The Juneau Empire Capital and City Weekly won 16 awards at the Alaska Press Club for work in 2017, it was announced this weekend at the annual Alaska Press Club Awards in Anchorage.
Leading the way for the Empire newsroom this year was longtime Juneau Empire photographer Michael Penn, who took first place in three categories: Best News Photo, Best Sports Photo and Best Scenic Photo. Penn added a third-place award for Best Portrait Large.
“Michael Penn is a phenomenal photographer, and the Juneau Empire is lucky to have him,” Juneau Empire Editor Emily Russo Miller said. “He has a such a deep understanding of the community, having lived and worked here for 20-plus years, which goes a long way in finding visual stories to tell. He also is renown for ‘capturing the moment’ on camera, a rare talent.”
Outgoing CCW editor Mary Catharine Martin earned a first-place award for her culture reporting with the story “After almost a century of absence, sacred objects return to the Tlingit people of Hoonah.”
In March, Martin was succeeded as CCW editor by Clara Miller, who in her previous capacity as CCW staff writer, wrote an article which was awarded second place for best for health reporting, “Gustavus girl, paralyzed by disease, needs therapy bike to walk again.”
Empire news reporters Kevin Gullufsen, Alex McCarthy and James Brooks combined for eight awards. Sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth garnered a third-place award for his story “Musings of a four-time Guinness World Record holder,” while Digital Content Editor Angelo Saggiomo took home a design award for his work on “Playground Fire.”
“The newsroom works hard day in and day out to break news for our readers, so it’s great to receive some recognition for all our efforts,” Miller said. “I am so proud of our team.”
The Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly’s Alaska Press Club awards for 2017:
Nolin Ainsworth
Best Short Feature, third place: “Musings of a four-time Guinness World Record holder.”
James Brooks
Best Reporting on Government or Politics, third place: “Alaska Legislatures mistake may shut down state ferry system.”
Best Graphic, second place: “Un New Worry.”
Mary Catharine Martin
Best Culture Reporting, first place: “After almost a century absence, sacred objects return to the Tlingit people of Hoonah.”
Kevin Gullufsen
Best Breaking News Story, first place: “Drunk driver crashes bedroom during prom prep.”
Best Reporting on Science, third place: “Invasion from ‘Borg of the ocean,’ baffles scientists.”
Vern McCorkle Award for Best Business Reporting, third place: “Mom and Pop close bottle shop.”
Alex McCarthy
Best Reporting on Health, third place: “New treatment makes opioid addiction treatment easier for some.”
Best Arts Reporting, third place: “Folk Fest, after hours.”
Best General News Reporting, third place: “We’re gonna have fire: Behind the scenes at the Fourth of July fireworks.”
Clara Miller
Best Reporting on Health, second place: “Gustavus girl, paralyzed by disease, needs therapy bike to walk again.”
Michael Penn
Best News Photo, first place: “Playground Fire.”
Best Sports Photo, first place: “Hard Loss.”
Best Scenic Photo, first place: “Tram in the Fog.”
Best Portrait Large, third place: “Jarin and Roxy.”
Angelo Saggiomo
Second place, Best Page Layout & Design: “Playground Fire.”
