{"id":27,"date":"2026-05-08T15:05:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bouldermovingguide.com\/?p=27"},"modified":"2026-05-08T15:05:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:05:21","slug":"boulder-reporting-lab-wins-19-spj-top-of-the-rockies-awards-including-8-first-place-honors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bouldermovingguide.com\/?p=27","title":{"rendered":"Boulder Reporting Lab wins 19 SPJ Top of the Rockies awards, including 8 first place honors"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"136px\" src=\"https:\/\/everlit.audio\/embeds\/artl_MK4ylHOZv4a?client=wp&amp;client_version=3.1.7\" title=\"Everlit Audio Player\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Boulder Reporting Lab earned 19 awards in the Society of Professional Journalists\u2019 2026 Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism contest, including eight first place honors, continuing the nonprofit newsroom\u2019s record of regional recognition for accountability and community-centered reporting.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/bouldermovingguide.com\/?p=26\">Colorado bill to allow lot splitting advances as Boulder seeks exemptions<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The annual contest honors journalism from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. This year\u2019s competition drew a record 2,000 entries across hundreds of categories, making it one of the largest regional journalism contests in the West.<\/p>\n<p>BRL competed in the small newsroom division and was recognized across a broad range of categories, including investigative reporting, breaking news, climate, business, education, health, multimedia, newsletters and beat reporting.<\/p>\n<p>The newsroom\u2019s first-place awards were led by accountability journalism that produced real-world impact.<\/p>\n<p>Brooke Stephenson won first place in Investigative Reporting for \u201cExposing the deal: How hyperlocal reporting changed the fate of Boulder\u2019s beloved Iris Fields,\u201d which uncovered a controversial land arrangement involving one of Boulder\u2019s cherished open spaces and helped alter the outcome. Judges called it a \u201cwell-researched and thoroughly investigated story on a topic that \u2026 has a big impact on a local community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Stephenson also won first place in Health Feature for \u201cA difficult first year for Bluebird, Boulder\u2019s newest attempt to shelter its most vulnerable,\u201d an in-depth examination of Boulder\u2019s homelessness-response model and the challenges of caring for residents with severe needs. Judges praised it as \u201crigorous, compassionate journalism that confronts uncomfortable facts without abandoning empathy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>John Herrick earned first place in Beat Reporting for \u201cWhen supports vanish: Boulder\u2019s unraveling safety-net services and community impact,\u201d highlighting strains on local social services and the ripple effects for vulnerable residents. Judges described it as \u201cgood, solid news reporting \u2014 clear, crisp and to-the-point writing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The team also won first place in Breaking News Story for Nederland fire coverage, recognized by judges for its vivid account of the disaster and its impact on the community.<\/p>\n<p>BRL\u2019s climate reporting also stood out. Stephenson received first place in Climate Reporting for \u201cBoulder fire officer on LA wildfire devastation: \u2018Everything we historically trained on is irrelevant now,\u2019\u201d a story connecting California\u2019s destructive fires to changing wildfire realities facing Boulder County. Judges said the piece \u201cstood out for telling the story of climate change from a firefighter\u2019s perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Digital innovation was also recognized. The team won first place in Multimedia Story for \u201cBoulder expands wildfire risk zone to 16,000+ homes. Is yours one of them?,\u201d an interactive project helping readers understand whether their homes were inside the city\u2019s expanded wildfire hazard area.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/bouldermovingguide.com\/?p=25\">Boulder set to reopen addiction treatment home for homeless people<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Education coverage rounded out the top honors. Education contributor Jenna Sampson won first place in Education News for \u201cThreat at Boulder\u2019s Summit Middle sparks parent concerns over transparency, safety protocols<em>.<\/em>\u201d Judges said the story \u201canswered all the questions readers \u2014 and parents \u2014 might want to know, especially moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In addition to its eight first place awards, BRL earned seven second place awards and four third place honors.<\/p>\n<p>Second-place recognitions included BRL Today in Newsletter; Por Jaijongkit\u2019s coverage of Colorado\u2019s rejection of Xcel\u2019s initial Boulder coal ash cleanup plan; Herrick\u2019s housing coverage in Beat Reporting; Herrick\u2019s legal reporting on a lawsuit involving a former NAACP Boulder County member; Sampson\u2019s investigation into a Boulder homeschool shutdown; Stephenson\u2019s reporting on the sudden closure of Boulder Abortion Clinic; and Simon Testa\u2019s opinion writing.<\/p>\n<p>Jaijongkit also earned two third-place awards: one in Climate Reporting for \u201cBoulder\u2019s fierce winds aren\u2019t new. What\u2019s new is the extreme fire risk that now comes with them\u201d and another in Health News for \u201cBoulder begins planning to transition away from toxic leaded fuel at city airport by 2030.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Additional third-place honors included solutions journalism on clean water at San Lazaro mobile home park, mental health reporting on Boulder\u2019s first psilocybin healing centers and more.<\/p>\n<p>The awards reflect BRL\u2019s continued focus on journalism that explains complex issues, scrutinizes power and informs the Boulder community on the issues shaping daily life, from wildfire risk and housing affordability to education, homelessness, business transitions and public health.<\/p>\n<p>They also reflect the journalism our readers make possible through their support.<\/p>\n<p>Launched at the end of 2021, Boulder Reporting Lab has earned dozens of state and regional journalism honors while emerging as a model for truly local, nonprofit journalism rooted in accountability, public service and deep community reporting.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/bouldermovingguide.com\/?p=24\">Man accused of stealing Boulder fire engine, leading police chase, held on $100,000 bond<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Awards recognize BRL\u2019s accountability journalism, public service reporting and deep coverage of housing, climate, health, education and local government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-how-we-work"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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