2025 Golden Press Card: Newspaper (Large) - East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists

Here are the 2025 Golden Press Card winners in the Newspaper (Large) category. The entries were judged by the San Diego SPJ Pro Chapter.

SPORTS REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: The backstory that made Vols fans connect with their quarterback differently
Entry Credit: Adam Sparks
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: In the hands of this reporter, the tale of Joey Aguilar’s road to Tennessee reads like a novel. Never self indulgent and not a football cliche in sight. Bravo!

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Why Major League Baseball took a big swing on Bristol Motor Speedway
Entry Credit: Mike Wilson
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: This project had an endless lineup of moving parts to make it happen. The reporter seemingly included them all in an article with a narrative that never felt weighed down by them, but enriched. Use of construction video a nice touch to demonstrate the sheer scale of this project.

PHOTOJOURNALISM – BEST SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY“ (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Best Sports Photography: Caitie McMekin (Knox News)
Entry Credit: Caitie McMekin
Judge Comments: Perfectly captured the perfect moment — filled with action and emotion. Nice job.

Category Comments: Amazing photos all around. The top winners captured the perfect moment.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Best Sports Photography: Angelina Alcantar (Knox News)
Entry Credit: Angelina Alcantar
Judge Comments: Excellent timing, and great composition.

ARTS & CULTURE REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Steamed and storied: Knoxville dining as identity in a changing city
Entry Credit: Joanna Hayes
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: The idea of eating a soggy sandwich does not sound at all appealing but by the end of the story, I was hungry. And I just had eaten! The image certainly stayed with me. I love the local history thrown in as well.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Where Knoxville dances, listens and belongs
Entry Credit: Keenan Thomas
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: A need to belong is an eternal human concern in mixed society. Regardless of personal pronouns, a safe space for anyone to dance freely without judgement is a song that remains the same: sometimes it takes courage too. I found this story compelling.

PHOTOJOURNALISM – BEST PHOTOGRAPHER (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Best Photographer: Brianna Paciorka (Knox News)
Entry Credit: Brianna Paciorka

Category Comments: The winner presented work showing a creative and imaginative use of form that made the images evocative and packed with subtle story telling.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Best Photographer: Saul Young (Knox News)
Entry Credit: Saul Young

CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Why a gas pipeline fight in East Tennessee feels so personal
Entry Credit: Daniel Dassow
Links: See entry

Category Comments: A captivating and impactful story with evocative writing.

BEST PODCAST (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: The real fallout, the real stakes, the real Tennessee sports story
Entry Credit: Adam Sparks
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry

Category Comments: For sports fans, this detail oriented view into the nitty gritty brings us background that requires the hosts expertise to more deeply understand.

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Knox County education adapts to state and federal decisions
Entry Credit: Keenan Thomas
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Translating local government into accessible, useful information for the community
Entry Credit: Allie Feinberg
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry

PHOTOJOURNALISM – BEST NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Best News Photography: Brianna Paciorka (Knox News)
Entry Credit: Brianna Paciorka
Judge Comments: I liked how this photo showed the progression. One of the smokestacks is starting to fall over while the other is already just a cloud of dust. Very good timing.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Best News Photography: Caitie McMekin (Knox News)
Entry Credit: Caitie McMekin

PERSONAL COLUMNS/REVIEW/CRITICISM (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Sam Venable on Politics, Culture and the Joy of Pointing It Out
Entry Credit: Sam Venable
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Really nice entry. There was a nice mix of humor in the commentary, with a bit of history thrown in. These were three varied subjects that showed the writer could captivate an audience regardless of topic.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: A columnist who doesn’t hesitate to zig when others zag
Entry Credit: David Moon
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: From reactors to rollercoasters, East Tennessee is thinking big
Entry Credit: Mariah Franklin, Joanna Hayes, Devarrick Turner
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: These three articles provide a comprehensive view of the major trends affecting the economy of Knoxville and Est Tennessee. This is coverage that helps readers make sense of economic changes.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Why Knoxville’s new development feels more like home than hype
Entry Credit: Joanna Hayes
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Joanna Hayes’ articles offer intriguing insights into the trends and figures behind Knoxville’s business world.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Family seeks justice after sheriff’s office botches investigation into son’s death
Entry Credit: Tyler Whetstone
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry

Category Comments: This reporting exemplifies a journalist’s job of holding government and law enforcement officials accountable. The reporter’s continued coverage of the botched crash investigation showed persistence and tenacity. It centered the family’s voice and brought in experts who could accurately and fairly show the problems with the investigation. The story also showed the missed opportunities for government leaders and law enforcement officials to rectify the issues.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: How a prosecutor’s posts shook trust in Knox County’s justice system
Entry Credit: Tyler Whetstone
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry

BEST DIGITAL CONTENT (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Snow days, sound waves and stadium vibes
Entry Credit: Angelina Alcantar, Joanna Hayes, Caitie McMekin, Brianna Paciorka, Devarrick Turner, Ryan Wilusz, Saul Young
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Compelling digital storytelling using photo galleries, immersive recaps and energetic visuals to let readers feel the snow, the Big Ears festival buzz and the stadium-sized experience of a live music festival.

SERIES/PACKAGE/PROJECT WRITING (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Black in Business 2025
Entry Credit: Joanna Hayes, Hayden Dunbar, Devarrick Turner, Keenan Thomas, Ryan Wilusz, Caitie McMekin, Brianna Paciorka
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: A fascinating project that powerfully celebrates the Knoxville Black community’s entrepreneurship, creativity and economic impact. Important coverage at a time when American diversity is not always celebrated.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Scrutiny forces mayor to shelf secretive plan to sell public parkland to private religious group
Entry Credit: Allie Feinberg
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry

DEADLINE/BREAKING NEWS REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: How a trusted insider raised troubling questions for Tennessee football
Entry Credit: Adam Sparks, Tyler Whetstone, Mike Wilson
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Comprehensive reporting that shone light on the fraudulent behaviour of a former football player.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Yes, that was an earthquake, and aftershocks are possible
Entry Credit: Sarah Riley, Mike Wilson
Links: See entry, See entry

FEATURE REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: How a tiny, quirky venue has helped keep creativity alive in Knoxville
Entry Credit: Hayden Dunbar
Links: See entry

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: How Morgan Wallen’s ticket sales end up improving lives back home
Entry Credit: Ryan Wilusz
Links: See entry

BEST NEWS VIDEO (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Smokies still draw a crowd amid shutdown
Entry Credit: Sophie Szydlik, Joanna Hayes
Links: See entry

Category Comments: The interviews with visitors during a government shutdown gave a timely snapshot of how a national political event played out locally. It’s a great example of how video can supplement traditional reporting.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Orange and White X2: Whataburger Comes to Cumberland Avenue
Entry Credit: Sophie Szydlik
Links: See entry

SPORTS BEAT REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Inside Tennessee football, from people to power to money
Entry Credit: Adam Sparks
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Great accountability reporting that follows the power and the money at a consequential time in college sports.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Capturing the joy, grief and grind of Tennessee women’s sports
Entry Credit: Cora Hall
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Intimate storytelling that brings readers along through crisp reporting and writing.

LOCAL IMPACT OF FEDERAL CHANGES (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: What Washington’s shakeup really meant for higher education at Tennessee’s flagship university
Entry Credit: Keenan Thomas
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Thorough reporting that explains federal impacts on higher ed and boils down complex policies and decisions for readers.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: How Trump changes rippled through Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge tourism industry
Entry Credit: Devarrick Turner
Links: See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Clear reporting and writing detailing the economic impacts of federal changes on the local tourism industry and helping readers to understand complex visa and immigration policies.

CONTINUING COVERAGE (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: How persistent reporting uncovered the full circumstance of David Batts’ death
Entry Credit: Hayden Dunbar, Myron Thompson, Tyler Whetstone
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: A Facebook post spurred a reckoning over free speech at the University of Tennessee
Entry Credit: Keenan Thomas
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry

GENERAL REPORTING (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: How a flawed wildfire plan fueled Gatlinburg’s devastating fire
Entry Credit: Tyler Whetstone
Links: See entry

Category Comments: Close competition. First place goes to reporting that lays out, clearly and in compelling detail, missteps local fire officials made in responding to a wildfire. Second place goes to enterprise reporting that takes readers into Rocky Top to meet the town’s people, businesses and history. A compellingly intimate portrait of a community trying to define itself.

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: How a promised water park reshaped – and failed – three iterations of Rocky Top.
Entry Credit: Hayden Dunbar
Links: See entry

HURRICANE HELENE ONE YEAR LATER (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: East Tennessee reckons with what remains after Helene
Entry Credit: Hayden Dunbar, Caitie McMekin, Tyler Whetstone, Joanna Hayes, Mariah Franklin, Brianna Paciorka, Knox News Staff
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry

Category Comments: A comprehensive retrospective on a devastating disaster befitting a truly great hometown paper. Helene was a collective trauma, and this series – with its focus on people, businesses and public infrastructure – is a critical part of the historical and emotional processing that is required.

DIGITAL COMMENTARY (Newspaper – Large)

First Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Clear-eyed local takes on America’s big questions and how to strengthen local connection
Entry Credit: Joel Christopher
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry

Second Place
Contestant Name: News Sentinel
Entry Title: Personal stories reveal East Tennessee’s spirit and style
Entry Credit: Hayden Dunbar, Joanna Hayes, Devarrick Turner
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry