2022 GOLDEN PRESS CARD: Television | Newspapers (Large) | Newspapers (Small) | Radio | Digital | All Media | Student Journalism | Golden Press Card
Here are the 2022 Golden Press Card winners in the Newspaper (Large) categories. The entries were judged by the Hawaii SPJ Pro Chapter.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)
First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Knoxville says secret police chief searches protect candidates. History shows that’s not true
Entry Credit: Areena Arora, Tyler Whetstone
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: Journalists are often told that candidate searches must be kept confidential so as to attract better candidates. These reporters didn’t take the city’s word for it and instead, compiled an extensive database to find out for themselves. The result is an article that factually disputes this perceived need for secrecy. Well done!
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)
Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Cop’s lies reveal gap in how KPD commanders review use of force incidents
Entry Credit: Tyler Whetstone
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: A well-written review of police records and recordings that dispute the official word about what happened when a woman was forcibly taken down during an arrest. This judge appreciated the neutral reporting on an explosive issue.
SERIES/PACKAGE/PROJECT WRITING (Newspaper – Large)
First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Can Smokies stadium fulfill Randy Boyd’s promises? The ‘proof’s in the pudding’ for Durham
Entry Credit: Ryan Wilusz, Calvin Mattheis
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Rich in-depth comparisons of Durham, N.C.’s downtown stadium and Knoxville’s one under construction. I hope people were reading about the takeaways from Durham about issues such as traffic and trash and – of course – parking. Some minor photo duplications but a well-detailed series of stories that Knoxville residents should ask, such as no parking next to the stadium. If they complain in the future about the walks to the ballpark, will they remember they had a chance to raise the questions that Knoxville News Sentinel did.
SERIES/PACKAGE/PROJECT WRITING (Newspaper – Large)
Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Black in Business, how Black entrepreneurs drive Knoxville’s economy
Entry Credit: Angela Dennis, Ryan Wilusz, Knox News staff
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Good package of stories about how some black businesspeople got into business, some almost by accident, and thrived.
SPORTS REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)
First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Trains, sacrifices and a last chance: Zakai Zeigler’s journey to Tennessee basketball
Entry Credit: Mike Wilson
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: Zakai Zeigler never complained about not having a home of his own or sleeping in a room with five others or deflating his air mattress every morning. Then he would go out and do what he had to do. This kid has the fortitude to play basketball. Life forges sports, and articles like this shine the light on what makes a player and even a team good. I love this kind of profile.
SPORTS REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)
Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: What the field-storming celebration was really like after Tennessee football beat Alabama
Entry Credit: Adam Sparks
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: What the football field was like after the Vols beat ’Bama, nothing but chaos, but still people watching out for each other. Jubilation.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)
First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: The last three midterms in Knox County show blue creeping in. Check out the maps
Entry Credit: Areena Arora, Tyler Whetstone
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: Great use of data and GIS mapping to literally paint a picture of red fading to blue. What would have really made this political story really pop would have been quotes from the local Republican and Democratic parties and an egghead or two. Nonetheless, a good entry.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)
Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: This is how movements start’: Activists modernize old approaches in abortion rights fight
Entry Credit: Liz Kellar
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: The generous use of several voices in a narrative style make this feature on abortion rights advocates an easy read. This article, as a political/government story, however, could have benefited from more depth, such as details about the current political scene, how state legislators of both persuasions felt about the new ban, etc.
GENERAL REPORTING (Newspaper (Large))
First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Neyland Stadium has always been rowdy, and data shows beer sales have little to do with it
Entry Credit: Areena Arora, Ryan Wilusz
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: Good job not taking the mayor’s office at its word that beer sales increased crowd rowdiness at the football stadium. These reporters dug into the data and found no change in fan misbehavior once beer sales were added to the mix. It’s an important story because eliminating beer sales would cost the University of Tennessee millions of dollars in lost revenue. It’s also a fun topic – football and beer.
GENERAL REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)
Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Kingston coal ash workers’ case swings on two upcoming court rulings
Entry Credit: Anila Yoganathan
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: When the police department refused to answer questions about an officer-involved shooting, the reporter took the questions, along with bodycam footage and administrative review, to two neutral experts, who questioned the veracity of the findings. Good job getting to the answers in the face of a stonewalling police department.
CONTINUING COVERAGE (Newspaper – Large)
First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Knoxville mayor tries to keep secret police chief hiring process
Entry Credit: Tyler Whetstone
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Strong reporting, with writing that grows more sharp and interesting as the story develops. The newspaper and reporter could have easily stopped covering the secretive police chief search when given a rationale for not releasing details, but they continued to pursue the issue. In the process, they uncovered direct actions on the part of the city to ensure that paper records were not produced and that it intentionally evaded public records laws. The series also tracks Knoxville hiring practices against best practices nationally, providing the larger context. In essence, this series goes looking for a deeper story and finds it. Excellent watchdog reporting.
CONTINUING COVERAGE (Newspaper – Large)
Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Greyhound stop keeps moving, problems stacking up
Entry Credit: Angela Dennis
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: An excellent series spotlighting the underrepresented demographic of Greyhound riders and some of the shabby conditions they face. Greyhound’s decision to drop people off in the night at unsafe places and move locations at the last minute—often stranding people—could easily have gone unnoticed, but these stories help readers understand how it affects real people. Well done.
DEADLINE/BREAKING NEWS REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)
First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Wears Valley fire sparks evacuation order
Entry Credit: Liz Kellar, Silas Sloan, Caitie McMekin
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: Strong story that explains the current status of the wildfire, firefighter efforts, homeowners affected, and how weather projections could affect the fires. The text and photos provide a clear picture of what’s happening and who is impacted, while the story goes deeper into what drives wildfires and the challenges of putting them out. Well done.
DEADLINE/BREAKING NEWS REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)
Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Discovery will sell its HQ after Warner Bros. merger
Entry Credit: Silas Sloan
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: Excellent coverage of both the news of the office sale and what that sale might mean for the 1,000+ Knoxville employees, including potential job losses, switch to remote work, and the loss of childcare services. Brings context and a human dimension to what could have been a cut-and-dried story.
PERSONAL COLUMNS/REVIEW/CRITICISM (Newspaper – Large)
First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: A World Series of Poker moment for fired coach, a football photo for the ages and a benchwarmer’s view of running up the score
Entry Credit: Blake Toppmeyer
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: This entry topped the all with a depth of reporting, diverse topics and a mix of behind-the-scenes storytelling that proved compelling, even to readers who might not have delved into some of these topics. I appreciate the nuance and details in the fired coach takes on poker tournament story. And the personal voice in the running up the points piece. But the story on the victory photo, told from the angle of the fan who was the subject, including the history of the moment and the challenges faced by the photographer in getting the shot all made this story memorable. Great style, attention to detail and bringing the reader along for a great ride.
PERSONAL COLUMNS/REVIEW/CRITICISM (Newspaper – Large)
Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Knoxville needs to back down on punitive approach to stadium beer violations
Entry Credit: Joel Christopher
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: This was a clearly reported and well written call to action on the issue of how to police underage stadium beer sales. Well done and sound like it made a difference.
FEATURE REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)
First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Becoming Nzinga: As they chipped away at societal injustice, David Hayes uncovered their true self
Entry Credit: Angela Dennis
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: Angela Dennis’s profile of Nzinga – Z for short – is brilliantly done, from an opening that tells you many people have wildly different opinions about Z, to a closing that suggests your perception of this person may be akin to your perception of America itself. In between, you learn about this fascinating person from many different people and perspectives.
FEATURE REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)
Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Exonerated after 12 hard years in prison, Adam Braseel is ready to tell his story
Entry Credit: Tyler Whetstone
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: Tyler Whetstone’s story of redemption was a close second. It’s a surprisingly upbeat story of a man who wrongly spent 12 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. A nice mix of this man’s past, present and future dreams – made possible because this reporter spent years cultivating his source.