second: James Paton, News, "A new life on the ranch"

Third: Roger Fillion, News, "Life after J.D. Edwards"

• Business investigative/enterprise:

First: Staff, Post, "Foreclosures"

Second: Sandy Shore, Judith Kohler, Bob Moen, Brad Foss, Associated Press, "Gas boom"

Third: Rachel Brand, Rosa Ramirez, News, "Healthcare for Immigrants"

• Business columns:

First: Rob Reuteman, News

Second, David Milstead, News

Third: Al Lewis, Post

• Arts and Entertainment/reporting:

First: Mary Voelz Chandler and staff, News, "Opening week of Denver Art Museum wing"

Second: Erika Gonzalez, News, "Josh Blue"

Third: Lisa Kennedy, Post, "Black like who?"

• Arts and Entertainment/criticism:

First: Mary Voelz Chandler, News

Second: Michael Booth, Post

Third: Joanne Ostrow, Post

• Food and Beverage writing:

First: Jay Dedrick, News, "Beer and Pizza"

Second: John Lehndorff, News, "Dining Guide"

• Spot news photo:

First: Barry Gutierrez, News, "Terror at school"

Second: Kathryn Scott Osler, Post, "Hostage Horror"

Third: Barry Gutierrez, News, "Unspeakable"

• News photography:

First: Todd Heisler, News, "Finally Home"

Second: Evan Semon, News, "Still Dancing"

Third: Kathryn Scott Osler, Andy Cross, Post, "Funeral"

• Feature photo:

First: RJ Sangosti, Post, "Ice Cream"

Second: Marc Piscotty, News, "Surfing the wave"

Third: Matt McClain, News, "First day of school"

• Sports photo:

First: Marc Piscotty, News, "Short of hope - US claims bronze"

Second: Chris Schneider, News, "Leaning into the gold"

Third: (tie) Joe Mahoney, News, "Marching to madness," RJ Sangosti, Post, "Ski - more powder to 'em."

• Photo essay:

First: Craig F. Walker, Post

Second: Craig F. Walker, Post

Third: RJ Sangosti, Post

• Online breaking news:

First: Demetria Gallegos, Post, "Bailey shooting"

Second: Staff, Post, "Jon Benet Ramsey suspect"

Third: Staff, Post, "Immigration rally"

• General website excellence:

First: Staff, Post

Second: Staff, News

• Online blog

First: Al Lewis, Post

Second: Mark Wolf, News

Third: Bill Williamson, Mike Klis, Jim Armstrong, Post, "All things Broncos"

• Online interactive:

First: Rebecca Risch, Robert Sanchez, Craig F. Walker, Post, "Colfax: the story of Colorado"

Second: Bryan Boyle, staff, Post, "Broncos page"

Third: Bryan Boyle, Adrian Dater, Troy Renck, Post, "Sports mailbag"

• Online features:

First: Ken Harper, Tim Skillern, Sonya Doctorian, Forrest Stewart, News, "The Border Within"

Second: Rebecca Risch, Robert Sanchez, Craig F. Walker, Post, "Colfax: The story of Colorado"

Third: Rebecca Risch, Post, "New Denver Art Museum wing"

• Online photo story:

First: Rebecca Risch, Robert Sanchez, Craig Walker, Post

Second: Staff, News

Third: Mateo Leyba, Post

Back to Top