Press-Gazette reporters, photographers honored at annual WNA Better Newspapers Contest
The Green Bay Press-Gazette took home eight first-place awards at the 2023 Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation's Better Newspaper Contest.
In total, the Press-Gazette received 25 awards, which were given out Friday at the annual banquet, the final event of a two-day convention held in Madison.
The contest covered stories, photographs and videos published between Sept. 1, 2022, and Aug. 31, 2023.
First-place awards
Reporter Danielle DuClos received three first-place awards in the following categories:
Investigative reporting: DuClos was recognized for her investigation into a Green Bay School District teacher who was convicted of sexual assaulting students. The story, "A teacher, a sexual abuse allegation and a botched investigation: '4 lives altered forever' by David Villareal in Green Bay School District" looked at how the school district kept the teacher in the classroom after the first allegation, until another girl came forward four years later. The judges said, "Topic was well-investigated and brought light a topic often overlooked." The main story also included a guide on how to exercise your Title IX rights.
Reporting on local education: The judges said DuClos "went to deep into her subject material in this very strong entry. She provided detail that made me care." Her reporting included stories on how one in eight kids go hungry while schools struggle to feed them and the Latino community's reaction to school closing plans in Green Bay.
Rookie Reporter of the Year: DuClos was then honored for her body of work as a new reporter. The judges said: "This reporter did an excellent job using records and sources to tell a complete story without it being sensationalized."
Richard Ryman was recognized with a first place in the category Sports News Story for his reporting on the Packers. Ryman covers the business and fan sides of the Packers. The judges highlighted his story, "It's expensive to be a Packers fan. A day at Lambeau is pricier than most other stadiums."
The judges said, "Comprehensive, multi-angled coverage. Well written. A lot of work went into this and it shows."
Ryman's entries also included stories on how the NFL's flex schedule would affect season ticket holders; how Packers CEO and President Mark Murphy bought a golf course to save it from development; and his weekly ticket price stories.
Sarah Kloepping won a first place for her video "Looking back at Tom Monfils case 30 years later" in the Visual Storytelling category. The video was produced to mark 30 years since Monfils, a Green Bay paper mill worker, was found dead. The judges said, "Great video editing, utilizing audio, video, photos, newspaper snippets, to tell the story. Treats a very serious subject with respect."
Packers reporter Pete Dougherty received first place in the Local Sports Column category. His entry included the following columns: "Packers have a big chemistry problem, and it could lead to a teardown in 2023"; "What might the Green Bay Packers get if they decide to trade Aaron Rodgers?"; and "Why the Green Bay Packers need to move on from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love."
The judges said: "Not afraid to take a stand even when it's a hard one that might upset fans. Understands audience and expectations. Clearly written, comfortable language that uses stats to explain issues, etc. Good, conversational language."
Reporter Frank Vaisvilas, who is now with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, won a first place award in the Feature Story (non-profile) category for a story he wrote while he was with the Press-Gazette. The judges said his story about how Indigenous tribes grapple with the blood quantum dilemma "was impactful and well-written."
Post-Crescent photographer Wm. Glasheen took a first place in the Sports Feature Photo category for a photo he shot for the Press-Gazette depicting Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Randall Cobb leaving the field at Lambeau Field in Green Bay after the final game of the 2022 season.
The judge said, "This image really indicates what a lot of football fans already knew: the end of an era in Green Bay."
Second-place awards
Scott Venci: For his story about UW-Green Bay firing Will Ryan as its men's basketball head coach, and the follow-ups on the coaching search, including the hiring of Sundance Wicks, in the Sports News Story category. The judge said, "Good digging and exposition of the facts. Classic construction of behind-the-scenes college sports and how administration works."
Frank Vaisvilas: In the Environmental Reporting category, Vaisvilas wrote about the Oneida Nation's environmental restoration project as well as how Wisconsin environmentalists are turning to Indigenous researchers for guidance on the natural world, and Menominee tribal officials finally have say over mining projects near Menominee River. The judge said, "This entry has a great sense of place."
Kelli Arseneau: The crime and courts reporter for Green Bay and Appleton was honored in the General News Story category for her piece about the 30th anniversary of the death of Tom Monfils, a Green Bay paper mill worker. The judge called it an "amazing 30-year retrospective" and a "remarkable piece of writing and editing that pulls the rader along" and "helps to make the complicated case less complicated to understand."
Doug Schneider: Our former city and county reporter, who retired at the end of November, won two second-place awards. The first one was in the Health Coverage category for his stories on the scourge of the fentanyl crisis in Brown County and focused on the mother whose son died of a fentanyl overdose. He also received a second place in Reporting on Local Government for his stories on a Suamico man whose house had been hit by vehicles three times in seven years, a dangerous intersection in Brown County and moving on after a contentious mayoral election.
Benita Mathew: In the Breaking News Reporting category, Mathew was recognized for her reporting on an explosion at a bonfire that injured many former and current Pulaski High School students. The judge said, "Good coverage in a very short turnaround."
Jeff Bollier: Our business development reporter teamed up with Post-Crescent reporter Madison Lammert on the new reality many families face with paying for child care. The story was part of the NEW (Northeastern Wisconsin) News Lab's fourth season: Families Matter.
Staff: Both Green Bay and Appleton reporters were recognized in the Community Engagement Award for the 2022 Stock the Shelves campaign.
Third-place awards
Kendra Meinert won in the Local Column category for her pieces on growing citrus trees indoors and the two spinoff columns: growing grapefruit and other tales of growing citrus trees.
Natalie Eilbert won two third place awards, in the Localized National Story for "Political polarization. Culture wars. Road rage. We're an angrier society. What can be done?" and in the Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting category for "Emma was 17, autistic and unable to balance her inner, outer worlds. What her death by suicide tells us."
Jeff Bollier was recognized in the General News Story category for "Bird not seen in Wisconsin for 178 years spotted in Green Bay nature area."
Sarah Kloepping won in the Best Video category for a video on the 20th anniversary of Lambeau Field renovation.
Honorable mentions
Sarah Kloepping won in the Visual Storytelling category for her series of videos on Packers fans game reactions and Sports Feature Photo for her photo of running back Aaron Jones riding bikes with kids at training camp.
Staff for General Excellence in the daily division.
Ariel Perez in Environmental Reporting on a Green Bay company's composting.
Natalie Eilbert in Health Coverage for her story on what happens if the parents of minors in Wisconsin refuse to get their children mental, physical care.
Wm. Glasheen in Sports Action Photo for a photo of running back AJ Dillon during a preseason game.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Press-Gazette reporters, photographers honored at newspaper contest
