Editor’s Note: GPHN Wins 9 Awards
Newspaper Honored For News, Features, Columns, Photos
By Cara DeGette
GPHN Editor
We’re dancing around our desks over here at Greater Park Hill News World Headquarters. Last month our tiny-but-mighty newsroom brought home nine journalism awards — including five First Place wins — in the Top of the Rockies regional journalism contest.
Our staff and talented freelancers also won four Third Place awards. Top of the Rockies is sponsored by the Colorado Society of Professional Journalists and the competition includes daily, weekly and monthly newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The awards were for work published in 2023.
First Place Winners
News Column Writing: A selection of Tracey MacDermott’s monthly Earth In Crisis column. MacDermott’s focus is on the environment and impacts of global warming. Noted the judges: “The columns are interesting reads . . . Clear, concise writing based on facts.”
Politics Feature Story: The Golden Road To City Hall by Cara DeGette. Last year Denver voters picked their first new mayor in 12 years. This news story traced the strong connections that past mayors have had to Park Hill for decades.
Sports News Story: Slam Dunk by Reid Neureiter. Story and photos about the East High boys basketball team impressive state championship win. The judges noted: “There was a lot of heart and perspective in this story.”
Climate Photography: At Long Last: The Resplendent Quetzal. Park Hill Photographer Mark Silverstein has been searching for decades for the exotic Quetzal, the national symbol of Guatemala whose existence is threatened by the loss of its natural habitat. He finally found the bird.
Social Justice Photography: Keeping The Dream Alive by Cara DeGette. Photo spread from the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Marade.
Third Place Winners
Column Personal/Humor: Word From The Editor by Cara DeGette. For columns highlighting some of the absurdities of last year’s municipal election, and other insights.
Feature Photography: Every Space A Universe. Photographs from a feature story about the fantasmic East High prom by Reid Neureiter.
Obit Reporting: Remembering Ms. Amy by Cara DeGette. A news story about beloved longtime Park Hill Elementary kindergarten teacher Amy Maes.
Headline Writing: Lucas Clarke Has Just One Speed (and other headlines) by Cara DeGette.
Check out all of our award-winning stories, columns and photographs at this link: greaterparkhill.org/newspaper-
The Greater Park Hill News has been publishing since 1960. It’s no secret that many newspapers have had a rough go of it in recent years. Still, over the past few years we’ve been thrilled to see readers — and advertisers — enthusiastically re-embrace community journalism, realizing its critically important role in a thriving democracy. That, for us, is the most important prize.
And now an important word about those advertisers. Simply, they are awesome, they are loyal, and we would not exist without them. Check them out in the newspaper. The next time you patronize one of these businesses, please let them know you appreciate their choice in advertising — and their support for local journalism. If you are interested in advertising, contact newspaper@greaterparkhill.org.
Being recognized for excellence underscores our commitment to providing readers with compelling, relevant, and interesting journalism. With that in mind, we extend our congratulations to all the winners in this year’s Top of the Rockies.