Idaho Education News brought home 16 awards for reporting and website excellence in the Idaho Press Club’s 2021 statewide awards.
Idaho EdNews won eight first-place awards, including general excellence for online news.
Other first-place showings, announced Saturday:
- Kevin Richert’s weekly education analysis stories topped the specialty column category. Richert placed second for reporter of the year.
- Blake Jones took first in election reporting with a story on school board candidate fundraising that didn’t go public until after the election. Jones and Richert tied for second in the all-media First Amendment category, with reports on emails they obtained, respectively, from the offices of Gov. Brad Little and Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin.
- Sami Edge received first-place awards for education reporting and health reporting, respectively, with stories on challenges for homeless students during the pandemic and housing boom and a teen helping others struggling with mental health. Edge also placed third for a story highlighting Idaho’s scattered approach to student mental health. Graphic designer Jon Sisk placed first for graphics in Edge’s mental health series.
- Devin Bodkin won best blog for documenting his family’s experience during the pandemic.
- EdNews’ website devoted to tracking Idaho’s education goals and outcomes garnered top praise for graphics.
Other recognition from Saturday included a third-place showing for Richert’s education blog and second place for his podcast interview with Little. EdNews won second place for use of social media. Kyle Green won second place in the online-only video feature story division, for a story on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Idaho’s college students.
Go here for a full list of the awards.
