News Category Top Awards - 2021
Category description: Entries in the NEWS category inform readers about a timely, important, interesting agricultural issue or event in an objective, thorough manner. One story or package of stories (sidebars or secondary stories) published together on a single day is a single entry in this category. Number of entries: 55
“There were some very strong entries. The winners and honourable mentions were obvious and stood shoulders above the others.”
1st Place:
Sky Chadde,
Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting;
Rachel Axon, Kyle Bagenstose, Kevin Crowe, USA Today
‘They think workers are like dogs.’ How pork plant execs sacrificed safety for profits. — 11/11/2020
Judge’s comments: This is why we need journalists. This is why we need strong, well-resourced and dedicated newsrooms. Powerful story, well told. Heart-breaking and informative. All around solid reporting.
2nd Place: Jessica Fargen Walsh,
The [Omaha] World-Herald
Nebraska towns pay millions to fight nitrates as water bills go up — 5/1/2020
Judge’s comments: Remarkable, important and valuable project. Public service journalism starts and ends with a reporter who locks on to an issue and works it to the bone. Well done.
3rd Place:
Johnathan Hettinger,
Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
‘Buy it or else’: Inside Monsanto and BASF’s moves to force dicamba on farmers — 12/4/2020
Judge’s comments: Very important and well-told story, valuable investigative journalism. The product of hard work and dedication — it shows.
HONORABLE MENTION: Georgina Gustin, Inside Climate News
— Wealthy Nations Are Eating Their Way Past the Paris Agreement’s Climate Targets — 7/16/2020
Judge’s comments: Really interesting illustration of the disparity between wealthy and developing nations. A novel take on the discussion of the carbon footprint of the agriculture and food industries.
HONORABLE MENTION: Emily Unglesbee, DTN Progressive Farmer
— Seed Treatment Confusion: Planting blind: Why some farmers don’t know what’s on their seeds — 3/27/2020
Judge’s comments: — Really important and well-told story. The environmental/health issues might have been explored a bit more, but I liked the length. Also, again, was really wishing there was a farmer's voice in this piece - they are paying the price of both the cost of production and potential environmental/health impact