The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won top honors in the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥papers Association’s annual awards announced Saturday.
The Star, under publisher John D’Orlando and editor Jill Jorden Spitz, earned ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥paper of the Year in the daily category.
Star columnist Tim Steller was named the 2021 Journalist of the Year for his investigative commentary on issues involving the U.S.-Mexico border, immigration and political rhetoric.
Kelly Presnell of the Star won a fourth consecutive award as ANA Photographer of the Year.
The Star also received first place for community service and journalistic achievement.
The contest was judged by the Oregon ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥paper Publishers Association and The Associated Press’ West regional bureau.
The AP’s Member of the Year award also went to the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. It was presented by Peter Prengaman, the AP’s news director for the Western United States.
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Here are the Star’s other winners:
Editorial page excellence: first place
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥paper website: first place
Special section or magazine: first place
Best news story: first place, Curt Prendergast, for “Future of border wallâ€; second place, Danyelle Khmara, for “ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ school districts’ enrollment suffersâ€; third place, Justin Sayers and Jasmine Demers, for “ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ nursing home has state’s worst COVID-19 death toll.â€
Best sustained coverage or series: first place, Patty Machelor, for “COVID-19 evictions crisis.â€
Enterprise reporting: first place, Curt Prendergast, for “Future of border wall about to be handed over to votersâ€; third place, Tony Davis, for “ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s south side has 9 of the city’s 10 hottest neighborhoods.â€
Best column, feature or commentary: first place, Tim Steller, for “Border panic is overblownâ€; second place, David Fitzsimmons, for “Seeking refuge from the virus in our desert wildernessâ€; third place, Tim Steller, for “Outgoing county attorney tied hands of new one on key case.â€
Investigative reporting: second place, Justin Sayers, for “UA’s work with conservative PR firm to promote coronavirus efforts raises ‘red flags’â€; and third place, Justin Sayers, Stephanie Casanova and Alex Devoid, for “In ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Latino communities, coronavirus didn’t create problems, it exposed existing ones.â€
Best sports story: first place, Caitlin Schmidt, for “3 race car-driving girls make track historyâ€; second place, Bruce Pascoe, for “Legendary UA basketball coach Lute Olson diesâ€.
Best team, sport or sports beat coverage: first place, Caitlin Schmidt, for “Title IX and other issues in UA athletic department.â€
Best feature story: second place, Danyelle Khmara, for “Amid pandemic, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ educators form grassroots system to support families in needâ€; third place, Cathalena E. Burch, for “retired ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ cop heading for Hollywood’s bright lights, big dreams.â€
Best news photograph: first place, Mamta Popat, for “Hug tunnel’; second place, Kelly Presnell, for “Bighorn Fire.â€
Best sports photograph: second place, Mamta Popat, for “Words with refereeâ€; third place, Kelly Presnell, for “COVID tennis.â€
Best feature photograph: first place, Kelly Presnell, for “Drive inâ€; second place, Kelly Presnell, for “COVID Christmas.â€
Best feature photo layout or photo story: first place, Mamta Popat, for “State of Denialâ€; second place, Rebecca Sasnett, for “ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s fitness world leans on technology and the internet.â€
Reporting and newswriting excellence: second place
Departmental news and copywriting excellence: second place
Page design excellence: second place
Best use of photography: second place
The Associated Press contributed to this report.