2024 Writing Award Winners

Our annual awards program highlights stellar nonfiction articles, essays, books, and content marketing writing in a variety of categories.

2024 winners

BOOKS

Biography/History

Winner: Mapping the Darkness: The Visionary Scientists Who Unlocked The Mysteries of Sleep by Kenneth Miller, Hachette Books

The author took what could have been a dry subject and turned it into an interesting book about the evolution and developments in sleep science and the people responsible for them. The writing was compelling and the story pace flowed very well. Overall, the writing was very good with superb transitions and wise word choices.

­

 

Children/Young Adult Nonfiction

Winner: Saving the Spotted Owl: Zalea’s Story by Nicola Jones, Kids Can Press

Zalea’s Story is densely packed with kid-friendly information that makes scientific data about endangered animals relatable and useful in a classroom. We also appreciate the editing choice to include an Index and Glossary.

 

General Nonfiction

Winner: How to Make a Killing: Blood, Death and Dollars in American Medicine by Tom Mueller, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

This cautionary tale shines a disturbing light on the corporate dialysis industry. Informed by extensive research and hundreds of interviews, How to Make a Killing details alarming allegations of compromised care, abusive treatment and fraud. Tom Mueller traces the history of dialysis from momentous medical breakthrough to horrifying accounts of people with kidney disease getting sicker or dying—not in spite of the treatment they rely on to stay alive, but because of it.

Honorable Mention: Pandora’s Gamble: Lab Leaks, Pandemics, and A World at Risk by Alison Young, Center Street, Hachette Book Group

A gripping work of investigative journalism, Pandora’s Gamble examines the history and reality of safety and security lapses in high-containment research labs around the world. With unflinching determination, Alison Young digs deep in her pursuit of facts about safety breaches and accidents in labs where researchers study the most lethal pathogens are studied. In doing so, she exposes the lengths that researchers and regulators go to in their efforts to prevent the public from finding out about the incidents. With COVID barely in the rearview, this book raises timely questions about what we do and don’t know about the origins of pandemics, the threat of biological weapons, and what it will take to keep the world safe from preventable deadly outbreaks.

 

 

Memoir/Autobiography

Winner: Uneducated: A Memoir of Flunking Out, Falling Apart, and Finding My Worth by Christopher Zara, Little, Brown and Company

Uneducated is a beautifully written and masterfully structured account of navigating a professional and personal life with the stigma of not having a college degree. Zara, a high-school dropout, writes with humor and candor about overcoming drug addiction, a bumpy family life, and crippling imposter syndrome to forge a successful journalism career — even as the print media industry imploded around him. 

 

 

Service/Self-Help

Winner: Building Boys: Raising Great Guys in A World That Misunderstands Males by Jennifer L.W. Fink, Rowman & Littlefield

Building Boys by Jennifer L.W. Fink was the clear winner for the depth of its reporting and the author’s skillful weaving of anecdotes, research and examples. Fink deftly illustrates the diverse experiences of boyhood and how the adults in boys’ lives can best support them as they grow. This book was an eye-opening and educational read, as well as enjoyable and engaging. Whether you’ve ever gotten “the note” (as one judge had) or not, don’t be surprised if you find yourself highlighting pages — as we did — in this exceptional resource for all those who care about the kids in their lives.

 

ARTICLES

 

The Arlenes: Articles That Make A Difference

Winner: “The Young Miners Dying of An Old Man’s Disease” by Kim Kelly in In These Times

Kim Kelly deftly combines data with the personal stories of American miners, regulators and industry experts to highlight the history and magnitude of black lung, a pressing problem misunderstood as “an old man’s disease.” Her writing is clear, compelling and approachable. As her nominating editor noted, “it’s a heartbreaking report on a dying industry that is taking its workers with it.” After her article’s publication, Kelly was invited to brief staffers with the offices of Sens. Bernie Sanders, John Fetterman and Joe Manchin, Reps. Ro Khanna and Summer Lee, and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce. Following Kelly’s exposé, MSHA announced a new federal safety rule requiring coal companies to monitor silica dust levels in miners’ work environments and take corrective action to reduce dust exposure.

 

­

B2B Blog or Article

Winner: “Safe Bets: When It Comes to School Safety Technology, What Actually Works? And What Is Worth the Investment?” by Stacey Freed in Net Assets

Stacey’s article drew us in quickly and captured our attention. She did a great job of providing multiple angles for the story and supported the message with solid research and quotes.

Honorable Mention: “SDOH: Leader or Convener? Hospitals and Health Systems Still Struggle with Their Role” by Jeni Williams, Healthcare 2030 Series: The Healthcare Financial Management Association

Jeni’s piece was an immediate standout. We were impressed by the high quality of the writing and the extensive research that went into this complex story.

 

B2C Blog or Article

Winner: “Right From the Start” by Christina Hernandez Sherwood in Penn Medicine Magazine

This deeply researched and well-written article not only showcases Penn Medicine’s health innovations but provides a look into the needs of Black women and how effective strategies can be employed to address racial disparities in maternal health on a national level.

 

Blog Post, Personal

No winner named in this category for 2024.

 

Business, Including Marketing

Winner: “The True Cost of Tuna: Marine Observers Dying at Sea” by Lee Van Der Voo in Civil Eats

Incredible reporting and great writing; it really stood out as a well-written piece of journalism on a topic that many would never learn about if not for the author’s efforts to bring the story to light.

Honorable Mention: “This Simple Machine Turns Glass Bottles Into Sand” by Cari Shane in Fast Company

Very well researched and an interesting read about a huge problem.

 

Donald Robinson Memorial Award for Investigative Journalism

Winner: “Diving—and Dying—for Red Gold: The Human Cost of Honduran Lobster” by Alice Driver in Civil Eats

Driver plunges readers into the underground world of the Honduran spiny lobster industry, traveling to Honduras to capture riveting stories of divers whose lack of training and support has cost them their health or their lives. She deftly connects the dots between this inhumane, deceptive practice and hungry consumers enjoying lobsters in U.S. restaurants. Driver never lets the stories of the divers and their families get buried by data in this illuminating and educational investigative marvel.

 

 

Excellence in Reporting

Winner: “One of the Poorest Cities in America Was Succeeding in an Education Turnaround. Is That Now in Peril?” by Steven Yoder in The Hechinger Report

The judges were impressed by the author’s ability to humanize education reform and tell a complex story of policy and statistics through the people behind it — students, teachers, administrators.

Honorable Mention: “The City That Just Might Decide the 2024 Election” by Dan Simmons in The New Republic

With thorough research into political maneuvers and extensive interviews challenging assumptions about minority voters, Dan Simmons weaves together multiple stories, moving readers with facts and feelings and demonstrating how both drive voting decisions.

 

 

First-Person Essay

Winner: “A Knock at the Door” by Bobbi Dempsey in The New York Times

A heartbreaking essay about a child witnessing sheriff’s deputies take inventory of her dilapidated house and its meager possessions. From the first instant, the reader is dropped right into the opening scene and can feel the fear and sadness and vulnerability of the narrator as if we were there – even though most of us haven’t experienced such a thing – which is truly the sign of great writing: the ability to take something so personal and unique and make it universal. Another sign? Reading it three or four times and still getting weepy at the end, for the writer and what she endured and for the great writing that came out of it.

Honorable Mention: “Nathan” by Dan Musgrave in Longreads

An ambitious, touching portrait of an isolated 21-year-old man and the 5-year-old ape with whom he forms a remarkable bond.The author informed the reader about the ethics of ape research and revealed that he may have needed Nathan more as a friend than a scientific subject.  The juxtaposition of the writer’s work with the “language” ape that was just meant to be a science experiment but became so much more, along with his own search for meaning and connection, supported with lush, descriptive scenes, makes for a searing and satisfying read. 

Honorable Mention: “Here Lie the Bickersons, Side-by-Side for All Eternity” by Robin Eileen Bernstein in The New York Times

A humorous essay, which is welcome in the personal essay category, about a woman who buys a burial plot for her deceased ex-husband’s girlfriend. Among the many funny lines: “If you think it’s hard finding a decent place in Manhattan to live in, good luck finding one to be dead in.”

 

Fitness & Sports

Winner: “Top College Running Programs Move Away from Body Composition Testing” by Cindy Kuzma in Runner’s World

An excellent narrative advocating for healthier standards in college sports. Impressive and extensive research and reporting, with numerous experts from the world of college sports quoted. We liked the advocacy element to the piece and how the author addressed a sensitive topic that’s often not discussed. 

Honorable Mention: “For Black Athletes, March Madness Has Much Higher Stakes” by Derrick Z. Jackson in The Root

In the midst of March Madness, Jackson addresses and illuminates the secret underside of the NCAA basketball world: the poor graduation rate of Black recruits, and ongoing efforts to cover up those statistics. Well reported and strong advocacy on a topic that’s long been ignored. 

 

Food & Drink

Winner: “Recipes Rescued from the Holocaust Tell the Story of Pre-war Jewish Life” by Margaret Littman in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Littman’s heartwarming story finds a great subject and tells the story well, with a gripping narrative and great quotes.

Honorable Mention: “Wild Nuts Are Making a Comeback in Southern Appalachia” by Daniel Walton in Civil Eats

Walton’s story was a learning experience for us, with good sources, good background and good context.

 

Health

Co-Winner: “Should We Ban the Purchase of Cigarettes for Life? A US Town Is Trying” by Simar Bajaj in The Guardian

We chose this piece for its depth of reporting, spanning both sides of the issue, and relevant and sobering statistics to back it up. The piece also wove a story about the consequences of smoking, tying into the overall tone of the topic.

Co-Winner: “After Child’s Suicide, Parents Can Be Engulfed in Self-Blame and Guilt” by Caren Chesler in The Washington Post

This piece was both compelling and heartbreaking – relevant to teenagers and young adults today. While it was hard to read in places, given the nature of child suicide, the writer did a great job tying it all together and providing helpful advice for such a difficult topic.

Honorable Mention: “Breathing Easier in Cleveland: How Tighter Standards Could Change the City’s Air Quality Issues” by Christopher Johnston in Eye on Ohio

It was a terrific example of local journalism, something we don’t see much of these days. The statistics were compelling, and really got to the heart of the issue. We also appreciated the writer’s ability to link health topics to policy, and something that can be difficult to really pull off. 

 

How-To, Formerly Known As Service

Winner: “23 Common Mistakes to Avoid While Shopping at Flea Markets and Antique Shows” by Elizabeth Yuko in Architectural Digest

Very thorough—clearly a great deal of research went into this article; lots of sources, which provides credibility and interest; well-written…loaded with down-to-earth concrete advice. She’s really covered everything…

 

June Roth Memorial Award for Outstanding Medical Journalism

Winner: “Why Is Cervical Cancer Still Killing Thousands of Women a Year?” by Beth Howard in Prevention

Howard’s thoroughly researched feature makes it impossible to ignore cervical cancer’s otherwise under-recognized toll on women, many of whom have fallen through the cracks for timely screening and proper treatment. She highlights the rise in advanced cases, especially in marginalized groups, and points out countries where screening programs have been more fruitful. Importantly, Howard ends the piece with a proactive tone, conveying ways women can protect themselves as well as what they should seek and demand from clinicians.

 

Lifestyle

Winner: “MoCo Residents, Communities Build Beautiful and Biodiverse Rain Gardens” by Amy Brecount White in Bethesda Magazine

The winning story’s headline, “MoCo residents, communities build beautiful and biodiverse rain gardens,” sounds like a local news story of interest only to residents of Montgomery County, Maryland. But writer Amy Brecount White delivers an engrossing feature with regional and national implications in how to use conservation landscaping to help manage stormwater issues and promote native plants. She built the story around one homeowner to draw in the reader but also showed how condominium associations and religious congregations can help mitigate flooding in their communities.

Honorable Mention: “The Bidet Made a Big Splash, But Is Its Appeal Starting to Sink?” by Elizabeth Yuko in Architectural Digest

Elizabeth Yuko did an excellent job of making the history of bidets interesting. The headline is catchy and the writing witty as she explored both the bathroom fixture’s history and whether the pandemic-related Great Bidet Boom of 2020 still affects the design choices of homeowners and designers several years later.

 

Long-Form Content

Winner: “Voices From the Community” by Darcy Lewis in Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Annual Report

This piece had great quotes and visuals, made a very clear ask, and did a great job describing an active, engaged, committed community. Overall, an amazing effort to assemble testimonials and photos from the people affected — not an easy task.

 

Op-Eds

Winner: “My Family Came to the US to Start a New Life. An Obscure Credit Score Held Us Back” by Kai Ngu in EHRP and The Guardian

The author uses their family’s story to illustrate the financial barriers immigrants face without a Fico score, which only recognizes an individual’s credit history in the US, and points to the need for reform in this clear, well-organized piece.

 

Profiles

Winner: “Craig Newmark of Craigslist Has a New Mission: Saving Democracy” by Alexandra Tremayne-Pengelly in The Observer

Our selection for best profile is Craig Newmark of Craigslist Has a New Mission: Saving Democracy by Alexandra Tremayne-Pengelly for the Observer. Full of insightful quotes, it is a well-rounded, well-written portrait of an influential, low-profile tech entrepreneur who has found a new calling. As one judge wrote, “The piece is a terrific blend of history and personal evolution.”

Honorable Mention: “How the Women of the North Platte Canteen Fed Six Million Soldiers During World War II” by Annika Hipple in Smithsonian Magazine

Runner-up for best profile is Annika Hipple writing for Smithsonian Magazine. Her piece describes how one Nebraska town created a canteen so that young troops passing through on trains would have delicious food and a personal sendoff. The judges loved this piece for its “great lede, top-notch research and Hipple’s ability to see the topic from all sides: volunteers, soldiers and preservationists. It provides a real ‘you-are-there’ sense throughout even though it occurred 80 years ago in a different America.”

 

Reported Essays

Winner: “Persecution in the Name of the Lord” by Deborah Jian Lee in EHRP and Esquire

We felt this article contained a well-measured balance between the author’s experience and voice and the other people included in the article. It was very well researched, reported and written, with more sources included than many of the other articles for consideration. The article tackles a particularly important subject and does so with nuance and emotion and captures the reader throughout.

 

Science

Winner: “An Icelandic Town Goes All Out to Save Baby Puffins” by Cheryl Katz in Smithsonian Magazine

Deftly weaving science into a lively narrative, this standout piece showcases the best in science journalism. It welcomes readers along for the ride with locals on late-night rescue missions to save baby puffins while explaining the science behind the effort in an accessible, engaging way.

Honorable Mention: “Why Are Alaska’s Rivers Turning Orange?” by Alec Luhn in Scientific American

This piece stands out by introducing memorable characters who are exploring the science behind an environmental mystery in a part of the country few people ever visit. The research is presented in a way that is easy to understand and the narrative storytelling brings readers right up to the edge of the orange water.

 

Social Change

Winner: “How the Long Shadow of Racism at USDA Impacts Black Farmers in Arkansas—and Beyond” by Wesley Brown in Civil Eats

This article had a winning combination of engaging main characters, timeliness and readability. It was both well-written and well-reported—putting human faces on a large-scale problem that urgently needs more attention.

Honorable Mention: “The Curious Case of a Cyprus Ghost Town” by Robin Catalano in U.S. News & World Report

This story provided a human-first perspective on the geopolitics of tourism in a region that tends to be underreported.

 

Technology

Winner: “The Strangely Beautiful Experience of Google Reviews” by Will McCarthy in Longreads

McCarthy takes what seems like a mundane subject on the surface and pulls back the curtain to tell a captivating story that is all about technology yet intrinsically human, giving us all a reason to pause to consider the digital footprints and stories we all leave behind, even in unconventional spaces.

 

Trade

Winner: “What This $1,500 Book Tells us About the Future of Publishing” by Zachary Petit in Fast Company

The judges found this engaging and well written: It makes a case, delves into it, explains the business angle and backs it up with solid research. We enjoyed reading it and were eager to learn more.

 

Travel

Winner: “Fast Times on America’s Slowest Train” by Harrison Scott Key in Longreads

It takes great talent to craft a compelling travel narrative when much of the action takes place in a ‘hobbit-sized’ roomette and a dining car that evokes Waffle House booths. In a train trip from Chicago to New Orleans, Harrison Scott Key captures the joy, the anticipation, even the tediousness of travel in a way that’s laugh-out-loud funny and at times tearfully beautiful. The overall message: Sometimes being present is good enough and we should enjoy the moments with friends.

Honorable Mention: “Following a Folk Tale Through the Himalayas” by Michael Benanav in The New York Times

Michael Benanav uses an epic folk tale as a guide for traveling through Northern India and produces his own epic adventure of remarkable, rare, and magical moments.

Honorable Mention: “Race Against Tide” by Robin Catalano in Hidden Compass

This story appealed to the judges’ love of archaeology and they could easily imagine themselves watching the back and forth between Robin Catalano and paleontologist Matt Stimson. This story provided great details and explanations of a complex subject.