The Denver Post won a for sports reporting, the Radio Television Digital News Association announced Tuesday. The Murrow Awards, traditionally regarded as broadcasting’s version of the Pulitzer Prize, recognize “the highest standards in serving (the) audience through quality electronic journalism.”
The Denver Post won for the video report filmed and produced by Lindsay Pierce. The video was based on a year-long series of stories by Jason Blevins on the recovery of 15-year-old athlete Kailyn Forsberg. Forsberg was paralyzed when she overrotated a backflip during the April 2014 national USA Snowboard and Freeski Association competition at Copper Mountain. Photographers Helen H. Richardson and AAron Ontiveroz also contributed to the project, as did former Post videographer Mahala Gaylord.
“We have long understood that we can tell our stories in many ways and do it at the highest levels,” editor Lee Ann Colacioppo said. “This was a beautiful project and the award is a powerful reminder that newspapers are the printed word and much, much more. I couldn’t be prouder of Lindsay and the team that was part of creating ‘Kailyn’s Spirit.'”
Director of photography Meghan Lyden repeated Colacioppo’s sentiments.
“Itap always nice to get recognition for the team’s commitment to telling the stories of Coloradans,” Lyden said. “Kailyn’s family welcomed The Post journalists and trusted them with telling her story, and we’re happy that this award will bring it to a wider audience.”
Pierce, who is on maternity leave, said the early days of Kailyn’s rehabilitation at Craig Hospital and at her home were tough. It was a challenge to figure out how to give her space to heal while also documenting the progress, she said.
“It is an emotional story to work on as a mother, to see and watch her parents process it — what her life was turning into,” Pierce said. “But Kailyn is such a positive young woman and has such a strength to her that it was pretty impressive to me.”
Pierce said photography, videography and writing combined is the best way to tell a story. She said it feels good to have that recognition so the team can move forward with confidence on more multimedia projects.
“We’re really trying to expand what we’re doing with video and multimedia so each time we get a little recognition, I think it just encourages us more and fuels us to keep working harder,” Pierce said.
- ABC News, New York (network television)
- ABC News Radio, New York (network radio)
- The Washington Post, Washington, D.C, (large online news organization)
- Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting (small online news organization)
- CTV Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia (large-market television)
- WISC-TV, Madison, Wis. (small-market television)
- Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul, Minn. (large-market radio)
- WDEL-AM/FM, Wilmington, Del. (small-market radio)
Denver’s KUSA-Channel 9 won a Murrow Award for best use of video, for Corky Scholl’s videography on
The winners will be recognized at the RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala on Oct. 10 at Gotham Hall in New York. A complete list of winners with links to the winning entries for the 2016 National Edward R. Murrow Awards can be found at
in the Murrow Awards. That year, The Post won the Murrow for overall excellence with a portfolio including the multimedia package “.” Pierce’s long-form documentary “Desperate Journey,” about the parents of desperately ill children who moved to Colorado for access to therapies derived from marijuana, was part of that project. Pierce, reporter John Ingold and photographer Joe Amon also were in the explanatory journalism category for the project.
