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KUOW wins 20 Society of Professional Journalists Awards, 5 Public Media Journalists Association Awards

caption: Caroline Antone, 10, has help getting fitted for her first pair of pointe shoes on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Bellevue.
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Caroline Antone, 10, has help getting fitted for her first pair of pointe shoes on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Bellevue.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer

Seattle, WA — KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio has won 20 Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Awards and five Public Media Journalists Association Awards. Winners of both contests were announced this week.

PMJA recognizes outstanding public media reporting from around the country, celebrating the role public news organizations "play in holding powerful institutions accountable, giving voice to marginalized communities, and sparking important conversations." The winners were selected from over 1,450 entries from 144 different organizations. See the full list of this year's winners here.

SPJ's Excellence in Journalism awards are more locally focused, recognizing the "excellent work of journalists in the Northwest and beyond." KUOW falls into SPJ's Region 10, which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. The contest is "one of the largest contests of its kind in the nation." See the full list of winners here.

KUOW is thankful to our dedicated journalists and to our community, who make this work possible. Below, explore KUOW's winning stories.

Public Media Journalists Association Awards


Arts Feature

Second Place

For these Pacific Northwest ballerinas, getting 'en pointe' is the ultimate milestone

Reporting by Diana Opong. Edited by Derek Wang.

caption: Caroline Antone, 10, has help getting fitted for her first pair of pointe shoes on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Bellevue.
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Caroline Antone, 10, has help getting fitted for her first pair of pointe shoes on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Bellevue.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer


Enterprise

Second Place

Japanese American survivors revisit a troubling past and vow to protect the Idaho prison camp where they were held

Reporting by Natalie Akane Newcomb. Edited by Jed Kim.

caption: Tae Shimamoto (left) hugs her mother, Tomita Shimamoto (right), who was born at Minidoka prison camp in rural Idaho, where thousands of Japanese Americans were held during World War II.
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Tae Shimamoto (left) hugs her mother, Tomita Shimamoto (right), who was born at Minidoka prison camp in rural Idaho, where thousands of Japanese Americans were held during World War II.
KUOW Photo/Natalie Newcomb


Human Interest Feature

Second Place

Would you leave grandma with a companion robot? Care bots and robot pets find favor in Pacific NW

Reporting by Tom Banse. Edited by Catherine Smith.

caption: Jan Worrell, 83, and her AI-powered companion robot named ElliQ interact throughout the day at her home on the Long Beach Peninsula.
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Jan Worrell, 83, and her AI-powered companion robot named ElliQ interact throughout the day at her home on the Long Beach Peninsula.
Tom Banse / Northwest News Network


News Feature

First Place

Numbing the pain: Opioids on the Olympic Peninsula

Reporting by Eilís O'Neill. Edited by Liz Jones.

caption: Vicki Lowe, executive director of the American Indian Health Commission for Washington state and Sequim city councilmember is photographed on a playground that she played on as a child on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Sequim.
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Vicki Lowe, executive director of the American Indian Health Commission for Washington state and Sequim city councilmember is photographed on a playground that she played on as a child on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Sequim.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer


Feature Category: Economic Impacts on Local Communities

First Place

From offices to apartments and back: Could transformable buildings help revive downtowns?

Reporting by Joshua McNichols. Edited by Carol Smith.

caption: UN-towers (UN stands for "Use Neutral") could be inexpensively converted from office use to residential or hotel use, depending on market demand, says one of its architects, Matthias Olt. Olt designed the theoretical project with his previous firm, B+H Advance Strategy. Today, Olt works for Arcadis IBI Group, where he continues his work on office to residential conversions.
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UN-towers (UN stands for "Use Neutral") could be inexpensively converted from office use to residential or hotel use, depending on market demand, says one of its architects, Matthias Olt. Olt designed the theoretical project with his previous firm, B+H Advance Strategy. Today, Olt works for Arcadis IBI Group, where he continues his work on office to residential conversions.
B+H Advance Strategy


Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Awards


Writing: General Excellence

First Place

Honoring contributors Ruby de Luna, Monica Nickelsburg, John Ryan, David Hyde, and Gustavo Sagrero Alvarez.


Writing: Editorial and Commentary

Second Place

Could ChatGPT write for KUOW? Today So Far

Writing by Dyer Oxley. Edited by Stephen Howie.

Artificial Intelligence Free-Vectors
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FREE-VECTORS.NET


Writing: Education Reporting

First Place

About the gun that killed a boy at Seattle's Ingraham High School

Writing by Isolde Raftery and Ashley Hiruko.

caption: From left, clockwise: Ebenezer Haile; cells at the King County youth jail where TF is being held; the Glock used in the shooting; a rally six months after Haile died; Ingraham High School; a mural at the youth jail.
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From left, clockwise: Ebenezer Haile; cells at the King County youth jail where TF is being held; the Glock used in the shooting; a rally six months after Haile died; Ingraham High School; a mural at the youth jail.
L-clockwise: Gofundme, KUOW/Megan Farmer, King County Prosecutor's Office, KUOW/Sami West, Google Maps, Megan Farmer


Writing: Education Reporting

Second Place

A music teacher left two jobs following allegations of sexual harassment. Kent School District hired him anyway

Writing by Diana Opong. Edited by Liz Brazile.

Teo_Popescu_Diana_Collages
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Teo Popescu


Writing: Health Reporting

Second Place

Numbing the pain: Opioid crisis on the Olympic Peninsula

Writing by Eilís O'Neill. Edited by Liz Jones.

caption: Vicki Lowe, executive director of the American Indian Health Commission for Washington state and Sequim city councilmember is photographed on a playground that she played on as a child on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Sequim.
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Vicki Lowe, executive director of the American Indian Health Commission for Washington state and Sequim city councilmember is photographed on a playground that she played on as a child on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Sequim.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer


Writing: Series

Second Place

State of the Cart

Writing by Ruby de Luna. Edited by Carol Smith.

caption: Diane Martin Rudnick grocery shops on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, at Fred Meyer along Aurora Avenue North in Shoreline.
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Diane Martin Rudnick grocery shops on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, at Fred Meyer along Aurora Avenue North in Shoreline.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer


Audio: General Excellence

First Place

Honoring contributors Chris Morgan, Matt Martin, Patricia Murphy, Libby Denkman, and David Hyde.


Audio: Audio Series

First Place

Numbing the pain: Opioid crisis on the Olympic Peninsula

Reporter: Eilís O'Neill. Editor: Liz Jones.

caption: Vicki Lowe, executive director of the American Indian Health Commission for Washington state and Sequim city councilmember is photographed on a playground that she played on as a child on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Sequim.
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Vicki Lowe, executive director of the American Indian Health Commission for Washington state and Sequim city councilmember is photographed on a playground that she played on as a child on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Sequim.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer


Audio: Audio Series

Second Place

Highway robbery: What keeps Seattle-area women in the salary slow lane

Reporter: Monica Nickelsburg. Editor: Carol Smith.

caption: Linda Conway, senior product engineer at Lumotive, prepares to analyze a semiconductor chip sample under SEM (scanning electron microscope) on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Lumotive’s lab in Redmond.
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Linda Conway, senior product engineer at Lumotive, prepares to analyze a semiconductor chip sample under SEM (scanning electron microscope) on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Lumotive’s lab in Redmond.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer


Audio: Crime and Law Enforcement Reporting

Second Place

'Therapeutic' courts could see influx under Washington's next drug law

Reporter: Amy Radil. Editor: Cat Smith.

caption: Roxanne Kostelac at her graduation from King County Drug Diversion Court on March 8, 2023.
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Roxanne Kostelac at her graduation from King County Drug Diversion Court on March 8, 2023.
KUOW/Amy Radil


Audio: Environment and Natural Disaster Reporting

Second Place

Road trip! Kicking the tires on electric travel in the Northwest

Reporter: John Ryan. Editor: Cat Smith.

caption: The open road outside Prosser, Washington, April 2023.
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The open road outside Prosser, Washington, April 2023.
Courtesy Kathleen Lumiere


Audio: Feature, Hard News

First Place

How local youth are taking on school gun violence

Patricia Murphy, Clare McGrane, Antonio Nevarez, Kelsey Tolchin-Kupferer, and Hayden Andersen.

caption: Thousands of students rallied on the steps of Seattle City Hall on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, after walking out of class in protest of gun violence in schools. Less than one week ago, a deadly shooting occurred at Seattle's Ingraham High School.
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Thousands of students rallied on the steps of Seattle City Hall on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, after walking out of class in protest of gun violence in schools. Less than one week ago, a deadly shooting occurred at Seattle's Ingraham High School.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer


Audio: Feature, Soft News

First Place

Would you leave grandma with a companion robot? Care bots and robot pets find favor in Pacific NW

Reporter: Tom Banse. Editor: Cat Smith.

caption: Jan Worrell, 83, and her AI-powered companion robot named ElliQ interact throughout the day at her home on the Long Beach Peninsula.
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Jan Worrell, 83, and her AI-powered companion robot named ElliQ interact throughout the day at her home on the Long Beach Peninsula.
Tom Banse / Northwest News Network


Audio: Government and Politics Reporting

Second Place

The backlash over Seattle's plan to reward drug users for staying clean

Reporter: David Hyde. Editor: Cat Smith.

caption: Darryl Lee lives in the First Hill neighborhood, at Plymouth Housing, which offers supportive housing for people who were chronically homeless.
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Darryl Lee lives in the First Hill neighborhood, at Plymouth Housing, which offers supportive housing for people who were chronically homeless.
David Hyde/KUOW


Audio: Health Reporting

First Place

Numbing the pain: Opioid crisis on the Olympic Peninsula

Reporter: Eilís O'Neill. Editor: Liz Jones.

caption: Vicki Lowe, executive director of the American Indian Health Commission for Washington state and Sequim city councilmember is photographed on a playground that she played on as a child on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Sequim.
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Vicki Lowe, executive director of the American Indian Health Commission for Washington state and Sequim city councilmember is photographed on a playground that she played on as a child on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Sequim.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer


Audio: Health Reporting

Second Place

Finding an eating disorder therapist is hard. This program aims to change that

Reporter: Kate Walters. Editor: Liz Jones.

caption: Emme Leonard is a student at the University of Washington. She's studying biology and hopes to become a doctor.
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Emme Leonard is a student at the University of Washington. She's studying biology and hopes to become a doctor.
Photo courtesy of Emme Leonard


Audio: Investigative Reporting

Second Place

FBI warned of neo-Nazi plots as attacks on Northwest grid spiked

Reporter: John Ryan. Editor: Cat Smith.

caption: This Bonneville Power Administration substation, photographed Jan. 5 near Eagle Creek, Oregon, was one of two Clackamas County electrical sites attacked in late November 2022.
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This Bonneville Power Administration substation, photographed Jan. 5 near Eagle Creek, Oregon, was one of two Clackamas County electrical sites attacked in late November 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff/OPB


Audio: LGBTQ+ Equity Reporting

First Place

Community members give Denny Blaine Park play area proposal a dressing down

Libby Denkman, Noel Gasca, and Ann Dornfeld.

caption: Roughly 400 people packed the Martin Luther King FAME Community Center in Seattle’s Madison Valley on Dec. 7, 2023, to discuss a proposal for a playground structure at Denny Blaine Park. The proposal was ultimately struck down.
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Roughly 400 people packed the Martin Luther King FAME Community Center in Seattle’s Madison Valley on Dec. 7, 2023, to discuss a proposal for a playground structure at Denny Blaine Park. The proposal was ultimately struck down.
KUOW Photo/Juan Pablo Chiquiza


Audio: Technology and Science Reporting

First Place

Can Microsoft become an AI leader and maintain its ambitious goals to cut carbon emissions?

Reporter: Monica Nickelsburg. Editor: Christy George.

caption: Microsoft is in the process of retrofitting its Redmond headquarters to be more energy efficient, including building a new Thermal Energy Center.
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Microsoft is in the process of retrofitting its Redmond headquarters to be more energy efficient, including building a new Thermal Energy Center.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer


Multimedia Storytelling

Second Place

Do you agree with your Seattle City Council candidates? This will tell you

Writing by Teo Popescu and David Hyde. Edited by Cat Smith.

caption: King County ballot surrounded by the Seattle City Council candidates for the 2023 Nov. 7 general election. All photos courtesy of campaigns, including: Vote Maren Costa, Friends of Rob Saka, People for Tammy Morales, Friends of Tanya Woo, Joy for Seattle, Alex for Seattle, Ron for Seattle, Maritza for Seattle, Cathy Moore for Seattle City Council D5, Community for ChrisTiana, Anita Nowacka, Vote Pete For D6, Lewis for Seattle, Jason Ganwich for Kettle for Seattle.
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King County ballot surrounded by the Seattle City Council candidates for the 2023 Nov. 7 general election. All photos courtesy of campaigns, including: Vote Maren Costa, Friends of Rob Saka, People for Tammy Morales, Friends of Tanya Woo, Joy for Seattle, Alex for Seattle, Ron for Seattle, Maritza for Seattle, Cathy Moore for Seattle City Council D5, Community for ChrisTiana, Anita Nowacka, Vote Pete For D6, Lewis for Seattle, Jason Ganwich for Kettle for Seattle.
Teo Popescu


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