2017 Online Journalism Awards honour media organisations’ coverage on leaked data, prison reform and undue police force

Superlative reporting on leaked data, prison reform and undue police force led coverage that garnered top honors for 29 media organizations Saturday night at the 2017 Online Journalism Awards, which closed the Online News Association Conference.  The Online Journalism Awards™ (OJAs), launched in May 2000, are the only comprehensive set of journalism prizes honoring excellence in digital journalism around the world.

At the 17th annual awards dinner, emceed by host of WAMU and NPR’s 1A Joshua Johnson, Nexo Jornal, Le Temps and The Globe and Mail each took home a $3,000 General Excellence in Online Journalism award, courtesy of the Gannett Foundation. The $15,000 University of Florida Awards for Investigative Data Journalism were won by The Intercept and First Look Media’s “Trial and Terror” and The Globe and Mail for “Unfounded.”

The Knight Award for Public Service, with a $5,000 prize from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, went to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for “Doctors and Sex Abuse.” The Guardian US Mobile Innovation Lab won the $5,000 Gannett Foundation Award for Technical Innovation in the Service of Digital Journalism for its app, “Live Notifications.” The Knoxville News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEE and The New York Times were recognized in the Breaking News categories.

Two new categories were added this year to honor evolving forms of journalism: Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling, which recognizes exceptional efforts in telling stories through digitally-focused audio, including podcasts, audio-centric online works and other emerging media; and Excellence in Immersive Storytelling, which honors exceptional efforts in telling stories through digital, immersive media: virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, 360 video and other emerging media. FRONTLINE and The Emblematic Group shared the Excellence in Immersive Storytelling category for their bold, compelling presentation in “After Solitary.” Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, KNBA and AIR received the inaugural Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling awards.

ONA also named documentary photographer and freelance photojournalist Tara Todras-Whitehill the recipient of the 2017 James Foley Award for Conflict Reporting for her unflinching coverage of vulnerable populations, particularly women and refugees, in the Middle East. Jim Brady was honored with the 2017 Rich Jaroslovsky Founder Award for his longtime work in digital media, including innovations in social and community engagement.

Here are the winners in each category:

General Excellence in Online Journalism, Small Newsroom
Nexo Jornal, nexojornal.com.br

General Excellence in Online Journalism, Medium Newsroom
Le Temps, letemps.ch

General Excellence in Online Journalism, Large Newsroom 
The Globe and Mail, theglobeandmail.com

Knight Award for Public Service 
Doctors & Sex Abuse, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Breaking News, Medium Newsroom
Gatlinburg Fire, The Knoxville News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEE

Breaking News, Large Newsroom
Orlando, The New York Times

Gannett Foundation Award for Technical Innovation in the Service of Digital Journalism
Live Notifications, The Guardian US Mobile Innovation Lab

Planned News / Events, Small Newsroom
CrossCheck France, First Draft

Planned News /Events, Medium Newsroom
Election 2016, WBUR

Planned News / Events, Large Newsroom
Electionland, ProPublica and the Electionland Coalition

Explanatory Reporting, Small Newsroom (tie)
Middle East Lobbying: The Influence Game, Al-Monitor

Game of Genomes, STAT

Explanatory Reporting, Medium Newsroom
Under Our Skin, The Seattle Times

Explanatory Reporting, Large Newsroom
Weigh Anchor, The Globe and Mail

Topical Reporting, Small Newsroom
Truckbeat, AIR:Finding America and WUOT

Topical Reporting, Medium Newsroom
Standing Rock and Beyond, Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting and Inside Energy

Topical Reporting, Large Newsroom
Trump Charities, The Washington Post

Online Commentary
Race/Related, The New York Times

Feature, Small Newsroom (tie)
Dope Sick, STAT

AMERICA RELOADED: The Bizarre Story Behind the FBI’s Fake Documentary About the Bundy Family, The Intercept | First Look Media

Feature, Medium Newsroom
My Four Months as a Private Prison Guard, Mother Jones

Feature, Large Newsroom
The Fine Line, The New York Times

Sports, Small/Medium Newsroom
Berlin Marathon 2016 – How Fast Your City Runs, Berliner Morgenpost

Sports, Large Newsroom
Francesco Totti King of Rome, La Repubblica

The David Teeuwen Student Journalism Award, Small
City of Smoke: Air Pollution in the Land of the Eternal Blue Sky, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism

The David Teeuwen Student Journalism Award, Large
Cuba’s New Wave, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Media and Journalism

Pro-Am Student Award
Turning Tides: The Story of the Salton Sea, USC/JOVRNALISM and The Desert Sun

The Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, Small Newsroom
Drinks, Dinners, Junkets and Jobs: How the Insurance Industry Courts State Commissioners, The Center for Public Integrity

The Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, Medium Newsroom
Toxic Armories, The Oregonian / OregonLive

The Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, Large Newsroom