Cascade PBS won seven awards in the 2023 Society of Professional Journalists’ Northwest Excellence in Journalism competition, including the award for General Excellence in Writing. The contest is a competitive one, as it honors the work of newsrooms across the organization’s Region 10, which consists of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. Cascade PBS competes against the largest news outlets in those states, qualifying as a “large” newsroom in the audio categories and an “extra large” newsroom in the writing categories.
Cascade PBS’s entry in the General Excellence category included a selection of 10 stories. Reporters who worked on the pieces include Brandon Block, Josh Cohen, Jordan Gass-Pooré, Lizz Giordano, Mai Hoang, Luna Reyna, James Stout and Joseph O’Sullivan.
Here is a list of the winners from Cascade PBS in the individual categories:
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Writing – Extra Large: General Excellence
First Place – Cascade PBS Staff, “Cascade PBS 2023 General Excellence Entry,” Cascade PBS
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Writing – Extra Large: Investigative Reporting
First Place – Farah Eltohamy, Mai Hoang, Genna Martin, “WA mobile home communities organize against ‘economic eviction’,” Cascade PBS.
Judge’s comments: “Deeply researched and reported, this investigative report exposes weaknesses in oversight and regulation that puts the vulnerable elderly population at risk. Important work.”
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Audio – Large: Investigative Reporting
First Place – Sara Bernard, Farah Eltohamy, Mai Hoang, “After a takeover, mobile home tenants are fighting back,” Cascade PBS.
Judge’s comments: “An important story that highlights the challenges faced by some of Washington's most vulnerable residents. Terrific storytelling with great reporting. Fantastic job and keep up the good work!”
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Writing – Extra Large: Arts & Culture Reporting
First Place – Margo Vansynghel, “A Seattle artist and the auction frenzy that sparked an FBI tip,” Cascade PBS.
Judge’s comments: “This was a great way to tie a narrative about a Seattle artist to the larger issues with art plagiarism. It’s well reported and written with a great narrative structure.”
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Writing – Extra Large: Series
Second Place – Joseph O’Sullivan, “Coverage of “‘Legislative Privilege’,” Cascade PBS.
Judge’s comments: “Tremendous and important series that demonstrates investment in quality watch-dog journalism.”
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Audio – Large: Technology & Science Reporting
Second Place – Sara Bernard, Brandon Block, “The gray areas of surveillance tech in WA police forces,” Cascade PBS.
Judge’s comments: “Comprehensive and fair look at an issue most of the public is not aware of, without being alarmist. Newsrooms around the country would do well to examine this issue locally.”
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Photo & Design – Large: General News Photography
Second Place – Amanda Snyder, “New mothers can stay with their babies at this Washington prison,” Cascade PBS.
Judge’s comments: “Babies behind bars, a thought-provoking photo for every parent.”