2025 Explanatory Journalism (Small Newsroom) Winner

About the Winner:

Megan Tagami spent months working to get at the cause of alarming drowning statistics in Hawaiʻi, an outdoor paradise and the birthplace of surfing. Both the state health department and education department refused interview requests, so she dug through public records, newspaper archives and talked to countless families and water safety advocates.

She showed that there have been few coordinated efforts to address the problem, and that public schools had long ago abandoned efforts to offer life-saving swim lessons to students. She was also able to show how the problem disproportionately impacts Native Hawaiian and low-income students.

Comments From the Judges:

“A great story idea that explains the lack of state investment and how attempts to fix this issue have failed, while also explaining the problem well and highlighting those trying to make a difference. I felt like I fully understood the current problem, the broader context and the possible solutions. Also, well written and the photos were adorable.”

“The presentation of this was very well done. Great visuals that added to the article, which was surprising and engaging as well as informative. The reporting dug into the reasons for debate and explained why there’s a need for solutions but challenges in implementing them. I’m impressed by the many pieces that the reporter pulled together to build a broad and engaging story that went well beyond a proposed law and an alarming statistic.”

Photo credits: Kevin Fujii