The New Mexico Press Women once again acknowledged NM Political Report’s work awarding six first-place honors and four more top-three awards in the group’s annual Communications Contest.
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Andy Lyman won first place in the Government or Politics Writing category, for his stories “Youth aren’t just watching, they’re running for office” about two young candidates in an Albuquerque city election and “Source of Lewis’ attack line: Santolina exec, not newspaper” on the runoff election in the city’s mayoral race.
Lyman also won in the Feature Story – Online Publication category for “It Runs In The Family; Decades Apart, Father and Son Lead Sanctuary Efforts,” a look at the sanctuary work of a retired Lutheran minister in the 1980s and his son’s similar work today.
Lyman and NM Political Report’s former reporter, Joey Peters won first place in the news category for “Two Iraqi Refugees In NM Helped US Military. Now They’re Facing Deportations.” The story focused on two men facing deportation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, under the Trump administration.
Peters also won first place in Specialty Articles-Education for “APS facing federal scrutiny for handling of disabled student,” his breaking story about how the U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into alleged discrimination against a student with a disability, and “State college exchange program sees cuts amid budget troubles” which examined cuts to a program that allows local students to go to dentistry and veterinary schools outside of the state at a reduced rate.
Laura Paskus won first place in enterprise reporting for her story “Up in smoke: Opportunities on climate, renewables shunned during Martinez administration,” a story on the lack of action on addressing climate change from the Martinez administration.
Paskus also won first place in Green/Environment writing for “Running Dry: Groundwater levels are dropping across the West, including in the East Mountains.” The story looked at the groundwater levels dropping and how it impacted families in the Sandia Mountains.
In two categories, NM Political Report came in both first and second place. Those were Laura Paskus in the Feature Story – Online Publication category for “The Heart of Darkness: A Walk Through The Scorched Landscapes” (NM Political Report partnered with the Santa Fe Reporter on the story) and Matthew Reichbach for Government or Politics writing for “A big cost to NM if Congress doesn’t act on children’s health program” and “New Mexico’s reserves among lowest in the nation.”
Lyman also won second place for continuing coverage or unfolding news for his day-by-day coverage of the UNM Whistleblower Lawsuit Trial.
Paskus also won third place in investigative reporting for “State remains silent on lead poisoning data.”
The first place winners in the 2018 New Mexico Press Women Communications Contest will enter the National Federation of Press Women contest.
Last year, NM Political Report won five awards, including three first-place awards. One of those first-place awards went on to win a national award.
