NAAJ Ongoing Coverage or Series Winners - 2023
Category description: Entries in this category contain three or more stories focused on an agricultural issue, trend or event. Entrees may be either stories published as part of ongoing coverage or in a planned series but should objectively explore the subject in great depth from various points of view. A collection of at least three stories published on more than one day is a single entry.
Number of entries: 20
Judge: Patricia McNeeley taught writing and reporting at the University of South Carolina before retiring in 2006. She was previously a reporter, editor and columnist for The Greenville (S.C.) News, The (S.C.) State and The Columbia (S.C.) Record.
Comments about the competition: I’ve worked for several newspapers, taught writing and reporting for 33 years, and usually judge at least three news competitions a year — and I can’t remember a time when I’ve had to judge so many well-researched and well-written articles in one competition. There really were no losers, and I almost felt guilty picking winners because everyone deserved to win. Please accept my congratulations for all of this amazing reporting and writing.
FIRST PLACE — Georgina Gustin, Inside Climate News
Food Shocks: Climate Change and the Coming Famines — December 2022
— Climate Change is Driving Millions to the Precipice of a ‘Raging Food Catastrophe’ – 12/11/2022
— In a Famed Game Park Near the Foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the Animals Are Giving Up – 12/22/2022
— A Hospital Ward for Starving Children in Kenya Has Seen a Surge in Cases This Year – 12/28/2022
Judge’s comments: This trio of powerful stories illustrates the direct impact of atmospheric warming on food systems and tells the heart-wrenching stories of the first victims of global change. The reporter researched these stories from three continents and talked to more than 250 experts, researchers and humanitarian workers. The resulting stories dramatically document the effect of climate change and the resulting famine in the Horn of Africa, where millions of people have been pushed into starvation by a persistent, multi-year drought.
SECOND PLACE — Bloomberg
David R. Baker, Dominic Carey, Kim Chipman, Elizabeth Elkin, Michael Hirtzer, Brian K. Sullivan, Will Wade
Mississippi River Drought
— Drought Pushes Mississippi River Grain Shipping Rate to a Record — 9/28/2022
— Mississippi River Drought Imperils Trade on Key US Waterway – 10/6/2022
— Shrunken Mississippi River Slows US Food Exports When World Needs Them Most – 11/9/2022
Judge’s comments: These excellent stories about the crisis on the Mississippi River expose the devastating problems caused by drought and record low-water levels. These well-researched and well-written articles describe in gripping detail the major shipping obstacles on the river that impact the world at a time when the country needs to export this year’s harvest.
THIRD PLACE — Carey Gillam, Aliya Uteuova – The Guardian / The New Lede –
The Paraquat Papers
— Secret files suggest chemical giant feared weedkiller’s link to Parkinson disease – 10/20/2022
— These farmers have Parkinson's disease – and claim a weedkiller is to blame – 10/21/2022
— Why does the US allow a controversial weedkiller banned across the world? – 10/28/2022
Judge’s comments: After two years of research, these reporters exposed shocking results about a company that hid studies from the EPA on the toxicity of Paraquat, a widely used weed killer. These well-written articles expose corporate secrets that show that Syngenta actively misled regulators and the public for decades about Paraquat’s ties to Parkinson’s.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
— Mary Kennedy, Progressive Farmer/DTN –
Low Water Crisis on the Mississippi River
Sandbars and Saltwater Causing Serious Issues on Lower Mississippi River – 10/17/2022
How Low Can It Go? Mississippi River at Memphis Breaks Another Record – 10/24/2022
Mississippi River Not So Mighty Right Now – 10/31/2022
Judge’s comments: These well-researched and well-written articles report serious issues facing farmers and shippers because of the low water crisis on the Mississippi River.
— Phyllis Coulter, Illinois Farmer Today
International Agriculture: Reality of War
Reality of war shared by Ukrainian ag journalists – 7/16/2022
Idea exchange: Organic pork producers’ bond spans ocean – 7/30/2022
Food world: Advocates, farmers and politicians look at food security – 7/30/2022
Harvest Help: Sisters share sustainable ag, humanitarian projects — 9/6/2022
Judge’s comments: Congratulations on excellent and compelling articles about U.S. farmers trying to support agriculture in war-torn Ukraine as they grapple with global food issues.
— Marc Heller, Politico GreenWire
Dairy farmers grapple with climate change
'Cow power' goes dark as manure-to-electricity fizzles – 7/12/2022
Natural gas could power new chapter in manure-to-energy – 7/13/2022
Changing cows' diets could curb emissions. Will farmers dig in? – 7/14/2022
Judge’s comments: These eye-opening articles describe the extreme problems farmers face as they struggle with a variety of problems associated with reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
— Pamela Smith, Progressive Farmer/DTN
View From the Cab
Western Farmer Tackles Wind, Water and Weather Challenges – 5/1/2022
Young Ohio Farmer Carves Independent Path – 5/8/2022
Farmers Discuss Rain Drops and Downtime – 7/10/2022
Green Energy Clouds Future for Some Farmers – 8/21/2022
Judge’s comments: These are really well-written and quite heart-wrenching articles about the personal lives and feelings of farmers and the hardships they face.
— Bloomberg
Kim Chipman, Mark Chediak, Marvin G. Perez, Elizabeth Elkin, Pratik Parija
Climate Change
America’s Winter Lettuce Hub Set to Bear Brunt of Water Cuts – 8/16/2022
California's $45 Billion Wine Industry Faces Climate Peril — 9/7/2022
“Swampy’ Stench Haunts Florida's Orange Farms Devastated By Ian – 10/6/2022
Cows Are Too Stressed Out to Keep Up With Global Dairy Demand – 11/1/2022
Congratulations on these compelling and eye-opening articles about the effect of climate change on wine, lettuce, orange farms and stressed dairy cattle during high global demand.