GPHN Wins 12 Awards
Newspaper Lands Top Honors For Excellence In News, Opinion, Photo, Design, Public Service In Statewide Journalism Contest
Staff Report
Greater Park Hill News
The Greater Park Hill News landed 12 awards in the Colorado Press Association’s annual contest for excellence in journalism — including seven first-place winners for news, columns, photography and design.
The newspaper swept the Public Service category in its class for its ongoing coverage highlighting the global climate crisis, and its coverage of developer Westside Investment Partners’ controversial efforts to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property.
The newspaper also won first place in the single news story category for its August, 2021 article detailing the Denver Parks and Recreation Department’s handling of and nepotism surrounding the construction of Fairfax Park at 28th Avenue and Fairfax Street. A judge described the news story as “excellent public interest reporting at its best.”
The awards, for work published in 2021, were announced in August at an event at Coors Field that capped the press association’s three-day journalism conference.
Earlier this year the Greater Park Hill News also received seven awards in the Top of the Rockies regional journalism contest — including a Public Service award for its ongoing coverage of the Park Hill Golf Course property. For the past several years, the neighborhood newspaper has excelled in journalism competitions — usually going head to head with much larger newspapers and news organizations with far more resources.
The 13,000-circulation monthly newspaper is delivered for free to homes and businesses in and around the neighborhood.
Being recognized for excellence underscores our commitment to providing readers and advertisers with compelling, relevant, and interesting journalism. With that in mind, we extend our congratulations to all the winners in the competition — including other monthly newspapers, as well as daily and weekly publications across Colorado.
Here is a breakdown of our latest awards, including judges notes where applied:
Public Service Project — 1st Place
Earth In Crisis by Tracey MacDermott, Mark Kuhl, Mark Silverstein, Reid Neureiter and Madeleine Senger
With the reality of the myriad impacts of global warming, the Greater Park Hill News is responding with a coordinated and sustained emphasis designed to highlight the changing climate. The sampling of submissions included monthly climate columns that blend global perspectives with calls for local action; useful tips and news about recycling; perspectives on Earth Day from a youth perspective; and photo and news features detailing the impacts of global warming — from threats to bird populations to devastating wildfires.
Judge’s note: A variety of informative articles on the most important topic of the age.
Public Service Project — 2nd Place
Going for Green by Cara DeGette, Tracey MacDermott and Brenda Morrison
Despite overwhelming community support for preserving Denver’s last big acreage of open space, a deep-pocket developer has teamed up with City Hall in efforts to pave the way for development. The submission of news stories and opinion pieces detailed the complexities of the issue, as well as the self-styled David versus Goliath efforts by the group Save Open Space Denver, to preserve the conservation easement on the property, which is a defunct golf course.
Judge’s note: The breadth and depth of these articles is impressive.
Link to stories: greaterparkhill.org/news-and-opinion/going-for-green/
Single News Story — 1st Place
All in the Family by Cara DeGette
This story detailed Denver Parks and Rec’s handling of what was supposed to be a free city park, funded by a developer as part of a land swap deal. In the end, taxpayers were on the hook for more than $600,000. And, the park itself was built by Gilmore Construction — owned by the brother of Denver’s Deputy Parks Director Scott Gilmore, who had brokered the land swap. Gilmore is married to Denver city councilwoman Stacie Gilmore.
Judge’s comments: When I started reading, I thought this was going to be a nice story about a new park, but once DeGette grabbed me, she shifted gears and presented an in-depth look at apparent public corruption and conflicts of interest. All backed by solid reporting and a thorough grasp of the facts. Excellent public interest reporting at its best.
Link to story: greaterparkhill.org/news-and-opinion/all-in-the-family/
Serious Column Writing — 1st Place
Raw Politics by Penfield W. Tate III
A selection of columns about local politics, written by a former state legislator, attorney and longtime civic leader with a wealth of knowledge and insights.
Judge’s note: [The submissions are] timely narratives with storytelling to engage the reader, and facts to support a persuasive point of view — or better yet, argue a case.
Health Enterprise/Health Feature Story — 1st Place
Left Scrambling by Cara DeGette
This news story detailed a plan by the State of Colorado to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to 140 people of color over age 70. The program was cancelled with little warning, leaving staff at the Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being scrambling to notify disappointed clients.
Link to story: greaterparkhill.org/news-and-opinion/left-scrambling/
Sports or Sports Event Story — 1st Place
Shooting Through The Pandemic by Reid Neureiter
The story detailed the realities of how high school sports had to adapt to the realities of the pandemic — including having to play wearing face masks and in empty gyms with no fans to cheer them on.
Judge’s note: Very good details/reporting. Many sources and excellent quotes. Read quickly for a fairly long story.
Link to story: greaterparkhill.org/news-and-opinion/shooting-through-the-pandemic/
Sports Photograph — 1st Place
First Win Of The Season by Reid Neureiter
Photo showing East High quarterback Dylan Wigglesworth preparing to “give the Heisman” to a charging Rock Canyon defender while scrambling for yards in the Angels’ varsity football team first win of the 2021 season.
Judge’s note: Nice action shot.
Headline Writing — 1st Place
Snakes, Solitude and a selection of other newspaper headlines by Cara DeGette
Judge’s note: Creative work on display. Good use of imagination to grab the reader’s attention. Nice job!
Series or Sustained Coverage — 2nd Place
Home Sweet Home by Cara DeGette and Anya Nitczynski
Amid a growing crisis of homelessness in Denver, Park Hill United Methodist Church — which has a history of social justice activism — opened its parking lot to host a temporary tent city for the unhoused. A group of critics filed lawsuits trying to stop the program. However, many nearby residents were quick to welcome the new neighbors, and pushed back against opponents. Over coming months support for the camp, and the church, amplified. The submissions included news stories and an opinion column about the program’s rocky start, rollout of the camp and neighborhood response.
Judge’s note: Exhaustive, important coverage truly serving the community.
Submissions can be read at greaterparkhill.org/news-and-opinion/home-sweet-home/
Photography Portfolio — 2nd Place
Birdland by Mark Silverstein
A selection of photos highlighting avian life, which appear monthly on page 3, by Park Hill photographer Mark Silverstein.
Judge’s note: Awesome photos!
Best Print Ad — 2nd Place
Kujawa Construction ad by Tommy Kubitsky and Melissa Davis
Page Design — 2nd Place
Dance of the Crane by Reid Neureiter and Tommy Kubitsky
This photo-heavy feature story detailed the annual Sandhill Crane migration through the San Luis Valley in southwestern Colorado.
Judge’s note: The use of the images in this entry makes this stand out above a handful of other entries. The images that should be larger and more broad are played up that way. Close up images are a bit smaller, but not too small as to not lose the impact with the reader. The typography – headlines and body copy – both fit perfectly between the images. This is a clean, crisp page.