Thank you to the Arizona Press Club, which awarded my work here on Heat City as well as in Phoenix Magazine with big honors in Saturday’s Best Journalism in Arizona contest.
Heat City won first place for breaking news in the Best in Arizona category for a series of exclusive stories about the arrests of two white supremacists suspected in the 2004 bombing of Scottsdale’s diversity office. Thanks to a source’s tip last June, I was able to break news of the arrests hours before any of the major local newspapers or wire services could catch up. Then I came back with two more stories about the fallout. (See links to stories below.)
I also won first place for public safety reporting in the Metro writing category for my exclusive look at the investigation of a man police believe was the third killer in Phoenix’s Serial Shooter case. The story was published last September in Phoenix Magazine.
Finally, Heat City won second-place for public safety reporting in the Non-Metro writing category for a story that looked at the police investigation into Gilbert’s then-Mayor Steve Berman, who was suspected of poisoning his wife. Details of the investigation came to light just days before the town’s election, which he subsequently lost.
The work on Heat City, of course, is supported by its readers. Those of you who have given to the website deserve another round of thanks for supporting independent journalism. These stories were possible because of you.
Winning stories
First place, breaking news (Best in Arizona):
» Exclusive: Arrests made in ‘04 bombing of Scottsdale diversity office
» Were Scottsdale bombing suspects plotting more attacks?
» Hate leader tells followers, ‘Don’t worry’ about raids, arrests
First place, public safety reporting (Metro):
» The Third Man (Phoenix Magazine)
Second-place, public safety reporting (Non-Metro):
» Gilbert police investigating mayor on suspicion of poisoning wife