2015 Investigative Reporting for Print/Online (Small Staff) Finalist: Ann Schimke

Following a change in state law, Chalkbeat Colorado compiled and published a searchable database of school immunization rates in Colorado.

Comments from the Judges:

“I thought the team at Chalkbeat did an admirable job getting this data and making it easy for users to make sense of what was happening in their schools; the piece holds a strong public service component. ”

“This is a very smart investigation into one state’s immunization records and shows how little parents knew about the students they were sending their children to school with. This is a wonderful example of impactful journalism. And to boot, the story resulted in a law change!”