This page contains the awards I’ve earned for my journalism, displayed in reverse chronological order.
2025
WNPA Better Newspaper Contest
- Second place, online photo essay: “A whale of a tale: Researchers collect skeleton of gray that washed up on Vashon”
- Third place, long news story: “A Buffalo Soldier on Vashon is finally recognized”
- Second place, sports news: “CHAMPION: Vashon’s Lena Puz wins state wrestling championship thanks to grit, team support”
- Third place, editorial (written with Liz Shepherd): “Keep Vashon top-rated”
- Third place, editorial pages (earned with Daralyn Anderson, Alex Bruell, Elizabeth Shepherd, Patricia Seaman)
- Second place, community service (earned with Daralyn Anderson, Elizabeth Shepherd, Alex Bruell): “Beachcomber’s LGBTQ coverage”
- Third place, photo essay: ” Alex Bruell Strawberry Festival photos”
- First place, special sections (earned with Daralyn Anderson , Alex Bruell, Elizabeth Shepherd, Patricia Seaman): “Vashon’s Home and Garden 2024”
2024
SPJ NW Excellence in Journalism Contest: First-place prize in the “Photo Essay” category for his photography in his article “A whale of a tale: Researchers collect skeleton of gray that washed up on Vashon,” published in the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber.
WNPA Better Newspaper Contest: Third-place prize for Feature Story (Long), for the Federal Way Mirror, about a community’s response to a young man’s death; and a third-place prize, with co-writer Ray Miller-Still, for Comprehensive Coverage of a school bond process for the Enumclaw Courier-Herald.
2023
WNPA Better Newspaper Contest: Third-place prize in the “Comprehensive Coverage” category for coverage, with Ray Miller-Still, of the trial of Allan and Joann Thomas in Enumclaw’s The Courier-Herald.
SPJ NW Excellence in Journalism Contest: First place in the “Feature – Soft News” category for “Corey Nettles brought Federal Way together – and inspired a new book for grieving youth” and second place in the “Arts and Culture Reporting” category for his story “Federal Way student goes viral on ‘American Idol.’”
2022
WNPA Better Newspaper Contest
First place awards
- Government story: Buckley city councilor, retired SPD officer responds to report over his social media posts
- Crime and courts: Investigators find fatal 2020 police shooting of Carbonado man justified
- Arts feature or story: Ravensdale author pens update on Judith Mawson, ex-wife of the Green River Killer
- Personality profile, long: For Buckley’s Miss Washington Teen candidate, it’s “Life 2.0”
- Personality profile, short: Built to quilt
Second place awards
- Environmental story: For Mount Rainier’s resident wolverine, it’s paradise on Paradise
- General feature, long: Stories, healing, and reflection at The Moving Wall
- Personality profile, long: At 105, Elma is full of laughs
Third place awards
- Crime and courts: Terry stops, less-lethal firearms, and vehicle pursuits: Breaking down Washington police reform
- Election story: King County Council candidate responds to criticism over 2010 arrest for school bus threats
2021
WNPA Better Newspaper Contest: First place awarded for: “Buckley teen’s death inspires helmet law”
2019
SPJ NW Excellence in Journalism Contest: First place in the “Feature – Soft News” category for “‘One valley too far:’ How 110 soldiers survived the Mount St. Helens eruption.”
Appearances
These are appearances I’ve made as a guest on podcasts or radio.
Alex Bruell 