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2021 Excellence in Journalism Awardees

PROFESSIONAL WINNERS:

PANDEMIC SHOWCASE CATEGORIES

Best Pandemic Story in Print

GOLD
Natalie Yahr
Cap Times
Dreams on the line: Many business owners of color were already operating with little room for error. And then the pandemic hit.

SILVER
Mark Kass
Rich Kirchen
Sari Lesk
Margaret Naczel
Sean Ryan
Nick Williams
Milwaukee Business Journal
The Covid-19 Pandemic: One Year Later

BRONZE
Andrea Behling
Maggie Ginsberg
Maija Inveiss
Celia Young
Madison Magazine
The Lion Hearts

Best Pandemic Story in Audio

GOLD
Andrea Anderson
Wisconsin Public Radio
In The Midst Of A Pandemic, A New Life Brings Hope

SILVER
Helena White
WORT 89.9 FM
A Nonagenarian COVID Diary: Or, How A 95 Year Survived The Lockdown

BRONZE
Robert Mentzer
WPR Staff
Wisconsin Public Radio
COVID-19 Came To Wisconsin 1 Year Ago. Here’s A Look Back At The State’s Pandemic Year.

Best Pandemic Story in Video

GOLD
Amanda St. Hilaire
Jerry Imig
Sam Gaudet
Andrew Konkle
Dave Michuda
Mike Mirasola
WITI FOX6
Learning Loss

SILVER
Dan Peters
Arthur Ircink
Wisconsin Foodie
The Tandem – Free Meals

BRONZE
Erica Drehfal
Jason Piekarz
Grant Martin
Stephanie Schreiber
Darin Malkowski
Jason Pinkowski
Milwaukee PBS
TimeSlips: A Pandemic’s Cry for Artful Outreach

Best Pandemic Story that Appeared Online

GOLD   
Vanessa Swales
Coburn Dukehart
Jim Malewitz    
Wisconsin Watch
He shouldn’t have had to die: COVID-19 infects half of Wisconsin inmates, five times the overall state rate

SILVER 
Erik Gunn
Wisconsin Examiner
Racial and income fault lines over back to school

BRONZE
Julian Emerson
UpNorthNews  
One Year Later, COVID-19 Deaths Leave Many Holes Across Wisconsin

WRITING

Best Critical Review

GOLD
Lindsay Christians
Cap Times
Carrie Coon gets under your skin in Steppenwolf’s ‘Bug’

SILVER 
Gwendolyn Rice
Isthmus               
Anger management

BRONZE
Preston Schmitt
On Wisconsin magazine
How the Humanities Building Went Wrong

Best Coverage of a Single News Topic or Event Including Breaking News

GOLD
Bill Glauber
Molly Beck
Mary Spicuzza
Kaylee Staral        
Cathy Kozlowicz
Evan Casey
Sophie Carson
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy

SILVER 
Coburn Dukehart
Dee J. Hall
Wisconsin Watch            
Cow manure predicted to cause most sickness from contaminated wells in Kewaunee County

BRONZE
Edgar Mendez 
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service               
They don’t even show up: MPS parents give school bus service failing marks

Best Multi-Story Coverage of a Single Feature Topic or Event

GOLD
Dan Shafer
The Recombobulation Area
Expanding the Divide: A multi-part series on the proposed expansion of I-94

SILVER
Edgar Mendez
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service               
Milwaukee’s Opioid Crisis

BRONZE
Rich Rovito
Milwaukee Magazine
Ryder Cup Comes to Wisconsin

Best Long Hard Feature Story

GOLD
Scott Girard
Cap Times
Balancing Act

SILVER 
Kayla Huynh
Cap Times
With new research, UW-Madison leads the psychedelic renaissance

BRONZE
Jack Kelly
Wisconsin Watch
Farmer suicide

Best Long Soft Feature Story

GOLD
Natalie Yahr
Cap Times
Meet the immigrants keeping Latin American clowning tradition alive in Wisconsin

SILVER 
Lindsey Anderson
Ann Christenson
Chris Drosner
Milwaukee Magazine
How-To Wisconsin

BRONZE
Kurt Stream
Madison Magazine
The Untold Story of Nirvana in Madison

Best Short Hard Feature Story

GOLD
Rich Rovito
Milwaukee Magazine   
The Meaning of the Bucks Brand Beyond Basketball

SILVER 
Talis Shelbourne
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Wilhelm Hospel

BRONZE
Natalie Yahr
Cap Times
Forge peace: Retired Madison pastor hammers guns into garden tools

Best Short Soft Feature Story

GOLD
Eric Lindquist
Leader-Telegram
Bear bites EC bow hunter

SILVER 
Edgar Mendez  
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service               
How boxing club keeps kids on track

BRONZE
Matt Martinez 
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service               
She wanted to bury her stillborn son. But no clothes fit him.

Best Sports Story

GOLD
Rebecca Mennecke
Hleeda Lor
Andrea Paulseth
Volume One
Racing to the Finish Line

SILVER
Jim Polzin
Wisconsin State Journal               
Shaka Smart’s Unique Homecoming

BRONZE
Rich Rovito
Milwaukee Magazine
Perfect, Perfect, Perfect

Best Single Editorial, Statement of Editorial Position or Opinion

GOLD
Dasha Kelly Hamilton
Milwaukee Magazine
Colonies: On Wasps, and Kyle Rittenhouse

SILVER
Rudy Bankston
Madison Magazine
Life Sentences

BRONZE
Dan Shafer
The Recombobulation Area
Tear Down the Stadium Freeway in Milwaukee

Best Business Story or Series    

GOLD   
Corrinne Hess  
Wisconsin Public Radio 
Failed Partnerships And Vacant Buildings: Foxconn’s Wisconsin Commitment Remains At A Standstill

SILVER 
Tom Giffey
Andrea Paulseth
Joel Pearish
Volume One
A Tipping Point

BRONZE
Natalie Yahr
Cap Times
In Your Business

Best Investigative Story or Series

GOLD
Brenda Wintrode
Michelle Theriault Boots
Dee J. Hall
Wisconsin Watch and Anchorage Daily News     
Flawed Forensics

SILVER 
Samara Kalk
Wisconsin State Journal               
After $464K in Relief: We’re Closed Restaurant Owner Blames Government, But Later Recants

BRONZE
Katelyn Ferral
Cap Times
Hero to Zero

Best Public Service Story or Series

GOLD   
Diana Butsko
Madeline Fuerstenberg
Isaac Wasserman
Wisconsin Watch            
It’s criminal: Milwaukeeans call for speedier lead pipeline removal to cut childhood poisoning

SILVER 
Rick Barret
Mark Hoffman
Kelli Arseneau
Christopher Miller
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel        
Disconnected

BRONZE
Talis Shelbourne
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Vacant homes

Best Column

GOLD   
Reggie Jackson
Milwaukee Independent
The intersection of racial identity and education in Milwaukee

SILVER 
Paul Fanlund
Cap Times

BRONZE
Mikel ‘Kwaku Osei’ Holt             
Milwaukee Community Journal

Best Explanatory Story or Series              

GOLD   
UW-Madison J420 Students      
Wisconsin Watch            
Color of Money

SILVER 
Larry Sandler    
Marquette University Law School, Marquette Lawyer Magazine
Between the Lines

BRONZE
Maggie Ginsberg
Holly Marley-Henschen              
Madison Magazine
Where the Grass is Greener + Wisconsin’s Original Green Cemetery

Best Personal Profile

GOLD   
Andrea Behling
Madison Magazine
The Next Course

SILVER 
Elly Fishman
Milwaukee Magazine
Burger Queen: The Gospel of Valerie Daniels Carter

BRONZE
Preston Schmitt              
On Wisconsin magazine               
Manu Raju: Behind the Scenes on Capitol Hill

Best Consumer Story or Series

GOLD   
Jenna Sachs
Annette Riese
Dave Michuda
Sara Smith
WITI FOX6
Contact 6

SILVER 
Ed Combs
Concealed Carry Magazine         
Shop Class – August/September 2021

BRONZE
Jennifer Rude Klett
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Seasonal garlic brings Wisconsin farm-to-table flavor and a boost for immune systems

VISUAL JOURNALISM

Best Illustration or Cartoon

GOLD   
Steve Dorchester
Araceli Esparza
Beauxregard Neylon
Yuwei Li
Kelly Saran
Trevor Keller
PBS Wisconsin  
Wisconsin Life: Las Chicas y Chicos de Blossom Street

SILVER 
Tobatron
Milwaukee Magazine
How-To Wisconsin

BRONZE
Nicole Xu
Madison Magazine
When Safer at Home Isn’t

Best Photo Essay or Series

GOLD
Ruthie Hauge
Cap Times
Homeless family receives free birthday camping weekend

SILVER 
Isaac Wasserman
Coburn Dukehart
Jim Malewitz
Wisconsin Watch
Something has to be done: Living along Madison’s Starkweather Creek, one of Wisconsin’s most polluted waterways.

(No Bronze Awarded)

Best News Photograph

GOLD
Angela Major
Wisconsin Public Radio
George Floyd Was The Catalyst, Now These Wisconsinites Won’t Stop Until There Is Real Change

SILVER 
Angela Major
Wisconsin Public Radio
We are thankful we are all in this together: Waukesha unites in wake of tragedy at holiday parade

BRONZE
Lee Matz
Milwaukee Independent
Interfaith prayer vigil held for local community following Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy

Best Feature Photograph

GOLD   
Jake Hill
Milwaukee Business Journal      
The Beat Goes On

SILVER 
Ruthie Hauge
Cap Times
Climbers of Color Meetup

BRONZE
Isaac Wasserman
Wisconsin Watch
Changing plans

Best Sports Photograph               

GOLD
Angela Major
Wisconsin Public Radio 
Dominant wheelchair basketball teams back in action at UW-Whitewater: They turn out Paralympic athletes like crazy

SILVER
Angela Major
Wisconsin Public Radio
Wisconsin volleyball continues quest for 1st national title

BRONZE
Lee Matz
Milwaukee Independent
Fans show their love for Milwaukee Bucks during massive parade celebrating team’s championship win

NEWSPAPER DESIGN

Best Overall Design

GOLD
Tommy Washbush
Isthmus

SILVER 
Mark Kass
Todd Bragstad
Jacqueline Prins
Matt Haesly
Barb Zaferos
Milwaukee Business Journal

Best Special Section Design

GOLD   
Mark Kass
Todd Bragstad
Jacqueline Prins
Matt Haesly
Barb Zaferos
Milwaukee Business Journal
Special Sections – 40 Under 40, Women of Influence, Veterans in Business Awards

MAGAZINE DESIGN

Best Overall Design

GOLD   
Volume One Staff
Volume One magazine

SILVER 
Tim Burton
Emily Culp
Carol Shufro
Sarah Frautschi
Madison Magazine        

BRONZE
Julie Nor-Barber
Ashley Duchemin
Shayna Mace
BRAVA Magazine

Best Single Cover Design

GOLD
Danielle Lawry
Mathias Ball
On Wisconsin magazine
Psychedelic Wonder Drugs

SILVER (tie)
Ken Wangler
Dustin Reid
Concealed Carry Magazine
Politics & The Law – July 2021

SILVER (tie)
Tim Burton
Madison Magazine
Star Search

BRONZE (tie)
Shelly Tabor
BizTimes Milwaukee
The Missing Piece – July 19th Issue

BRONZE (tie)
Ann Christianson
Hillary Schave
BRAVA Magazine
January/February 2021

Best Single Story or Feature Design

GOLD
Paul John Higgins
Milwaukee Magazine
Out of Asia

SILVER
Tim Burton
Madison Magazine
Seeing Stars

BRONZE
Shelly Tabor
BizTimes Media LLC
The Missing Piece Cover Package – July 19th Issue

AUDIO

Best Coverage of a Single or Ongoing Breaking News Story

GOLD   
Jonah Chester
Nate Wegehaupt
WORT 89.9 FM 
Reindahl Park In Limbo

SILVER 
Emily Files
WUWM 89.7 FM
Under state pressure, MPS brings some special education students back to classrooms

BRONZE
Jonah Chester
Chali Pittman
Sam Kodzik
WORT 89.9 FM
In 2020, The Madison Police Department Deployed Chemical Weapons in Record Amounts

Best Series Reporting

GOLD   
Danielle Kaeding
Hope Kirwan    
Wisconsin Public Radio 
PFAS Contamination Series

SILVER 
Scott Girard
Briana Reilly
Jessie Opoien
Cap Times
Act 10 Anniversary

BRONZE
Jane Matenaer
Newsradio WTMJ
Girls in Trade

Best Long Hard Feature Story    

GOLD   
Audrey Nowakowski     
WUWM 89.7 FM
It’s Tangible: George Marshall Clark, Milwaukee’s Only Known Lynching Victim, Now Memorialized With Headstone

SILVER 

Jonah Chester  
WORT 89.9 FM 
On Call With Madison’s Crisis Response Team

Best Long Soft Feature Story

GOLD
Carrie Ann Welsh
WORT 89.9 FM 
Desire Lines: Pet Cemetery

SILVER
Maayan Silver
WUWM 89.7 FM
Milwaukee father-son duo carries on rich tradition of Latin Percussion

BRONZE
Ryan Wollersheim
WORT 89.9 FM
Smiles, High Fives, and Juice Boxes – Southside Raiders Provide Normalcy Amidst Pandemic

Best Short Hard Feature Story

GOLD
Melissa Barclay
Newsradio WTMJ
Hope & Healing Through Ink

SILVER
Emily Files
WUWM 89.7 FM
Milwaukee Area Educators Adjust To Hybrid Teaching

BRONZE
Nate Carlin
WORT 89.9 FM 
To Fight Food Waste, Madison Studies Anaerobic Digester

Best Short Soft Feature Story

GOLD
Melissa Barclay
Newsradio WTMJ
The Singing Vet

SILVER 
Bryan Dee
Newsradio WTMJ
Pond Hockey

BRONZE
Maayan Silver
WUWM 89.7 FM
Unicorns, dinosaurs and bears, oh my! One Fox Point home is decked out for the holidays

Best Use of Audio Within a Report

GOLD
Melissa Barclay
Newsradio WTMJ
The Rage Room

SILVER 
Maayan Silver  
WUWM 89.7 FM              
Wisconsin’s Uli Percussion takes on the art & science of making cowbells

BRONZE
Brad Williams
WIZM-AM
Yesterday in La Crosse–A Big Night on TV, 1965

Best Writing in an Audio Story

GOLD
Stu Levitan
WORT 89.9 FM Lords Of The Ring

SILVER 
Brad Williams
WIZM-AM
Stick That in Your Hat, Cat!–Brad’s Desk

Best Podcast

GOLD
Lake Effect Staff              
WUWM 89.7 FM
Lake Effect

SILVER 
Bridgit Bowden
Shawn Johnson
Brad Kolberg
Karl Christenson
John K. Wilson 
Wisconsin Public Radio 
WPR Reports: Mapped Out

BRONZE
Bryan Polcyn
Amanda St. Hilaire
Jenna Sachs
Dave Michuda
Sara Smith
WITI FOX6
Open Record

VIDEO

Best Coverage of a Breaking News Story

GOLD
WISN 12 News
WISN-TV
Waukesha Parade Tragedy

SILVER 
WISN 12 News 
WISN-TV
Bucks In 6: NBA Champs

Best Multi-Day Coverage of an Ongoing Story

GOLD
TMJ4 I-Team
TMJ4 News
EMTs Stretched Thin

SILVER 
WISN 12 News 
WISN-TV             
Waukesha Parade Tragedy

BRONZE
Jim Piwowarczyk
Jessica McBride
Wisconsin Right Now
Water Street Shootings

Best Individual Reporting of News

GOLD
Amanda St. Hilaire
WITI FOX6

SILVER 
Hillary Mintz
WISN-TV

BRONZE
Jorge Rodas
Spectrum News 1

Best Individual Reporting of Sports

GOLD
Dan Molloy
Spectrum News 1

SILVER 
Dario Melendez              
Bally Sports Wisconsin  

BRONZE
Stephen Watson             
WISN-TV

Best Investigative Report or Series

GOLD   
Amanda St. Hilaire
Dave Michuda
Sara Smith
FOX6 Photojournalist Staff
WITI FOX6
Runaway Relationship

SILVER 
Matt Smith
Bob Palmer
WISN-TV
Election Clerk Threats

BRONZE
Bryan Polcyn
Jeff Frings
Dave Michuda
Sara Smith
WITI FOX6
Streetcar Struggles

Best Long Hard Feature Story

GOLD   
Zac Schultz
Mike Baron
Ethan Freel
PBS Wisconsin
Autism Education

SILVER 
Maryann Lazarski
Scottie Lee Meyers
Darin Malkowski
Justin Migliano
Brian Ewig
Gail Grzybowski
Rick Barrett
Mark Hoffman
Joel Pearish
Milwaukee PBS and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel               
America’s Dairyland The Next Generation

BRONZE
Ted Perry
Susanne Barthel
WITI FOX6
Answering the Call

Best Long Soft Feature Story

GOLD   
Maryann Lazarski
Justin Migliano
Brian Ewig
Darin Malkowski
Chris Michalski
Milwaukee PBS
My Friend Linkin, the Story Continues

SILVER 
Arthur Ircink
Luke Zahm
Nelson Schneider
Dan Peters
Wisconsin Foodie
Washington Island

BRONZE
James Groh
TMJ4 News
My Block: Thurston Woods

Best Short Hard Feature Story  

GOLD   
Patricia Gomez
Yvonne Sanchez
Erica Drehfal
Chris Michalski
Dorothy McGrath
Joseph M. Sankey
Chris Hays
Bohdan Zachary
Milwaukee PBS
A Day Without Latinos March 2021

SILVER 
A.J. Bayatpour
Robby Newell
WKOW-TV
Powering Politics

BRONZE
Shaun Gallagher
Paul Marble
TMJ4 News
Discovering our Roots

Best Short Soft Feature Story    

GOLD   
Carl Deffenbaugh
Susanne Barthel
Sara Smith
WITI FOX6
Social Media Sensation

SILVER 
Mike Baron
Ryan Ward
PBS Wisconsin
Mountain to Mountain

BRONZE
Angelica Sanchez
Kale Zimny
WITI FOX6
FOX6 Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month: Lopez Bakery, Built on Tradition

Best News Program

GOLD   
Maryann Lazarski
Raul Galvan
Darin Malkowski
Scottie Lee Meyers
Tiff Pua
Portia Young
Bohdan Zachary
Milwaukee PBS Team   
Milwaukee PBS
A Symphonic Celebration: The Milwaukee Symphony’s New Home

SILVER
WISN 12 News
WISN-TV
Vaccine Answers

BRONZE
Anthony DaBruzzi
Brandon Millman
Spectrum News 1
Wisconsin Divided: 10 Years of Act 10

Best Newscast 

GOLD
WISN 12 News 
WISN-TV             
Rittenhouse Takes The Stand

SILVER 
WISN 12 News 
WISN-TV             
12 News At 6:00: Bucks Victory Parade

BRONZE
TMJ4 News Staff
TMJ4 News
Ryder Cup Begins

Best Writing in a Video Story

GOLD
Bruce Harrison
Ryan Whittaker               
TMJ4
Martha Merrell’s Books

SILVER 
A.J. Bayatpour
Robby Newell
WKOW-TV
Marine in Crisis

BRONZE
Bryan Polcyn
Dave Michuda
Sara Smith
FOX6 Photojournalist Staff
WITI FOX6
Rare Disease Red Tape

Best Documentary

GOLD
Maryann Lazarski
Scottie Lee Meyers
Rick Barrett
Darin Malkowski
Mark Hoffman
Justin Migliano
Brian Ewig
Joel Pearish
Milwaukee PBS and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel               
America’s Dairyland at the Crossroads

SILVER (tie)
Laurie Gorman
Grant Fenster
James Donovan
Ethan Freel
Emily Julka
Thomas Meyer
PBS Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Scenic Treasures: Southern Vistas

SILVER (tie)
David Hestad
Lina Soblyte
Michael Eicher
Brian Lorbiecki
Brandon Ribordy
Beauxregard Neylon
PBS Wisconsin
Shipwrecks!

BRONZE
WISN 12 News 
WISN-TV
Project Community: Juneteenth Celebration

Best Editing

GOLD
Darin Malkowski
Milwaukee PBS
Darin Malkowski – Editing Compilation

SILVER 
Justin Migliano
Milwaukee PBS
Real  Estate Developer

BRONZE
Will Kenneally
Ethan Freel
PBS Wisconsin
One Year Since the Blake Shooting in Kenosha

ONLINE

Best Online Coverage of News

GOLD   
Megan Hart
Alyssa Allemand
David Hyland
Angela Major
Shawn Johnson
Diane Bezucha
Rich Kremer
Jenny Peek
Shamane Mills
Andrea Anderson
Madeline Fox
Hannah Haynes
Hope Kirwan
Rob Mentzer
Rich Kremer
WPR Staff
Wisconsin Public Radio
Waukesha Parade

SILVER 
Isiah Holmes
Henry Redman
Wisconsin Examiner
How Kenosha Police reacted to protests after the Jacob Blake shooting

BRONZE
Bruce Murphy
Urban Milwaukee
MKECounty — coverage of Milwaukee County government

Best Online Coverage of Sports

GOLD   
John Hughes
Jim Kelsh
Mike Davis
Gary D’Amato
Rob Hernandez
Dennis McCann               
Wisconsin.Golf | Killarney Golf Media   
Wisconsin.Golf

SILVER 
James Kust
James Groh
Jackson Danbeck
Marty Hobe
Mayra Monroy 
TMJ4    
Chasing a Championship: TMJ4’s NBA Finals Coverage

Best Use of Multimedia              

GOLD
Angela Fitzgerald
Rodney Lambright II
Kelly Saran
Ryan Ward
Amanda Roslansky
Kynala Phillips
PBS Wisconsin  
Why Race Matters

SILVER 
Steven Elbow
Brandon Raygo
Ruthie Hauge
Jason Joyce
Cap Times
A Year of our Lives

BRONZE
Lee Matz
Milwaukee Independent
The visually stunning “Beyond Van Gogh: An Immersive Experience” opens in Milwaukee

Best Website Design

GOLD
Don Ross
Volume One Staff          
Volume One      
VolumeOne.org

SILVER 
Milwaukee Independent Staff 
Milwaukee Independent              
milwaukeeindependent.com: An Online Daily News Magazine’s Advertising-Free Website Design

BRONZE
Paul Fanlund
Chelsey Dequaine-Jerabek
Lindsay Christians
Katie Dean
Brandon Raygo
Chris Murphy
Cap Times
captimes.com

Best Local News or Feature Website

GOLD   
David Hyland
Alyssa Allemand
Andrea Anderson
Jenny Peek
John K. Wilson
Angela Major
John Davis
Elizabeth Dohms-Harter
Jonah Beleckis
WPR Staff
Wisconsin Public Radio
WPR.org

SILVER 
Robert Chappell
A. David Dahmer
Henry Sanders 
Madison365

BRONZE
Milwaukee Independent Staff 
Milwaukee Independent
An Online Daily News Magazine

Best Blog

GOLD
Ryan Hendricks
Mia Forslund
Megan Monday
John Vieth
Alyssa Tsagong
PBS Wisconsin
aka Teacher

SILVER 
Dave Cieslewicz              
Isthmus               
Citizen Dave

BRONZE
John Pavlovitz
Milwaukee Independent
The political ideologies that people of faith use to weaponize their faith

Best Use of Multi-Platform Reporting

GOLD   
Anthony DaBruzzi
Hailey Kunz
Madeline Burakoff
Mike Woods
Aly Prouty
Brandon Millman
Spectrum News 1
Wisconsin Divided: 10 Years of Act 10

SILVER 
Will Kenneally
Bridgit Bowden
PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio
Gatekeepers of the Criminal Justice System: District Attorney Candidates Dwindle in Wisconsin, Even As Office Grows in Scrutiny

BRONZE
Brad Evans
Amy Smith
WISN.com
Waukesha parade tragedy

Best Hard Feature Story              

GOLD   
Kynala Phillips 
Madison365
Black women are five times as likely to die in childbirth. Here’s what that looks like in Green Bay.

SILVER
Christina Lieffring
UpNorthNews  
The Problem of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Marinette, and the Solutions That Could Take as Long

BRONZE
Jim Malewitz
Dee J. Hall
Wisconsin Watch
Ancient human remains unearthed at proposed Kohler golf course site in Wisconsin

Best Soft Feature Story

GOLD   
Christina Van Zelst
Jerry Imig
FOX6 News WITI
Roll Train Back On Track

SILVER 
Madeline Burakoff
Spectrum News 1
Still gleaming: Wisconsin’s aluminum Christmas trees shine on, decades later

BRONZE
Henry Redman
Wisconsin Examiner
Madison ballet dances for Afghan refugees

Best Sports Story

GOLD   
Rich Rovito
Milwaukee Magazine
This Shirt-Shredding Bucks Fan Is Definitely Getting Noticed

SILVER 
Robert Chappell
Madison365
Jimmy Banks Stadium? Grassroots effort looks to rename Custer after Milwaukee soccer legend

BRONZE
Rich Rovito
Milwaukee Magazine
How This Wisconsinite Became a World-Class Skydiver

Best Business Story or Series

GOLD   
Lauren Anderson
BizTimes Milwaukee
St. Ann Center says it could have to close its doors after losing meal program contract

SILVER 
Sean Ryan
Milwaukee Business Journal
INVESTORS ASSEMBLE: 3rd Street Market Hall has diverse group of backers

BRONZE
Arthur Thomas 
BizTimes Milwaukee
Palermo’s suing freezer vendor

Best Investigative Story or Series

GOLD   
Robert Chappell
Madison365
Deputies wait 15 hours to take man with broken hip to hospital after altercation with guards

SILVER 
Ruth Conniff
Wisconsin Examiner
How a Wisconsin tribe helped launch a MAGA charter school

BRONZE
Phoebe Petrovic
Mario Koran
Jack Kelly
Madeline Fuerstenberg              
Wisconsin Watch and WPR         
Justice Deferred

Best Public Service Story or Series

GOLD   
Peter Cameron
The Badger Project and Wisconsin Watch
Officers fired

SILVER 
Isiah Holme
Wisconsin Examiner
Police surveillance

BRONZE
Dan Shafer
The Recombobulation Area
Expanding the Divide: A multi-part series on the proposed expansion of I-94

Best Column

GOLD   
Reggie Jackson
Milwaukee Independent
Why systematic racism creates a continual struggle for justice in Milwaukee

SILVER 
Henry Sanders, Jr
Madison365
With people of color in positions of power, Madison becomes a national model

BRONZE
Jessica McBride               
Wisconsin Right Now
Rittenhouse Trial

Best Explanatory Story or Series              

GOLD   
Clara Neupert
Jim Malewitz
Coburn Dukehart
Wisconsin Watch
In wake of Wisconsin’s racial justice protests, curfew tickets raise equity and speech questions

SILVER 
Larry Sandler
milwaukeemag.com      
How Local School Board Races Turned Partisan, With the Cash to Match

BRONZE
Erik Gunn
Wisconsin Examiner
Where did all the workers go?

Best Journalistic Use of Social Media to Tell or Enhance a Story

GOLD
Andrew Havranek
Hailey Kunz
Aly Prouty
Kevin Schwaller
Spectrum News 1 Staff
Spectrum News 1
The Kyle Rittenhouse Trial: Week 3

SILVER 
Henry Sander
Madison365
Town Hall with Black police chiefs

BRONZE
Rebecca Mennecke
Taylor McCumber
Volume One
Rolling Forward

COLLEGIATE WINNERS:

PANDEMIC SHOWCASE CATEGORIES

Best Pandemic Story in Print     

GOLD
Will Cioci
The Daily Cardinal
For new freshmen, a daunting and exciting fresh start

SILVER
Beck Salgado
Marquette Wire               
Putting questions about COVID-19 vaccines to the test

BRONZE
Cherita Booker
Media Milwaukee
Trauma Throughout History

Best Pandemic Story in Audio

GOLD   
Cody Barnes      
WRST-FM           
COVID and First Responders

SILVER 
Brady Meyer     
WRST-FM           
COVID Impact on Teachers

BRONZE
Jacob Lewis
WRST-FM
Justice Denied Is Justice Delayed

Best Pandemic Story in Video

GOLD
Andrew Amouzou
Maureen Ojiambo
Marquette Wire: MUTV
Covid Long Haulers

SILVER
John Leuzzi
Jack Connelly   
Marquette Wire: MUTV
COVID Vaccinations

Best Pandemic Story That Appeared Online       

GOLD   
Media Milwaukee staff               
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Back on Campus in a Pandemic: Who We Are Now

SILVER 
Basim Al Marjan              
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Hamlet Tackles COVID

BRONZE
Media Milwaukee staff               
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Workers Say ‘No Thanks’ to Old Assumptions About Work

WRITING

Best News Story

GOLD
Destiny DeVooght
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Colectivo Unionization Vote Signals Pushback From Workers During Pandemic

SILVER
Benjamin Wells              
Marquette Wire               
Marquette student-athlete removed from team after racial slur video surfaces on social media

BRONZE
Samantha Henschel
The Daily Cardinal
Students fumble resale football tickets

Best Long Hard Feature Story

GOLD
Kate Morton
Curb Magazine
A Watershed Moment

SILVER
Thomas Hoffman
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee Restaurants and Service Workers Face Pandemic Stress

BRONZE
Natallie St. Onge
Marquette Wire
It’s criminal: How Marquette’s languages department is trying to stay afloat amid budget shortfalls and failed support

Best Long Soft Feature Story

GOLD
Victoria Magee
The MATC Times
From heroin to heroine: Alum and former commencement speaker’s life saving decision

SILVER (tie)
Allison Martens
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Small Black Businesses Take on the Pandemic and Emerge Stronger

SILVER (tie)
Maya Fidziukiewicz       
Curb Magazine
Our Own Little Chapel

BRONZE
Kalli Anderson
The Daily Cardinal
Ex-Badger tight end returns to the classroom amidst pandemic

Best Short Hard Feature Story

GOLD
Claire Driscol
Marquette Wire: Journal
Between the Lines: Disabilities & resources

SILVER
Hunter Turpin
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
The UWM Student Union is Getting a Facelift

BRONZE
Amelia Zollner
The Daily Cardinal
Anti-mask student organization fights university mask mandate

Best Short Soft Feature Story

GOLD
Eli Friedman
Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle
Star of David stone found in Kenosha

SILVER
Julia Abuzzaha
Marquette Wire
University embraces “Lovell Strong”

BRONZE
Felicity Knabenbauer
Royal Purple
Stepping into the past

Best Sports Story

GOLD
Michael Colt
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
For Chinooks host families, the relationships last longer than a summer

SILVER
Madison Rios
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
The Boxer

BRONZE
John Leuzzi
Marquette Wire               
The new ‘Wild West’ of college athletics

Best Investigative Reporting     

GOLD
Cailyn Schiltz
Natalie Zientek
The Daily Cardinal
Continuously Unsafe: UW admissions puts student sexual assault survivors at risk

SILVER 
Cailyn Schiltz    
The Daily Cardinal           
Student tenants inhabit unsafe conditions while property managers profit

BRONZE
Addison Lathers              
The Daily Cardinal
Why isn’t Lakeshore Path lit?

Best Editorial or Commentary   

GOLD   
Alex Garner
Marquette Wire Editorial Board              
Marquette Wire              
EDITORIAL: Marquette failed faculty, staff

SILVER
Alex Garner
Marquette Wire Editorial Board              
Marquette Wire               
EDITORIAL: MU needs reform, addressing singular racist actions not enough

BRONZE
Zoe Comerford
Marquette Wire               
COMERFORD: Life is more than just sports

VISUAL JOURNALISM

Best Still Photograph/Photos

GOLD
Taylor Wolfram               
The Daily Cardinal
PHOTOS: Wisconsin wins the NCAA Volleyball Championship game

SILVER
Collin Nawrock
Isabel Bonebrake
Marquette Wire               
Men’s basketball shocks No. 10 Illinois Photo Series

BRONZE
Ky McCombe
Royal Purple
Warhawks Crush Central College

AUDIO

Best News Story Single or Ongoing

GOLD
Hope Karnopp
The Daily Cardinal
Cardinal Call: Students Getting Scammed Over Digital Football Tickets

SILVER
Brady Jager
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Waukesha Community Mourns, Reflects on Parade Tragedy

BRONZE
Charlotte Ives
Marquette Wire: MUR
Community Books You

Best Feature Story

GOLD
Matthew Frea
WRST-FM
Santa’s Supply Chain

SILVER
Nkaujoua Xiong
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Colorful Hmong Traditions Shine at New Year’s Celebration

BRONZE
Honor Durham
Gaby Vinick
Cole Wozniak
Julia Wiessing
The Daily Cardinal
The Student Dive: Our Impact Episode 1

Best Sports Story

GOLD
Margaret Tews
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Low Stakes, Big Fun for Campus Volleyball Team

SILVER
Brady Meyer
WRST-FM
Oshkosh Student Athletes

BRONZE
Rashad Alexander
Marquette Wire: MUR
Basketball Academy

Best Podcast

GOLD
Sophia Madore
On the Record, UW Madison
Do You Dabble?

SILVER
Maya Fidziukiewicz
On The Record, UW Madison
More Than A Pierogi

BRONZE
Lucas Latterell
On the Record, UW Madison
Commander’s Intent

VIDEO

Best News Story Single or Ongoing

GOLD
Grayson Sewell              
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee
Rittenhouse Trial Verdict Divides Community

SILVER
Amalia Liguori-Coneff
John Leuzzi
Marquette Wire: MUTV
Go for Mars

BRONZE
Seth Herlinger
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee
Increase in Kia and Hyundai Thefts Hits Milwaukee

Best Feature Story

GOLD
Matt Gotsch      
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee
Navigating Domestic Violence During the Holidays

SILVER
Grayson Sewell
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee
Bloody Mary Walk Raises Funds for Cedarburg Parks

BRONZE
Jerome Barnett
The Badger Report
Jewop-a-Cappella

Best Sports Story

GOLD
Kristin Parisi
Tyler Peters
Marquette Wire: MUTV
Women in Sports

SILVER
Jamie Winsted
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee
Referee Shortage Hits Local Sports Games

BRONZE
Kelsey Tehan
The Badger Report
UW and the NFL Team Up to Prevent Head Injuries

Best Newscast

GOLD
The Badger Report Staff
Kim Leadholm
Gaby Vinick
The Badger Report UW Madison
The Badger Report newscast for November 19, 2021

SILVER
Kaylee Staral
Rashad Alexander
Autumn Hirchert
Mazie Baldus
Sarah Richardson
Vanessa Rivera
Richie Lyons
Marquette Wire: MUTV
Marquette Now, 03/31/2021

BRONZE
The Badger Report Staff
Ben Kenney
Amona Seleh
The Badger Report UW Madison
The Badger Report Newscast December 12, 2021

Best Program, Documentary or Special 

GOLD   
Zoe Bockhorst  
UW Madison, Cutting Class Program     
Tagged

SILVER 
Kaylin Hart
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee       
Limit(less)

BRONZE
Alex Rivera Grant
Andrew Amouzou
Natallie St. Onge
Aimee Galaszewski
Mazie Baldus
MUTV Staff       
Marquette Wire: MUTV
Being the Difference: A Town Hall on Diversity and Inclusion

ONLINE EXCLUSIVELY

Best Use of Multi-Media

GOLD
Jeana Prodhumme
Giselle Martin Gomez
Mount Mary University
MKE Women Today

SILVER
Elea Levin
Cailyn Schiltz
Tamia Fowlkes
Curb Magazine
Blackout: The Dark Side of the Drunkest State in America

BRONZE
A Tale of Two Cities Staff
Beatrice Lawrence
Brandon Landsberg
Robin Robinson
Meredith Opie
A Tale Of Two Cities, UW Madison          
A Tale of Two Cities

Best Website Design    

GOLD
Casper Holden
Andrew Haes
Abby Bullard
Miles Schmidt
WRST-FM
WRST.ORG

SILVER 
The Daily Cardinal Staff
The Daily Cardinal
Dailycardinal.com

BRONZE
Marquette Wire Staff
Marquette Wire               
Marquettewire.org

Best Local News or Feature Website

GOLD
Beatrice Lawrence
Brandon Landsberg
Robin Robinso
Meredith Opie
335 Staff
UW Madison A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities

SILVER 
Media Milwaukee Staff               
Media Milwaukee – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Media Milwaukee

BRONZE
Dauntae Green
Royal Purple
Whitewater Community Coverage

Best News Story              

GOLD   
Jeromey Hodson            
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee
Rittenhouse Closing Arguments

SILVER 
Brianna Schubert            
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee       
UWM Struggles to Find Students for Low-Paying Campus Jobs

BRONZE
Sophia Vento
Lekha Kachoria
The Daily Cardinal
Sen. Ted Cruz event moved off campus due to UW-Madison masking policy, sparking controversy

Best Hard Feature Story

GOLD
Lauren Breunig
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee
Milwaukee Fights for Representation in a Bitter Redistricting Year

SILVER
Emily Prochaska
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee
Historic Bronzeville Neighborhood Reimagined

BRONZE
Jason Smith
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee
COVID Through the Eyes of an 80-Year-Old Man

Best Soft Feature Story

GOLD
Jessica Gatzow
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee
Saving The Planet One Sniff At A Time

SILVER
John Leuzzi
Marquette Wire
Basketball programs spread Christmas cheer with Kohl’s shopping spree

BRONZE
Nicholaus Wiberg
Media Milwaukee – UW-Milwaukee
Hip Hop Chess Club

Best Sports Story

GOLD
John Leuzzi
Marquette Wire               
Former BIG EAST Player of the Year finds success with Connecticut Sun

SILVER
Parker Olsen
Royal Purple
Warhawks crush Central College

BRONZE
John Leuzzi
Marquette Wire
From Minnesota to the BIG EAST: Bueckers, Karlen have experienced it all

Best Editorial or Commentary

GOLD
Kristin Parisi
Marquette Wire               
PARISI: We should advocate for mental health awareness during National Suicide Prevention Month

SILVER
Alex Garner
Marquette Wire: Journal
GARNER: Being mindful as we move forward

Best Journalistic Use of Social Media to Tell or Enhance a Story

GOLD   
Kaylee Staral
Sarah Richardson
Vanessa Rivera
Autumn Hirchert
Marquette Wire: MUTV
Marquette Minute 04/28/21

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