ST. GEORGE — In a display of the high-quality work St. George News is known for, eight writers took home over a dozen awards in the 2022 Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism competition.
St. George News was among 75 media outlets that entered the contest from across Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. With over 1,500 entries in this year’s contest, it was the most competitive yet, and the St. George News team was recognized with a record 13 awards in the large newsroom division for stories published in 2021.
Among the awardees were three top-finishers in the education, religion and feature writing categories.
“We couldn’t be prouder of the work our incredible reporting team delivers day-in and day-out, and this contest’s results are a testament to the high standards to which we hold ourselves,” St. George News Editor-in-Chief Joseph Witham said. “Our commitment to delivering hyperlocal news and information to the Southern Utah community has never been stronger.”
The awards were announced Saturday at a reception at the Denver Press Club in Colorado, and St. George News was in attendance alongside the likes of Salt Lake Tribune, Albuquerque Journal and Denver Post.
“Top of the Rockies showcases the best in journalism from 2021, and it is evident that journalists in the four-state region are doing excellent work,” contest coordinator Deb Hurley Brobst said. “Every year, I am thrilled at the strong news reporting, feature writing, photography and design that is taking place in cities of all sizes in our region.”
First-place awards
Senior Reporter Mori Kessler was awarded first place in the religion news category for a story exploring the translation of the Bible into American Sign Language. Kessler’s multimedia story chronicles the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ efforts in bringing the scriptures to its deaf members.
“A fascinating look at something that more hearing people don’t think about,” a contest judge said of Kessler’s work. “Interesting story told in an interesting way.”
Stephanie DeGraw, a reporter who frequently covers topics on diversity, received first place in the short form feature category for her profile of the first Native American student at Southern Utah University to win the school’s homecoming royalty.
“This article does what a great profile story should do: It helps the reader understand what makes a person tick,” a judge said of DeGraw’s story. “It offers context coupled with insightful quotes to show the reader why Mahala Sutherland is a passionate social justice advocate.”
Former reporter David Dudley was honored with first place in the education news category for his investigation into the firing of Tuacahn High School for the Arts’ principal. Dudley’s series of investigative reports unearthed issues at the nonprofit arts organization that extended well beyond the school.
“Throughout this series, David Dudley did a phenomenal job investigating the reformation of Tuacahn High School for the Arts, from the questionable firing of its beloved principal to the rebirth of the school in a new location under a new name,” a contest judge said. “The reporter clearly spent time putting in record requests and conducting follow-up interviews with all involved to find answers.”
Second-place awards
In the best solutions journalism category, health care reporter Chris Reed won second place for his in-depth look at Southern Utah patients suffering from long-haul COVID. Reed also took second place in obituary news writing for his tribute to the life of Dr. Craig Booth, a beloved, influential figure in the St. George community.
Crime reporter Cody Blowers took home a second-place award for her coverage of criminal proceedings related to a horrific DUI crash that resulted in two people losing limbs. Blowers followed the story every step of the way, from the day of the incident to the case’s sentencing hearing.
In addition to his first-place finisher, Kessler received two second-place awards. In the religion news category, he received recognition for his profile of Southern Utah’s Orthodox Christian community. In the political news category, he was awarded for his interview with a local veteran following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Former reporter Sarah Torribio won second place in the education category for her coverage of the book ban controversy in Washington County School District.
Third-place awards
In the best multimedia story category, St. George News correspondent Adele Park was awarded third place for a story advising potential pet owners of the dos and don’ts of rabbit-rearing.
Dudley received third place in the legal feature category for his examination of the state of Utah’s death penalty policy.
Witham won third place in the headline writing category for a collection of headlines he wrote for stories published throughout 2021, such as “No threat of giant hornets in Southern Utah, but there are other bugs to worry about.”
In addition to her second-place award, Torribio was recognized with a third-place win in the education news category for her coverage of the fallout resulting from a controversial letter issued by the National School Board Association labeling some parents “domestic terrorists.”
This year’s winners were among a plethora of other award-worthy stories that St. George News’ dedicated team of reporters, videographers and editors worked to deliver to readers throughout Southern Utah and beyond. Subscribe to the St. George News newsletter for free, daily access to the best in local news, sports and informative shows.
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