NM Political Report scores big at regional journalism competition

This weekend, NM Political Report won seven awards at the Top of The Rockies, an annual contest sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists – Colorado Pro Chapter. The competition includes outlets from New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. We won one first place award, one second and five third-place awards, facing off against outlets like the Denver Business Journal, the Provo Daily Herald and more. Donate today so we can keep doing this award-winning work! Laura Paskus won first place in the Ag and Environment: General Reporting category for her story, “The Heart of Darkness: A walk through the scorched landscapes where our forest used to be and a glimpse of future fires.” NM Political Report wrote this story along with the Santa Fe Reporter.

NM Political Report wins six first-place awards in statewide competition

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. Want to donate so we can keep this sort of award-winning journalism going? Donate here! 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.

Introducing our weekly election news recap

A number of big elections will take place later this year in New Mexico. New Mexicans will elect a new governor. A U.S. Senate seat is up for grabs. So is every other non-judicial statewide position. And every state House seat is up for grabs, along with two open U.S. House seats.

This #GivingTuesday, support local, non-profit journalism

Today is #GivingTuesday. It’s a change in pace from the shopping frenzy and chaos of Black Friday and the less-frenzied Cyber Monday. Instead it’s a day to give back to the non-profits and causes you care about most. NM Political Report is a non-profit news outlet. Even better, we’re a local non-profit news outlet.

Another reminder to support local journalism

This week saw another crushing blow to local journalism in this country. After DNAInfo in New York City and Gothamist voted to unionize, their owner, billionaire Joe Ricketts, responded by shutting down the entire network of local, neighborhood-level journalism in cities across the country. This latest occurrence underscores, yet again, the importance of local journalism. And of supporting local journalism, the type of journalism we do here at NM Political Report. Donate now so we can continue our coverage of New Mexico issues.

NM Political Report wins national award for continuing coverage of SNAP scandal

We’re happy to announce our former senior reporter Joey Peters won first place in Continuing Coverage or Unfolding News category in the National Federation of Press Women 2017 Communications Contest. The award recognizes his coverage of the ongoing SNAP scandal at the state Human Services Department. Peters wrote more than two dozen stories about the New Mexico Human Services Department’s trouble following federal law on emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applications. He broke news of state workers testifying in federal court they were told to change applications by adding fake funds, which gave the state more time to process the applications. This meant that those who sought emergency funding to feed their families had to wait to learn whether they’d receive funding food.

Joey Peters is leaving NM Political Report

After more than two years of award-winning and investigative work and writing over 450 stories, Joey Peters will be leaving NM Political Report later this month. Peters will be moving back to his home state of Minnesota with his wife. Peters has worked at NM Political Report since April 2015, just a few months after it’s inception,  and in that time he broke big stories and won multiple awards. In 2015, one of his award-winning stories put NM Political Report on the map for many readers. Peters broke the news that a recently-resigned deputy superintendent at Albuquerque Public Schools was facing trial for sexual assault on a child.

Announcing our News and Brews Summer Series

Edit: This event is sold out. So you get the news first, sign up for our free newsletter, where we make announcements before posting on the website. We’ve been working on a big project over the past few weeks and we’re excited that we can share it now. We are starting a new series of discussions with experts, newsmakers and others on a select topic each month—and I wanted you have the first chance to join us. There is limited space, so we will have free tickets for the event—get yours here now.