Gazette papers win 40 awards at Colorado Press Association

The Denver Gazette, Colorado Springs Gazette and Colorado Politics garnered 40 awards at the Colorado Press Association’s Better News and Hall of Fame awards presentation Saturday.

The Denver Gazette won eight awards, including three first-place honors.

The presentation at the 146th annual CPA convention at Delta Hotels in Northglenn recognized journalism published in 2023.

Founded in 1878, CPA is a nonprofit trade association representing journalists and reporters throughout the state.

First place winners:

Best Website: Denver Gazette, staffBest Feature Story: Denver Gazette, Carol McKinley, “Lilies of the Colorado field: The curious life of Colorado’s cloistered nuns.”Best Arts and Entertainment Column Writing: Denver Gazette, John Moore, “A father, a son, and a moment more powerful than any story.”Best Print Ad: Colorado Springs Gazette, Alexis Sands, Stephanie Rackley Louie’s Pizza: Wings.Best Arts and Entertainment Column writing: Colorado Springs Gazette, Jennifer Mulson – Live Well.Best Cover Design: Colorado Springs Gazette, Amber Borata, Seth Lockard.Best Public Service Project: Colorado Springs Gazette, Christopher Osher, Julia Cardi – Parental Evaluator Series.Best Series or Sustained Coverage: Colorado Springs Gazette, Mary Shinn, Breeanna Jent – Vietnam.Best Editorial Special Section: Colorado Springs Gazette, Seth Boster, Nichole Montanez – Craving Colorado.Best Humorous Column Writing: Colorado Springs Gazette, Jennifer Mulson, Bird Call.Best Feature Story: Colorado Springs Gazette, Stephanie Earls, “Childhood Alzheimer’s is killing 14-year-old Amaria Granger.”Best Advertising Special Section: Colorado Springs Gazette, Gina Pietramale, Jonathan Toman, “The Cultural Office Local Art Guide.”General award for "Excellence in Mixed Media/Other": Colorado Politics.Best website: Colorado Politics, staff.Best health enterprise/health feature story: Colorado Politics, Hannah Metzger, "As 1 in 10 Coloradans experience eating disorders, lawmakers consider action.”Best breaking news/deadline reporting: Colorado Politics, Marianne Goodland, "Fourth health insurance company to leave Colorado."Best data journalism reporting: Colorado Politics, Michael Karlik, "White, male lawyers dominate oral arguments before Colorado's appellate courts."Best crime & public safety reporting: Colorado Politics, Michael Karlik, "Race, emotion, the death penalty: Colorado Supreme Court weighs reversing murder convictions."Best environmental story: Colorado Politics, Marianne Goodland, "2024: a make or break year for the Colorado River."Best politics reporting: Colorado Politics, Hannah Metzger, Marianne Goodland, "Splitting myself in half: Colorado's citizen legislature clashes with financial realities."Best public service project: Colorado Politics, Marianne Goodland, "disability advocates in Colorado push for their own to seek elected office."

Second place winners:

Best Heath Enterprise/Health Feature Story: Denver Gazette, Julia Cardi, Colorado youth detention dilemma, “Kids languish in lockup despite releasable status.”Best Feature Story: Denver Gazette, Carol McKinley, “Local terrier keeps watch over fallen hiker for 72 days.”Best Investigative Story Package: Denver Gazette, David Migoya – Financial Disclosures.Best Feature Photography: Denver Gazette, Tim Hurst – Little Cowboy.Best Arts and Entertainment Column Writing: Denver Gazette, Sage Kelley, “7-year-old fashion prodigy rules runway at Denver Fashion Week.”Best Print Ad: Colorado Springs Gazette, Tom McClung, Michelle Thomsen, “The Property Group – Home for the Holidays.”Best Photography Portfolio: Colorado Springs Gazette, Jerilee Bennett.Best Sports Photography: Colorado Springs Gazette, Jerilee Bennett – State Champs.Best News Story: Colorado Springs Gazette, Debbie Kelley, “A closer look at the satanic temple, an oft misunderstood, nontheistic religious group with a Colorado congregation.”Best Page Design: Colorado Springs Gazette, Sarah Warrender – Assisted Living.Best Photography Slide Show Gallery or Photo Essay: Colorado Springs Gazette, Parker Seibold, Amaria.Best Feature Story: Colorado Springs Gazette, Seth Boster, “From a painful past, a Colorado family rose to provide a home of hope for more than 130 foster kids.”Best humorous column writing: Colorado Politics, Ernest Luning.Best breaking news/deadline reporting: Colorado Politics, Ernest Luning, "Mike Johnston wins Denver mayor race."Best investigative story package: Colorado Politics, Michael Karlik, "The 20-minute lifeline: Colorado's federal court eyes a new program to aid those behind bars.”Best news story: Colorado Politics, Hannah Metzger, Marianne Goodland, "It took courage: first-term Democrats challenge decades of illegal meetings at Colorado's legislature.”Best politics reporting: Colorado Politics, Marianne Goodland, "Polis' water proposal scaled back to 'drought security' study.”Best health enterprise/health feature story: Colorado Politics, Marianne Goodland, Health Insurance.'Best agriculture story: Colorado Politics, Marianne Goodland, "Intoxicating hemp bill amended to keep CBD product available for kids with disabilities.”