Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Sun wins 10 first-place awards in state contest

Coverage of the fight over a proposed high-level nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain brought the Las Vegas Sun and its sister publication In Business Las Vegas honors in the Nevada State Press Association's annual journalism excellence contest.

The Sun won two of the top prizes Saturday for large dailies for its Yucca Mountain work: the Community Service award, for its overall coverage and editorials, and the Best Story of the Year award, for Washington correspondent Benjamin Grove's in-depth look at unresolved scientific questions surrounding the proposed dump.

"Excellent reporting of information on the front page," the judges wrote in giving the Sun the Community Service award. "Editorials, even cartoons, are right on target. This story was not only of interest to Nevadans, but to people throughout the U.S."

In addition, Sun Accent reporter Kristen Peterson was named Journalist of Merit, the highest honor given to journalists with five or fewer years of experience.

The three awards were among 10 first-place prizes for the Sun. Overall the Sun won 31 awards in the contest, including seven second places, eight third places and six honorable mentions. The Sun took second place for general excellence.

The Sun swept the category for best investigative or in-depth story. Grove's story on Yucca Mountain took first place, a look by Steve Kanigher at Nevada Power's struggle for survival placed second, and a team effort by Kanigher, Stacy J. Willis and Cy Ryan on the state's medical malpractice crisis took third.

Yucca Mountain coverage also brought In Business Las Vegas a Community Service award among weekly newspapers with circulation of 4,000 to 19,999 and a first place for Best Special Section.

Those were among six first places for In Business, including Best Business Coverage (for the third year in a row) and Best Business Story. In Business won 11 awards overall, including three second places and two third places.

"It's gratifying when your peers recognize your efforts, and I'm very pleased with our showing this year in the Nevada Press Association contest," said Michael J. Kelley, general manager and managing editor of the Sun and editor of In Business Las Vegas.

"I am especially proud that the Sun and In Business Las Vegas each won the community service award in their respective divisions. I have always believed this is the most important award in journalism."

Another sister publication, Las Vegas Weekly, won six first-place awards, three seconds, five thirds and one honorable mention in the division for weeklies with circulation of 20,000 or more.

Staff writer Kate Silver, who was Journalist of Merit two years ago, won Outstanding Journalist of the Year for the Weekly, which is published by the Greenspun Media Group.

The awards were announced at a banquet in Reno. The contest was judged by members of the Kansas Press Association.

The awards for each publication:

Sun 1st place

The coverage considered began in April 2002 with Gov. Kenny Guinn's veto of President Bush's designation of the site and ended in March this year with the effect of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's denial of a license for a proposed Utah waste dump on the Yucca project.

In her portfolio Peterson demonstrated a light touch. For example, in a story about a butterfly exhibit, she wrote, "No union contract. No poolside accommodations. No G-strings. No tuxedos. The buffet is entirely off limits. Could this be why the new stars at Bellagio refuse to entertain guests during prime hours or give interviews?"

In Business 1st place

In addition to an explanation of the issues surrounding the proposed nuclear waste dump, the section explored the dump's possible effect on real estate values and tourism in Las Vegas and talked to residents of St. George, Utah, Kingman, Ariz., and Barstow, Calif., all towns along major thoroughfares en route to Las Vegas, about their views on transporting waste.

Las Vegas Weekly 1st place

Sun 2nd place

In Business 2nd place

Las Vegas Weekly 2nd place

Sun 3rd place

In Business 3rd place

Las Vegas Weekly 3rd place

Sun Honorable Mention

Weekly Honorable Mention

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