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From the day we published our first story on the Oregon State Hospital, we set expectations high for Lookout Eugene-Springfield journalism.
The team of reporters at 771 Willamette St. exceeds that bar daily, and their work is being recognized in some of the biggest journalism competitions.
Here are some of the major journalism awards won recently by Lookout Eugene-Springfield:
Bruce Baer Award
Ben Botkin won the Bruce Baer Award for public affairs reporting, one of the top honors in Oregon journalism, for his coverage of the Oregon State Hospital.
Bestowed by Portland State University, the Bruce Baer Award honors the former print and television reporter who was known as the dean of the Oregon Capitol press corps.
Of Ben’s work, a press release wrote: “Botkin provided unprecedented insights into the death of a hospital patient, going beyond the sanitized account provided by regulators. … Judges consider the investigative nature of the work, the quality and the courage in pursuing the reporting.”
Ben, Lookout Eugene-Springfield’s senior correspondent, uncovered how Kenneth Hass, a Lane County man, died after hitting his head and lying unconscious in his cell at the Salem facility for more than four minutes before staff acted.
He obtained recordings from meetings between hospital staff and administrators, along with internal communications that shed light on conditions at the hospital.
Following his reporting, the hospital superintendent was fired and Oregon legislators held hearings on conditions at the hospital.
Previous winners of the award include longtime Oregon investigative journalist Les Zaitz, who won it six times, and Nigel Jaquiss of Willamette Week and Oregon Journalism Project, who has been honored three times.
Best of the West
Annie Aguiar won first place for short-form feature writing for her story, “Timothy and Siena go to the fair.”
Annie, our arts and culture correspondent, followed 16-year-old Siena Shaddon as she prepared her 1,300-pound Hereford steer Timothy to be sold at the youth livestock auction during the Lane County Fair.
“Heartbreaking in so many ways,” the contest judge wrote. “Written without judgment, but expertly handles anticipated reader judgment. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”
Lauren Kessler and Isaac Wasserman won first place in project reporting for “Food insecurity in Lane County.”
The three-part series examined the hunger problem in Lane County and shined a light on those helping feed those in need.
“Spectacular, comprehensive, empathetic reporting and writing that rips apart the cruel D.C. stereotype of people who need food assistance,” the judge wrote. “Sad and yet life-affirming. Feels universal.”
Best of the West awards honor the best journalism in 14 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Associated Press Sports Editors
Tyson Alger, Lookout’s Ducks correspondent, won first place for his feature on MacArthur Court.
The Associated Press Sports Editors judges wrote: “Alger’s winning entry took a fresh look at a nearly 100-year-old basketball arena, MacArthur Court, which played host to University of Oregon games before the teams moved into the more modern Matthew Knight Arena in 2011.
Alger caught up with one of many grad students who now use the rickety building for office space; UO all-time leading scorer Ron Lee, who remembers all the grueling cardio work he and his teammates did there; and young players who were part of a two-week event that brought high school teams back to the old arena.”
The Associated Press Sports Editors is an annual national contest honoring the best of sports journalism.
