Related Finalists
2024 Features (Small Newsroom) Finalists
See finalists listed in alphabetical order.
Natalia Alamdari
Flatwater Free Press
Marco’s Journey
- Marco’s journey: As others sleep, a Nebraska high schooler survives the graveyard shift
- Nebraska Evolving: Immigration is changing, and maybe saving, some small Nebraska communities
Comments From the Judges:
“This story is so well done on so many levels. Gaining access to Marcos and following him through his various work shifts and then school must’ve been such a challenge, not to mention getting access to his school and his teachers. What a feat! Besides that, the writing was excellent, as was the photography. The story is timely in our current political climate and the reporter has a talent for description and very naturally introducing data that adds complexity and context.”
“Compelling and thoughtful, I can tell this reporting took a lot of time and the context about changing demography in Nebraska and the future of the highlighted towns and counties was fascinating. The story of Marco’s day-to-day life working two jobs and going to school was stunning and mind-boggling. Fantastic reporting that was truly eye opening for me.”
Colin Hogan
The New Bedford Light
The Students the Reading Wars Forgot
Comments From the Judges:
“I really appreciate such dogged reporting. It is almost impossible to get into classrooms or have any kind of first-hand access to students as they learn and this story did just that. I found this story to be well rounded, refreshing and especially interesting because of the focus on the K’iche.”
“Excellent feature with strong reporting and compelling use of data and graphics. This story tackles new approaches to teaching children how to read, including the concept of “translanguaging,” and reports on immigrant children with the care and compassion they deserve. Well done.”
Liz Rosenberg, David Dayen, Jandos Rothstein & Gerard Edic
The American Prospect
New York City’s Last Dictatorship
Comments From the Judges:
“It was so well researched and provided so much great historical context – succinctly – that I was drawn into a story about a district that couldn’t be more different than the one I live in on the other side of the country. Exploring the shift in NYC schools [to] be run like corporations, the shut-downs of mostly Black schools in Chicago and NYC following mayoral takeover, the people who have fought for more than a decade to get their community boards back, was fascinating.”
“This is a dense, complex story, one that is exhaustively and skillfully reported. This story does make an important case for prioritizing the voice, and power, of parents and local leaders, in setting policy over the educational system for decisions big and small, such as the relocation of two schools as in this case.”
