2025 GOLDEN PRESS CARD: Television | Newspapers (Large) | Newspapers (Small) | Radio | Digital | Student Journalism | Horace V. Wells Jr. Community Service Award | Golden Press Card
Here are the 2025 Golden Press Card winners in the Digital Only category. The entries were judged by the San Diego SPJ Pro Chapter.
SPORTS REPORTING (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Hard Knox Roller Derby Keeps Rolling
Entry Credit: Keith Leonard
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: A nice blend of background to bring a reader new to roller derby up to speed, sprinkled with colorful and memorable details like the perfect sprinkles on a doughnut. Go get ’em Barbara Bushwacker!
Second Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Playoff Soccer Comes to Knoxville
Entry Credit: Tommy Bateman
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: A bit more of a column than a pure sports report, but the obvious affection between this team and its city is depicted nicely.
FREELANCE WRITING (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Capital B News
Entry Title: Abortion Saved Her. Now It Could Cost Her Freedom.
Entry Credit: Angela Dennis
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: This is an excellent piece and highlights a critical issue that needs more attention.
Second Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Three Women, Three Paths in Equestrian Sport
Entry Credit: Leslie Bateman
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Beautiful, vivid prose that highlights the passions these equestrians have for their sport.
FEATURE REPORTING (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Capital B News
Entry Title: Abortion Saved Her. Now It Could Cost Her Freedom.
Entry Credit: Angela Dennis
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: This deeply reported and powerfully written story exemplifies journalism at its most urgent and humane. Through intimate, character-driven storytelling, it illuminates how sweeping policy decisions reverberate in the lives of those most affected, particularly Black women in the South.
Second Place
Contestant Name: Knox TN Today
Entry Title: Black Union Soldier Helps Fortify Knoxville
Entry Credit: Jan Dickens
Links: See entry
CONTINUING COVERAGE (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Gay Street Bridge: From Structural Crisis to Reopening
Entry Credit: Alan Sims, Leslie Bateman
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Category Comments: This coverage was kept viewers in the loop throughout the entire process. It highlights importance of this historic bridge while addressing the challenges of bringing new life to the bridge. It also recognizes the tension of the need for pedestrian/bike friendly infrastructure in a car dominant area.
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Sustainability in the Urban Landscape
Entry Credit: Leslie Bateman, Heather Ryerson
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Category Comments: A thorough and informative series.
GENERAL REPORTING (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Magnolia Redevelopment & the Fight For Chilhowee Park
Entry Credit: Leslie Bateman
Links: See entry
Category Comments: The winning piece provided evocative background and historical information that ungirded the piece.
Second Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: First Creek at Austin
Entry Credit: Leslie Bateman
Links: See entry
ARTS & CULTURE REPORTING (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Reclaiming The Bottom: Renee Kesler Brings Legacy to Covenant Health Park
Entry Credit: Angela Dennis
Links: See entry
Category Comments: The historical context and deep reporting made the article feel thorough and deeply relevant.
Second Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Art and Its People
Entry Credit: Leslie Bateman
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
BEST DIGITAL CONTENT (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: A Multimedia Look at Big Ears
Entry Credit: Leslie Bateman
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Second Place
Contestant Name: Knox TN Today
Entry Title: Historical community stories by Beth Kinnane
Entry Credit: Beth Kinnane
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY REPORTING (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Innovation and Adaptation
Entry Credit: Alan Sims, Leslie Bateman, Keith Leonard
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Category Comments: Inside of Knoxville provides strong local business coverage. A good job by a local independent online website.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Two Acts of Vandalism
Entry Credit: Leslie Bateman
Links: See entry, See entry
Category Comments: Two excellent examples of investigative reporting by an independent online site. The use of probability statistics was especially creative.
SERIES/PACKAGE/PROJECT WRITING (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Reclaiming Knoxville’s Baseball Legacy
Entry Credit: Angela Dennis, Alan Sims, Paul James, Leslie Bateman
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: A fascinating series about minor league baseball in Knoxville that shined a light on both the sport and the complicated legacy of urban renewal.
Second Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Augusta Quarry Reopens
Entry Credit: Leslie Bateman
Links: See entry, See entry
DIGITAL COMMENTARY (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: When National Politics Hit Home
Entry Credit: Leslie Bateman
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: This is what deeply vested local journalism looks like, Bateman writes with clear passion about the issues affecting her community; how transit is essential to equity, the struggles the LGBTQ have had to face and most importantly, how federal policy continues to hold back initiatives to move communities forward.
Second Place
Contestant Name: Tennessee Lookout
Entry Title: Good Lives and Better Policies
Entry Credit: Mark Harmon
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: The stand out piece here was a harrowing, moving account of the writer witnessing a shooting in his church. A very powerful and moving account.
BEST PODCAST (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Spotify
Entry Title: The Redemption Project
Entry Credit: Brandon Burley
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
SPORTS BEAT REPORTING (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: 247Sports Tennessee
Entry Title: Lady Vols coverage
Entry Credit: Maria Cornelius
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Category Comments: Nice range of stories. Clear writing and effective storytelling.
LOCAL IMPACT OF FEDERAL CHANGES (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: Federal Changes, Local Consequences
Entry Credit: Leslie Bateman, Alan Sims, K.W. Leonard
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Authoritative, clear reporting and writing on the federal impact locally, framed for local audiences.
Second Place
Contestant Name: Hellbender Press
Entry Title: Trump cuts hit Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Charlie Kirk fallout
Entry Credit: Thomas Fraser, Ben Pounds, Elan Young, JJ Stambaugh
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
DEADLINE/BREAKING NEWS REPORTING (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: UT Moves Forward with Maplehurst Deal
Entry Credit: Leslie Bateman
Links: See entry
HURRICANE HELENE ONE YEAR LATER (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Knox TN Today
Entry Title: A Bold New Year’s Day Adventure: Exploring the Chestoa View Scar
Entry Credit: Thomas Mabry
Links: See entry
Category Comments: Struck a great tone, while bearing witness to the ecological devastation in the aftermath of Helene.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS REPORTING (Digital Only)
First Place
Contestant Name: Inside of Knoxville
Entry Title: City Council Game Show Forum
Entry Credit: Leslie Bateman – Inside of Knoxville, Scott Barker – Compass, Rachel Woods – Photographer
Links: See entry, See entry
Second Place
Contestant Name: Capital B News
Entry Title: Abortion Saved Her. Now It Could Cost Her Freedom.
Entry Credit: Angela Dennis
Links: See entry