Newspaper Awards 2023
2023 COLORADO PRESS ASSOCIATION WINS
In August, 2024 the Greater Park Hill News won 10 Colorado Press Association awards — eight of them first place winners. The newspaper competed against other monthly newspapers across the state. The awards were for work published in 2023.
First Place Winners
Series or Sustained Coverage: The 2023 Denver Mayor’s Race by Cara DeGette and other contributors
Still in its post-pandemic funk, 2023 was a pivotal election year in Denver. Homelessness has reached a crisis, the city is increasingly unaffordable and crime has spiked. Fully 17 candidates emerged to replace Michael B. Hancock. Dozens more were vying to win other city races.
We made the decision early to go all-in with sustained coverage of this critical election, providing readers with resources to make informed decisions.
We also placed high importance on an issue that directly impacted our readership: the controversial proposal, also on the ballot, to remove a city-owned conservation easement for massive development of the Park Hill Golf Course. Other news organizations followed our lead, making the issue a top focus of the election. (The developers, Westside Investment Partners, spent $1 million on their losing campaign.)
This entry reflects coverage from January through July, 2023, when a new mayor, Mike Johnston, was sworn in.
Serious Column Writing: Earth In Crisis by Tracey MacDermott
A selection of columns focusing on the environment and impacts of global warming.
Agriculture Story: American Icon by Reid Neureiter
The news story, with stunning photos, details successful conservation efforts bringing back wild bison from the brink of extinction.
Politics Reporting: The Golden Road To City Hall by Cara DeGette
This news story traced the strong connections that Denver mayors have had to Park Hill for decades.
Sports Story: Lisa! Lisa! Lisa by Reid Neureiter
Story and photos about East High School Athletic Trainer Lisa Smith, who for 19 years has kept the Angels soaring.
Feature Story: The Spooky Season by Rebecca Zimmerman, Cara DeGette, Tommy Kubitsky and Mark Silverstein
Story and photos about Halloween in Park Hill, which is not just a day, but a grand, spine-tingling tradition.
Junior Journalist Story: A Year Of Lockdown by Anna Boyle and Elin Lawrence, with supporting columns by Anya Nitczynski and Madeleine Senger.
East High School journalists Anna Boyle and Elin Lawrence reflected on a year of living through deadly gun violence at East High School that mobilized students demanding their voices be heard.
Headline Writing: Lucas Clarke Has Just One Speed (and other headlines) by Cara DeGette.
2nd Place Winners
News Story: Finding Shelter by Cara DeGette
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s mad dash to move 1,000 unhoused people inside by the end of 2023 did not come without critics.
Serious Column Writing: A selection of columns by Cara DeGette about city government, leadership and the 2023 municipal elections.
2023 Top of the Rockies Wins
In April, 2024 the Greater Park Hill News won 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.